BE Mechanical Engineering: Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Fees, Colleges

BE Mechanical Engineering is an undergraduate program of 4 years that focuses on the principles of engineering and the application of mechanical systems. Mechanical engineering is considered as one of the core branches of engineering because of its history in the Industrial Revolution. It is also considered a highly respected field in the Indian education system since it opens up opportunities to various government sector jobs. Mechanical engineers are required in railways, the defense sector, state PSCs & public service commissions, and other government departments.

The students who have passed 10+2 with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are eligible to apply for the course. Admission into BE Mechanical Engineering is usually based on national, state, or university-level entrance examinations, followed by counseling. Some popular exams include JEE Main, WBJEE, MHT-CET, TNEA, KCET, COMEDK, etc. Some of the institutes, like BITS Pilani, conduct their own examination like BITSAT.

BE Mechanical Engineering equips students with high-demand skills, so it's important for students to choose the right college that offers both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. BE Mechanical Engineering graduates can find jobs in a variety of sectors. Some of the job roles available for them are mechanical engineer, design engineer, project engineer, production engineer, etc. The fresh graduates can expect an average package in the range of INR 3 - 5 Lakhs per annum.

BE Mechanical Engineering Highlights

The basic details of BE Mechanical Engineering are as follows:

What is BE Mechanical Engineering?

BE Mechanical Engineering is a 4-year degree program that focuses on the principles of physics for designing, manufacturing, and maintaining of mechanical systems like automobiles, aircraft, heating & cooling systems, manufacturing plants, industrial equipment & machinery, medical devices, and many more.

This field of study may require an understanding of key concepts like mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, material science, etc. These concepts are also paired with tools like computer-aided design (CAD), and product lifecycle management to design, analyze, and manufacture equipment.

Apart from theoretical knowledge, the course also provides hands-on experience through labs, workshops, and internships. This helps students gain practical experience in working with tools, machines, and software which is crucial for future engineering tasks.

Why Study BE in Mechanical Engineering?

BE Mechanical Engineering is a field of study that opens up diverse career opportunities in areas like automotive, aerospace, energy, robotics, manufacturing, healthcare, etc. The course is well designed to provide both theoretical and practical experience to the students and builds a strong foundation in the core engineering principles. BE Mechanical Engineering also integrates concepts from other engineering fields like electrical, computer science, and civil, which helps the engineers to be versatile and capable of working in multidisciplinary teams on complex projects.

Also, BE Mechanical is an in-demand program because of the growing need for innovation. It also offers a very stable career, since it offers jobs in both government and private sectors. With adequate skills and experience, a mechanical engineer can have a strong earning potential and career growth.

BE Mechanical Engineering Admission Process

Admission to BE Mechanical Engineering is usually based on entrance examinations followed by counseling. Candidates interested in accepting admission in BE Mechanical Engineering may have to go through the following:

1. Most of the institutes that offer BE courses usually prioritize state-level examinations like WBJEE, KCET, KEAM, COMEDK, etc, over national-level exams. The candidates will have to appear for the state examinations, and based on their rank, they will have the option to choose the institute during counseling.
2. In Tamil Nadu, the BE admissions are based on TNEA counseling. The candidates can directly register for TNEA, and they will be evaluated based on their merit in Class 12th and will be called for counseling to select the institute.
3. Students can use their JEE-Main scores for BE admissions, but JEE-Main primarily opens up more opportunities for B.Tech courses than for BE courses. Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology is one of the institutes that offers BE through JEE-Main scores. The candidate will have to register to the institute and provide their JEE-Main score, and based on their score, they will be called for counseling.
4. Then, there are universities like BITS Pilani, Chandigarh University, Aligarh Muslim University, and Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology that conduct their own entrance examinations for BE admissions.
5. The institutes that conduct their own exam require the students to register to the institute for the BE course and then appear for the entrance exam. The institute will release their results and call the students for counselling based on their rank.

