What is Genetic Engineering?: Course Fees 2026, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Genetic Engineering is inevitable in enhancing the quality of human life. This revolutionary field deals with issues like nutrition and food supply in agriculture, tackling diseases when it comes to public health, and approaching novel solutions for the betterment of society.

By making use of Engineering principles and scientific research, genetic engineers are working with DNA structures that are also often called the very blueprints of life. This pathbreaking field is allowing us to change the nature of living beings by editing those structures and the genes contained within them.

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Genetic Engg Courses

Courses in Genetic Engg. are offered at the UG, PG, and doctorate levels in India. The course duration varies on the basis of the level at which you're studying the course. For BTech Genetic Engineering, the general time span is 4 years in India, while for M Tech Genetic Engg., you need to invest 2 years. You can also consider going for a PhD degree in the field that takes around 3 to 6 years to complete.

Of course, some well known options for Genetic Engineering in India are

• Lovely Professional University
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology
• Shoolini University
• Sharda School of Engineering and Technology
• Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research
• Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya

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Genetic Engineering Courses

For studying UG courses in Genetic Engg., you should get at least 50 to 60% marks in the Physics, Chemistry, Math/Biology subjects in Class 12 boards. For PG courses, you must have completed B.E/BTech in a relevant field with 55% marks. It is mostly offered as a specialisation at the postgraduate level.
A few colleges also offer PhD programs in Genetic Engineering for which you must hold a master's degree in Genetic Engg., Biotechnology Engineering, or a related field with at least 55 to 60% marks. Further, you also need to give relevant entrance exams for getting admission to the course at best colleges in India.
Rest, you can check the respective college websites for accurate information to have a hassel-free admission process. 

You should start by meeting the eligibility criteria for Genetic Engg. courses at various levels. Further, you need to give relevant entrance tests for admission and get excellent marks in the same to grab a seat at popular colleges.

It is very important to fill out the college application forms before the registration window gets closed. After the exam results are out and you've got your marks, you need to apply for the college counselling process.

You must go to the college for counseling where you'll be given a seat according to your rank and marks in the same. After seat allotment, you need to go the college and pay the Genetic Engineering course fee to get your seat confirmed. 

You can find the list of basic documents needed for getting admission to courses in Genetic Engineering given here

• PG Mark Sheet with at least 55 to 60% marks (For Ph.D.)
• UG Mark Sheet with at least 55% marks (For M Tech)
• Class 12 Mark Sheet with 50 to 60% marks in PCM/PCB/PCMB
• Class 10 Certificate (may be needed)
• Entrance Exam Result and Admit Card photocopy
• A Valid Identity Proof like Aadhar, PAN, etc.
• Reserved Category Certificate (if applicable)
• College Migration or Character Certificates (may be needed)
• Recent Passport-size Photos

Most of the engineering educational institutes shortlist candidates for admission to Genetic Engineering courses at various levels based on prominent entrance exam scores. Some of the top Genetic Engineering entrance exams in 2026 are

• CUET PG
• UGC NET
• CSIR NET
• JEE Main
• GATE
• LPU NEST
• SRMJEEE

It depends on the exam that you're planning to appear for. In general, it is better to start your prep as early as possible, at least 8 months before the final exam is tentatively scheduled to take place. This will provide you enough time to cover the entire exam syllabus, practice last year papers and do a thorough revision of the important topics to increase your chances of doing well and getting shortlisted for admission at top colleges.

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Genetic Engineering Entrance Exams

The entrance tests for admission to Genetic Engg. courses are generally quite competitive and challenging. The difficulty level and competitiveness differs on the basis of the specific exam that you're sitting for at the national/state/college level, but in general, it requires a lot of hard work and preparation from your end to fare well and get an excellent rank and marks in the Genetic Engineering entrance exams.

Genetic Engineering could help us create more food, design new materials, treat diseases, and even improve the overall life span of people's lives. By manipulating the very building blocks of organisms, this field holds immense potential to transform medicine, agriculture, and even industrial processes.

Some key reasons for studying Genetic Engg. courses are given here

• Genetic engineers are working with DNA structures that are also often called the very blueprints of life. As a Genetic Engineer, you could work in research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural biotechnology companies, or pursue an advanced-level course in this field to become a leading researcher.
• You can easily get decent earning opportunities after completing a degree in this field, as top recruiters offer good salary packages to talented students with the required skill set because you can actually get involved in revolutionizing medicine and transforming the picture of agriculture, the two backbones of Indian society.
• You can actually work at the forefront of bringing advancement in medicine via gene therapy and drug discovery, add more nutritional value to food crops, and ensure food security, etc. This will create a positive impact on society in general and lead to great results.

Well, it depends. If you have interest in healthcare, biology, and biotechnology, its coursework will be an exciting journey for you. There's a scope for growth with increased earning opportunities and a respectable career. 

