Career in Civil Engineering in India: One of the most popular beliefs is that civil engineering is among the first engineering disciplines that came into existence. And whether it is true or not, one thing that holds merit is that a career in civil engineering is, in fact, one of the most important and sought-after courses in India and across the world.
So, as the time of admission and entrance exams is nearing the timeline, choosing your course is becoming mandatory. Keep on reading, and you will find every crucial detail related to this discipline in the article. If CIF is inclined toward civil engineering and wants to know more about the course, this is the right place for you.
“Civil Engineering is the branch of engineering which teaches you the most about managing people.”
John Harvey Jones
What is Civil Engineering?
Civil Engineering is one of the core branches of engineering. It is all about the art of building infrastructures and all artificial constructions. Above all, compared to other engineering disciplines, the scope of civil engineering is relatively higher in India.
Students learn about design, construction and the maintenance of buildings. Hence, they learn how to secure and mitigate natural or artificial infrastructures. In addition to that, civil engineering is not just about building buildings. Still, it also incorporates the features of industrial construction, road construction, railway or metro construction and various others.
Subscribe Us to get Latest Updates from India's Top Universities.
Course Overview
- This branch of engineering is not just about learning and pursuing a career. It is also a form of art that requires creativity.
- Civil engineers construct a strong building and make it stand out from others by making it appealing.
- In addition, civil engineers do not construct a building but make it strong and durable to live a safe life.
- This branch is not confined to composing a concrete building or dam. Still, it also gives information about fire management, accidental escape management, safety from natural disasters, etc.
Specialisation in Civil Engineering
A few examples of specialisation in civil engineering are given below:
| Coastal and Ocean Engineering | Environmental Engineering |
| Geotechnical Engineering | Fire Protection Engineering |
| Construction Engineering | General Engineering |
| Structural Engineering | Irrigation Engineering |
| Bridge Engineering | Materials Engineering |
| Land Development | Urban Engineering |
| Hydraulic Engineering | Water Resources Engineering |
| Transportation Engineering |
Admission Procedure
- For UG courses: The candidate must have cleared the 12th class from a recognised board.
In addition, core subjects, i.e. Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, are mandatory with a minimum of 45% to 50% marks. The admission process to the B. Tech program is done through the entrance exams such as – JEE Main, JEE Advanced, MHCET, and KCET. - For PG courses: Candidates should have passed a B. Tech degree with a minimum passing percentage in the aggregation of all subjects studied in the undergraduate program. The admissions are made through the entrance exam, such as – the GATE score merit list.
Eligibility Criteria
Below are the basic eligibility criteria for admission to UG and PG-level civil engineering courses.
| Course | Eligibility Criteria |
| For UG courses | The candidate must have cleared the 12th class from a recognised board. In addition, core subjects, i.e. Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, are mandatory. A minimum of 45% to 50% marks is required in the 12th class, and the admission process to the B. Tech program is done through the entrance exams such as – JEE Main, JEE Advanced, MHCET, and KCET. |
| For PG courses | Candidates should have passed a B. Tech degree with a minimum passing percentage in the aggregation of all subjects studied in the undergraduate program. The admissions are made through the entrance exam, such as – the GATE score merit list. |
Entrance Exams For Civil Engineering
Given below is the list of top engineering entrance exams in India.
| Entrance Exam | Conducted By |
| JEE Main | National Test Agency |
| VITEEE | VIT University |
| BITSAT | Birla Institute of Technology and Science |
| KIITEE | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology |
| MHT CET | Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell |
Top Colleges for Civil Engineering
There are several best colleges and universities for a career in civil engineering in India. A few examples of such colleges are given below.
Fee Structure in Top Colleges
The basic fee structure for civil engineering is mentioned here. However, do keep in mind that the fees mentioned are subject to change and majorly depend from college to college.
| Name of The Institute | Specialization | Overall Average Program Fees |
| IIT Bombay – Indian Institute of Technology (IITB) | Fees For MTech in Transportation System Engineering | INR 50,000 |
| IIT Kharagpur – Indian Institute of Technology (IITKGP) | Fees For BTech in Civil Engineering | INR 8.52 Lakh |
| IIT Madras – Indian Institute of Technology Chennai (IITM) | Fees For BTech in Civil Engineering | INR 9.38 Lakh |
| IIT Kanpur – Indian Institute of Technology (IITK) | Fees For BTech in Civil Engineering | Fees For BTech in Civil Engineering are INR 8.27 Lakh |
| IIT Roorkee – Indian Institute of Technology (IITR) | Fees For BTech in Civil Engineering | INR 8.42 Lakh |
Job Opportunities in Civil Engineering
As we have already mentioned, a Career in civil engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering. In other words, this branch has been pursued for a long time by various experts; in addition to that, this branch is also known as the backbone of social and industrial development. Above all, being an old branch, civil engineers have built sports arenas, industries, tall buildings, private homes, hospitals, villas, hotels, bridges, dams, etc.