BE Mechanical Engineering Eligibility

1. The candidates interested in taking admission to BE Mechanical Engineering should have completed 10+2 with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks (45% for the reserved category) in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
2. Some institutes also consider a lower percentage of around 40 - 45% like PSG College of Technology and M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology requires a minimum aggregate of 45% in PCM.
3. Institutes like BIT Pilani look for a higher percentage around 75% aggregate in PCM to ensure that only the most academically proficient students are admitted.

BE Mechanical Engineering Entrance Exams

Engineering institutions conduct their admission for BE Mechanical Engineering based on national-level, state-level, or university-level entrance examinations. Some of the examinations that are considered for admission into BE Mechanical Engineering are as follows:

National Level Examinations

State Level Examinations

Institute Level Examinations

BE Mechanical Engineering Syllabus

The syllabus of BE Mechanical Engineering is almost similar to the majority of the colleges. The table below shows the syllabus of BE Mechanical for Jadavpur University.

Top Colleges in India for BE Mechanical Engineering

Some of the top colleges for BE Mechanical Engineering based on NIRF Ranking 2024 is as follows:

BE Mechanical Engineering Vs B.Tech Mech Engineering

The students planning to pursue Mechanical Engineering as their undergraduate program, usually get confused with BE and B.Tech degrees. Both BE Mechanical Engineering and B.Tech Mechanical Engineering are similar in terms of curriculum, career opportunities, and industry demand. Both the courses look the same in the job market. The distinction between them is more historical and institutional, than academic.

The BE degree has a more theory based and foundational approach, whereas the B.Tech reflects a more applied and technical approach to the study of mechanical engineering.

The BE degree was offered by older institutions like IITs and government engineering colleges. But with time, these institutions transitioned to offering B.Tech degrees to align with the modern needs. Therefore now most of the top government and private institutes offer B.Tech degree to prepare the students for technological advancements.

BITS Pilani Vs PSG College of Technology Vs MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology

A comparison among the top 3 colleges that offer BE Mechanical Engineering is as follows:

BE Mechanical Engineering Jobs

1. Industry - The mechanical engineering graduates are employable in a variety of sectors like automotive, aerospace, energy, manufacturing, construction, etc, thus opening up more job opportunities.
2. Employment Demand: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the demand for mechanical engineers in the automotive industry, especially with the shift toward electric vehicles. According to Statista, the employability rate among Indian engineering graduates is around 72% in 2025.
3. Average Salary: The average salary of a mechanical engineer varies based on experience, industry, and location. The entry-level positions offer a salary range of INR 3 - 5 Lakhs per annum. With experience, the salary can increase between INR 6 - 11 Lakhs per annum.

There are various job roles available for BE Mechanical Engineering graduates. As per Payscale, the average package of various job roles according to the years of experience are mentioned in the table below:

BE Mechanical Engineering Future Scopes

After completion of BE Mechanical Engineering, the candidates can choose to take jobs in the private or public sector or go for higher studies.

1. Private Sector Jobs: The graduates can participate in the campus placement drive or apply directly to the private companies that they are interested in. Some of the top employers in the mechanical engineering field are Blue Star, TATA Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, L&T, BOSCH, General Electric (GE), SABIC, ARAMCO, and other MNCs in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing.
2. Public Sector Jobs: The graduates can prepare for GATE to apply for PSUs and get jobs at BHEL, ONGC, GAIL, IOCL, BPCL, SAIL, NTPC, etc. The graduates can also aim for exams like UPSC IES, SSC JE, RRB JE, etc to get jobs in the government sector.
3. Higher Studies: The graduates can continue their studies in the same field and can pursue ME in Mechanical Engineering, which would require them to appear for the GATE exam. Apart from engineering, they can also change their field of study and go for an MBA, if they are interested in management.

BE Mechanical Engineering is one of the most opted engineering branches in India because it opens up opportunities in a variety of sectors. Also, the demand for mechanical engineers will only increase in the coming years. Therefore, a degree in mechanical engineering with a proper skill set can be quite rewarding. Apart from a degree, mechanical engineers can also enhance their skills with internships or specialized training in areas like CAD, robotics, automation, and CNC machining, which often lead to higher-paying job roles.

BE Mechanical Engineer FAQs