Think and decide. 

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Genetic Engineering Courses

The BTech Genetic Engg. course does not just give you theory-based learning via classroom lectures; it also makes you learn the right set of skills to do well in the professional world that you grasp through lab classes, research projects, and industrial workshops. Some general yet important skills are given here for your reference

• Bioinformatics and Data Analysis
• Knowledge of DNA Technology and Genetics
• Advanced techniques of Gene Manipulation
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Aptitude
• Statistical Methods of Gene Analysis

The syllabus for Genetic Engg. courses vary on the basis of the course level and the college where you're studying the course. The syllabus has some core subjects along with interesting elective subject choices, which provide detailed knowledge about the field.

Some general core subjects covered in Genetic Engineering classes are given below

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Genetic and Cytogenetics
• Immunology
• Plant Biotechnology
• Gene Manipulation and Genomics
• Bioprocess Engineering
• Bioseparation Technology

Some popular electives offered in the Genetic Engineering syllabus are given below

• Human Genetics
• Metabolic Engineering of Microbes
• Genetics of Crop Improvement
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Gene Therapy
• Functional Genomics
• Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases

Well, there are core subject modules that are compulsory for you to study in every semester because they give a strong foundational base for the field, leaving no room for customization.

Having said that, there are program electives that you can choose based on your interests and understanding, the ones that are easy to understand and fun to explore, leaving some scope for customization.

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Genetic Engineering Courses

There are less than 10 private Genetic Engineering colleges in India at present. A list of a few of the best ones along with the tuition fee is given below

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Genetic Engineering Colleges

Genetic Engg. is a growing field at present and therefore, you'll find less colleges offering courses in the field. As far as the government colleges for Genetic Engineering courses are concerned, there is only one college, DAVV- Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (Indore),  which offers MSc in Genetic Engineering with a tuition fee of approximately INR 1.07 lakh. 

The average Genetic Engineering tuition fee is approximately INR 3 lakh to INR 10 lakh. Other than the tuition fee, extra charges like for hostel accommodation, admission application, semester exam registration, and lab work also apply, for which you should definitely check the respective college websites for precise information. 

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Genetic Engineering Colleges

Genetic Engineering has high growth in sectors 

• Agriculture - Develop pest-resistant, high-yield crops for food security.
• Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals - Gene therapy for genetic diseases, personalized medicine. Producing life-saving drugs and vaccines.
• R&D - A growing hub for cutting-edge genomics research.

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Genetic Engineering Career

Experience

• • Freshers - Around INR 4 LPA
  • 1-3 years - INR 5 - 7 LPA
  • 5+ years - INR 8 - 12 LPA+
• Master's or PhD holders typically earn more.
• Some areas, like medical genetics, may offer higher salaries.
• Salaries are generally higher in major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi.
• Multinational companies and research institutions may pay more than smaller firms.

In short, Genetic engineering gives a specialised career path with high earning potential but may have fewer job openings. Ideal, if you are passionate about manipulating genes and their direct impact. Biotechnology provides a broader range of career options and potentially more job opportunities. Good if you are interested in applying biological principles across many fields.

Refer to the table below for more of the comparison analysis

The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

See the skills required to pursue a Genetic Engineering course after 12th in India 

The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

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Genetic Engineering Courses

Genetic Engineering is a niche field, and not many colleges offer its courses. But, you can definitely look up a few top college options for Genetic Engineering courses in Tamil Nadu, as given here

Note - The information is taken from the official website.

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Genetic Engineering Courses

Well, yes. The Genetic Engineering course syllabus focuses on both theoretical learning and practical components, which include hands-on lab sessions and informative workshops, so that you learn about the Genetic Engineering techniques, gene therapy, drug formulation, and other practical applications to excel in the professional world.

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Genetic Engineering Courses

Not at all. The Genetic Engineering syllabus differs on the basis of the college and course level. Each college follows a particular curriculum structure as decided by the university officials before the academic session starts, including some core subjects, specialised programme electives, internships, lab work, and projects. While a few core subjects might share some similarity across top colleges, programme electives are quite different, which you can take up based on your interests and future relevancy.

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Genetic Engineering Courses

Here's what all you can do

• Pursue a BSc or BTech in Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, or a related field with strong foundational courses in physics, chemistry, and mathematics/biology.
• Consider a Master's in Genetic Engineering or a specialised field like medical genetics or plant biotechnology for deeper knowledge and career advancement.

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Genetic Engineering Career

The Genetic Engineering admission can take around 3 to 6 months to complete, from entrance exams to final seat allotment. This is because each college has its own admission guidelines for giving admission to students. Some formalities like entrance exams, college applications, results, cutoffs, college counseling, are important.

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Genetic Engineering Courses