Automobile Engineering
I am a class 12 student interested in doing the B.Tech. course in Automobile Engineering. Please let me know about the colleges that offer the course and its career prospects.
RONITH STANLY
A degree in Automobile Engineering will help land the dream job of designing and making dream machines on wheels. While doing the course, the students get an understanding of the mechanics of vehicle chassis, the internal combustion engine, the electrical and electronic systems in automobiles, workshop technology, and the motor transport affairs. Their skill sets will include the design, development, and maintenance of automobiles and spare parts.
After completing the BE or B.Tech. course in Automobile Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, specialise in transportation and automobile design at the postgraduate or postgraduate diploma levels. The students must have an aptitude for mathematics and design. For joining the B.Tech. course, they should have passed Plus Two with at least 50 per cent marks in Mathematics and 50 per cent in aggregate in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
A few engineering college in Kerala offer the B.Tech. or BE course in Automobile Engineering. In some colleges, Mechanical Engineering students can study Automobile Engineering as an optional subject.
The Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering, Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram, affiliated to the University of Kerala and run by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, offers a B.Tech. course in Mechanical (Automobile) Engineering. There are 60 seats, half of them in the government merit quota. Visit www.sctce.ac.in for details.
The KMCT College of Engineering, Mukkom, Kozhikode, and the Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre, Thrissur, affiliated to the University of Calicut, and the Matha College of Technology, North Paravur, Ernakulam, and the SCMS School of Engineering and Technology, Karukutty, Ernakulam, affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, offer the B.Tech. course in Automobile Engineering. There are 60 seats in the branch in each of these private self-financing colleges.
Those who have a diploma with at least 50 per cent marks are also eligible for admission. The marks limit will be lowered by five per cent for students belonging to the socially and economically backward categories with annual family incomes below Rs. 4.5 lakh. Applicants should be 17 as on December 31 of the year of admission. Visit www.cee-kerala.gov.in for details.
More institutions
The following institutions and universities in other States offer the degree course in Automobile Engineering. The list is only indicative.
Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai (www.hindustanuniv.ac.in).
School of Engineering and Technology, Tiruchirapalli.
SRM University, Kattamkulathur (www.srmuniv.ac.in).
Bharath University, Selaiyur, Tambaram, Chennai (www.bharathuniv.ac.in).
Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet, Chennai.
Vel Tech Technical University, Avadi, Chennai.
Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai.
Vinayaka Mission Kirupanda Variyar Engineering College, Salem (www.vmkvec.ac.in).
Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology, Chennai (www.avit.ac.in).
Karpagam College of Engineering, Coimbatore (www.karpagameducation. com).
Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur (www.svce.ac.in).
Shanmuganathan Engineering College, Arasampatti, Tamil Nadu.
Noorul Islam University, Kumaracoil, Thuckalay, Kanyakumari district (www.niceindia.com).
PES College of Engineering, Mandya, Karnataka.
Dr. P.G. Halakatti College of Engineering, Bijapur, Karnataka.
SJM Institute of Technology, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
SJB Institute of Technology, Kengeri, Bangalore.
Gurunanak Dev Engineering College, Bidar, Karnakata
Malanad College of Engineering, Hassan, Karnataka.
Basaveshwar Engineering College, Nijalingappa Vidyanagar, Bagalkot, Karnataka.
Integrated M.Tech.
Some universities in the private sector offer integrated M.Tech. courses in Automobile Engineering for those who have passed Plus Two. For instance, SASTRA University, Thanjavur (www.sastra.edu), and Amity University, Noida (www.amity.edu).
(Before seeking admission to private engineering college or institutes, students should ascertain if these have the approval of the All India Council for Technical Education, university affiliation, infrastructure, expert faculty, placement services, and so on.)
M.Tech.
The M.Tech. course in Automobile Engineering deals with the study of design, manufacture, and working of automobiles. Those who have a degree in Mechanical or Automobile Engineering or Production or Manufacturing Engineering are eligible to apply.
Selection is based on the score in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, with some institutions also conducting admission tests and interviews. Courses in Automotive Engineering, similar to the Automobile Engineering course, is offered at the M.Tech. level. Some institutions offer the ME course in automated manufacturing systems and computer-aided analysis and design.
NID course
The National Institute of Design (NID) gives an opportunity to those with a degree in Automobile or Mechanical Engineering to pursue a 30-month postgraduate diploma course in transportation and automobile design on its Gandhinagar campus. There are 15 seats. Those with a degree in Industrial Design, Architecture, and Interior Design are also eligible for admission.
This course starts off with developing an aesthetics sensitivity and analytical abilities in the students and giving a broad understanding of the concepts and concerns in transportation and automobile design. The students tackle varying levels of complexity through design projects ranging from non-motorised transport, display and controls, and vehicle and system design to understand the design process in various contexts. Regular interaction with, and guest lectures by, design practitioners from the automobile industry are part of the course.
Selection is through a national-level entrance test and an interview. The programme is good option for those who desire to become a professional designer in the automobile industry. The annual tuition fee is Rs. 1.6 lakh. Visit www.nid.edu for details.
Job prospects
Automobile engineers test the performance and efficiency of the engine, chassis, and transmission systems of vehicles, apart from other components. Those who specialise in design can design vehicle models by joining the research and development wing of automobile companies.
Automobile maintenance engineers do the general supervision of mechanics in a workshop factory or garage. Automobile industry giants provide job opportunities to qualified engineers in their production plants with attractive remuneration and incentives.
Those with a B.Tech. degree in Automobile Engineering and an MBA degree can make it to the top of the marketing and sales management division.
Those who secure M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees can take up the teaching profession.
