Expert’s Corner: Scope after clearing GATE in Civil Engineering

By: Rohit Sachdeva

Every year, millions of students appear for the GATE exam, which is conducted and administered by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at national level. It aims to test the caliber of students from both engineering and science backgrounds. As we all know, GATE exam can be life changing in terms of career prospects of students all over the country.

The number of students giving GATE in Civil Engineering (CE) every year is increasing rapidly over the years.  This is because now, not only do the Masters courses require a GATE score, but also all the PSUs are recruiting through GATE.  Many students wish to pursue M.Tech from IITs/NITs in various streams such as Structures, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Construction Project Management and Transportation; while others try to get a job in PSUs like IOCL, HPCL, RITES, EIL, NHAI, DMRC, etc.

IIT Kanpur has already announced the schedule of GATE 2023 and started the application process on August 30, 2022. GATE 2023 will be conducted on February 4, 5, 11, and 12, 2023. Those who are planning to appear for GATE 2023 need to understand the importance of the GATE exam and the various opportunities through GATE, so that students can make informed choices about their future.

Job opportunities in PSUs

As mentioned earlier, almost over 100 PSUs present in the country (like IOCL, ONGC, HPCL, RITES, EIL, NHAI, DMRC, BHEL, SAIL, NTPC, PGCIL) consider GATE exam score as criteria for recruiting civil engineers. Job in a good PSU ensures that you keep in touch with recent engineering advances and work on exciting development projects in the country, apart from providing the security and the perks of a government job.

Pursuing M.Tech after GATE

Having cleared the GATE exam, one of the most common ways to go about is by applying for M.Tech in the IITs, IISc and NITs. With a valid GATE score, you are also entitled to the MHRD stipend during the two-year Masters programme.  This can be a major step for the students who have dreamt of studying in top institutes of the country like IITs and NITs.  Even if you are applying to other states/regional/private colleges which do not mandate GATE as their selection criteria, having a decent GATE score can always give you an edge over other students. 

After completing M.Tech, you can go for private jobs in the technical domain, with good packages.

Research opportunities through GATE

Research is an area which is comparatively less explored by civil engineers of the country, as most students either try for M.Tech or government jobs.  However, a few of you who are passionate about learning more and giving back to the community can opt for a research-oriented career.

As the GATE score is valid for three years after results are declared, you can also opt for research through Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in CSIR laboratories after completing M.Tech.  Here you can contribute to path-breaking research and this area has a lot of potential for growth.  It will help your horizons expand intellectually, as well as lead to a financially satisfying job.

Research through a PhD is another direction you can take, either after completing M.Tech or directly after completing B.Tech (popularly termed as the ‘Direct PhD’ programme).  Post-PhD, you can take your career towards teaching and research, and become a professor at the top institutes of the country.  The government, with a view to supporting and strengthening the ongoing research in the country, is now granting the Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) to the selected top few students every year in all engineering and science domains, including civil engineering.  This fellowship includes a much higher stipend and a lot of other grants to help students bring the best out of their research work.

Sponsored programmes and projects

Government organisations such as BARC, ISRO, DRDO, IAF, Indian Army & Navy, from time to time, open up sponsorship programmes and projects, which generally run for two years.  A good GATE score will make you eligible for these programmes and you can serve these esteemed organisations after completing your M.Tech.

Studying in Foreign Universities through GATE

Only a few prestigious foreign universities accept GATE scores for admission in Masters programmes. These include the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, which are considered to be amongst the top universities as per QS world university rankings.  Although not mandatory, RWTH Aachen and TU Munich in Germany also give good weightage to GATE scores for Indian applicants.

Even if you are applying to other universities for master or direct PhD, and have a good gate score/rank, you should definitely mention it in your resume/SOP for showcasing your technical skills.

We hope that with the above discussions, you should be able to understand the importance of GATE exam and the various opportunities related to it.  It is one of the most effective ways to achieve an exciting career pertaining to your area of interest. Start your GATE preparation timely and grab these opportunities to pave the way for a great career ahead.

About the Author:

Rohit Sachdeva is pursuing Ph.D in Civil Engineering from Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He completed his BTech in Civil Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering in 2012 and later worked as a structural engineer for two years with Samsung Engineering. He also worked as a Scientist in Bureau of Indian Standards for three years. He appeared for GATE 2017 and score an AIR 93 with a score of 872/1000.