Top 10 non-IITs offering Mechanical Engineering

Ipsita Sarkar Gupta | shiksha.com

Mechanical Engineering (ME) is one of the oldest disciplines of engineering. As a matter of fact, discovery of wheel is a part of mechanical engineering.

This stream is directly or indirectly related to other scientific and engineering disciplines such as electrical, civil, robotics, etc.

“Mechanical engineering degrees offer a wide range of specialisations to choose from. From robots and microchips to racing cars and power plants, mechanical engineering is a discipline at the forefront of modern technology. You may decide to make a contribution to the development of sustainable energy, or help improve technologies used in agriculture. Alternatively, you may be attracted by the exciting world of aerospace engineering, or the competitive arena of Formula 1 racing-car design,” states QS Top universities ranking.

Study of mechanical engineering includes kinematics, thermodynamics, design and structure, materials science, manufacturing and electricity.

After taking a look at the top seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) offering Mechanical Engineering, let us now venture into non-IITs offering the same course.

1. Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS-Pilani)

One of the oldest departments at BITS Pilani, ME department focuses on research that benefits the industry, society and environment. The department has an up-to-date curriculum and regularly contributes towards consultancy and technology and product incubation. The department also encourages research inter-disciplinary areas.

2. National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli

The department has world class laboratories and focuses heavily on research. “The calibration facilities developed by the department are in accordance with the National Standards for calibration of pressure, temperature and speed measurement. These facilities are utilized by ISO 9000 certified companies,” informs the official website. The department is also known for its industrial interface.

3. Indian School of Mines (ISM)

The department of Mechanical Engineering was started since the school’s inception in 1926. Back then, “the role of the department was to train the students of Mining Engineering and later Petroleum Engineering in the core subjects of engineering as a service department till the year 1973; while later the department had imparted 13 weeks extensive training in the area of coal mining machineries to the graduate trainees in Mechanical and Electrical cadre of Bharat Coking Coal Limited, Dhanbad,” informs the official website. The institute started BTech in Mining Machinery Engineering in 1977, first and only one of its kind in the country. “This programme covers mechanical and electrical engineering aspects of various mining and construction machineries deployed at the underground and opencast mines in coal and non-coal sectors....With the availability of basic infrastructure and expertise, the Institute recognised and felt the necessity to start the BTech in Mechanical Engineering in the year 1999,”  further states the website. At present the institute offers BTech in Mining Machinery Engineering, Maintenance Engineering and Tribology and Mechanical Engineering (Specialisation in Manufacturing Sc.)

4. National Institute of Technology, Mangalore

The department has produced more than 3500 Mechanical Engineering graduates. They have well equipped laboratories. It boasts of “CAD/CAM Center: CNC machining center, grinding & turning centers, Rapid Prototype facility, CAD/CAM soft ware’s; Pro/E, ANSYS, NISA, ADAMS, Nastran, Patran, Dytran, MARC, SIMPACK, DEFORM etc. Heat Engines Laboratory: SI and CI Engines, Computerised IC Engine Test rigs for bio fuels, Smoke and Exhaust gas analyzers, Steam engines and turbines Metrology Laboratory: Universal measurement microscopes, autocollimator, force, torque and strain measurements facilities, virtual and NDT R&AC testing equipments, Injection molding equipments, DAQ, virtual instrumentation, BOSCH Power tools section, motion control, PLC robotic kits, Pneumatic power control trainers, Dynamics and vibration laboratory, well equipped Machine and Workshops.”

5. Birla Institute of Technology, Patna

The curriculum is designed in accordance to industrial requirements with an emphasis on industrial interaction and applied engineering. The department prides itself on the practical experience, well equipped laboratories and regular workshops. Some of the laboratories are Engineering Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Strength of Material, Engineering Measurement, Manufacturing Processes, Automobile Engineering, Heat Transfer, Thermal Engineering, Dynamics and Solar Application. “Project GURUTVA is a robot designed by BIT Patna students to excavate and collect samples from the surface of the moon considering the constraint of 1/6th gravity and temperature variation from -50 degree to +155 degrees Celsius. The design is been selected from NASA’s technical experts. Only few designs from India were selected by NASA Kennedy Space Centre, and the students are called to display the robot at NASA Centre,” informs the official website.

6. Jadavpur University (Faculty of Engineering & Technology)

One of the oldest departments in the country, it was first established under The National Council of Education, Bengal. “The department is actively engaged in various research projects of National importance, involving organisations like DRDO, BRNS, DST, ARDB, NSTL, to name a few. The teachers of the department are also actively involved in technology development and dissemination to the industry and the practicing engineers. The department can boast of an excellent workshop with the state of the art facilities, including NC/CNC machines,” informs the official website.

7. Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad

The department is divided into four academic groups: Design Engineering, Production and Industrial Engineering, Thermal Engineering and Chemical Engineering. The methodology of studies focuses on traditional and modern ways. They offer three BTech programmes in the area of Mechanical Engineering, Production and Industrial Engineering, and Chemical Engineering. Almost 150 students are admitted each year for these programmes. Some of the areas of research are Advanced Manufacturing Processes, CAD/CAM/CIM, Computational Heat Transfer, Control Engineering, Energy Management, Fracture Mechanics, Knowledge Management, Rapid Prototyping, Robotics and Mechatronics, Supply Chain Management, and Operations Management.

8. PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore

“Design quality under-graduate and graduate mechanical engineering curricula to provide opportunities for students to learn fundamental and advanced technologies will sufficient practical knowledge such that they attain a strong competitive advantage,” informs the official website.

9. PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh

One of the oldest department of the college, it boasts of well equipped laboratories such as Heat Engines & Strength of Materials, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Hydraulics & Theory of Machines. They also have a well-equipped workshops.

10. Bengal Engineering and Science University

The department was established in 1921, when a diploma in Mechanical Engineering was started in the Institute. “The Department provides ample laboratory facilities and hands-on training to the Undergraduate students both in the conventional subject as also in the emerging fields of specialisation. The department various laboratories that caters to both basic training as well as research purposes.

“The Department is mainly backed by Applied Mechanics Department which caters subjects like, Strength of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, Dynamics of Machinery, Engineering Mechanics & drawing. It is also backed by the Central Workshop facilities for providing hands-on training in the conventional machining and other traditional trades like Smithy, Forging, Welding, Foundry and Pattern Making. A Stream Power Laboratory is also being used for training the departmental students,” informs the official website.

To view the complete ranking, click here.