These engineers are not limited to earning by participating in field jobs. Subsequently, a civil engineer can work as an infrastructure consultant or a construction map designer and get their own private office.
| Job Profile | Job Description |
|---|---|
| Structural Engineers | They design, plan and supervise the construction of infrastructural projects like buildings, bridges, etc. They also take care of alteration and extension to existing properties or structures. |
| Geotechnical Engineers | The primary responsibility of Geotechnical engineers is to create projects and find solutions to the problems that are related to geology. |
| Site Engineers | They take responsibility for security, safety, health, organizing, and supervising material and people working at the site. They are part of the site management team. |
| Construction Engineers | The main task includes – planning, directing, and supervising large construction projects. They act as leaders and intermediaries on construction projects and ensure everything about the project is safe, smooth and structurally sound. |
Pros and Cons of Civil Engineering
There isn’t a thing without pros and cons, so we have compiled some advantages and disadvantages of civil engineering. Let’s take a look.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Most often, skilled and qualified civil engineers experience decent pay scales. The quality of the college from which one seeks the course plays an essential role in determining the salary package. | Several times, projects can be testing and challenging. Deadlines can be hard to meet. Such conditions could often result in long and tough working hours. It is not unusual to see civil engineers work long shifts to complete their projects. |
| As already said, civil engineering is a core branch of engineering. It is also called an evergreen branch. Therefore, most core branches generate better job opportunities (compared to other engineering branches). | Working outdoors could be fun for some. But it is not true in the cases of several people. Civil engineers may end up working in some remote and hostile areas. While it could be fun, many engineers don’t enjoy it! |
| Civil engineers design and build things. They are competent in designing and building structures like bridges, roads, stadiums, sewer systems, houses etc. Also, they can touch the lives of people straight through their work. | A project site is filled with huge construction machinery, vehicles, building materials etc. Dust, sharp tools, pollution, fire and work accidents are common occurrences at many work sites. |
| It is a profession where you can express your creativity, problem-solving skills and technical experience. To sum up, you won’t be bored with your work. You’ll always be motivated and psychologically stimulated. | Civil engineers usually design and build structures. These structures usually have high strategic, commercial and political value. Planning, calculation, and effort must be put into constructing such structures. An eye for detail is something that civil engineers must have. This increased liability often leads to pressure (in the case of civil engineers). Mistakes can have dire consequences. |
Salary Prospect of Civil Engineering
Firstly, remember that a person’s salary package depends upon their total expertise and on which college they have completed their graduation. In addition, it also depends upon personality, skills and various other factors.
| Course | For Fresher | For Mid Expertise | For Experienced |
| Civil Engineering | INR 3.5 Lakhs | INR 6-7 Lakhs | INR 11-14 Lakhs |
Top Recruiters (Top Companies Hiring Civil Engineers)
Civil engineers can start their careers in both the private and government sector because of the field of their knowledge. They can find employment in construction, transport and communications, infrastructure, and various buildings. In addition, they can also work in sectors like storage production, gas, and distribution of electricity and water resources.
A few top recruiting companies for civil engineers are:
| Gannon Dunkerley & Company | Bridge and Roof Company |
| Aga Khan Planning and Building Services | MARG Limited |
| Metro Tunneling Group | Nagarjun Construction Company |
| Ayas Shilpa | Sobha Developers Ltd. |
| Sadbhav Engineering | Punj Lloyd |
| Unitech | Shapoorji Pallonji & Company |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which are the best colleges in India to pursue Civil Engineering?
Undoubtedly, the IITs and NITs are the best for engineering in India. However, in terms of private colleges, Galgotia College, GL Bajaj, VIT, and SRM are some of the best colleges.
What can the average salary one make after completing this course?
As salary depends from person to person and company to company, a person can make up to 30,000 INR a month in India after completing this course.
What are the average fees for pursuing a civil engineering course in a UG programme?
On average, it can cost from 1 lakh t 6 lakhs. But it depends on which college type you choose, government or private.
What is the advantage of JEE exams in respect of this course?
Clearing JEE exams gives the student a chance to choose from a plethora of top colleges, as the marks of the JEE exam highly determine a student’s admission.
Read Also:
