What is AI & ML?: Course Fees 2026, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

The full forms of AI and ML are Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning respectively. It is basically a course that teaches students the working machinations behind AI. The core subjects that are taught in this course are Introduction to AI, Differential Equations, Data Structures, and Foundations of Machine Learning to name a few. This course is offered in UG, PG, Diploma and PhD levels pan India.

AI & ML courses are a stepping stone to the diverse and enormous field of Artificial Intelligence. They educate students in the art of creating systems that analyse extensive datasets, automate decision making and work towards real world problem solving. Gaining a degree in AI & ML offers a greater chance at high paying employment in this tech first economy.

The scope of AI & ML is limitless. The major recruiters are from the healthcare, e-commerce, finance and defense, along with many more sectors. Countries like US, UK, Germany and Japan offer a high employability rate for roles in many technology-based areas. The average salary for US, UK, Germany and Japan for the role of AI & ML Engineer is $1L/yr, £44K/yr, €58K/yr, and JP¥75.2L/yr respectively.

Artificial Intelligence is a broad and expansive subject which machine learning is a part of. Mimicking human intelligence is the end goal of any AI module. ML has a smaller more limited scope. It is a subset of AI, that helps AI achieve its goal by building trained algorithms and software that can work without explicit prompts.

Not necessarily, because a B.E. or BSc Honors degree would suffice in many colleges in India. Because a Bachelor of Engineering or a B.E. degree is deemed equal to a BTech degree, a lot of colleges could consider it as eligible. 

However, the BSc degree needs to be relevant to the specialisation that a student wants to take in MTech. The clearing of a M.Tech entrance examination is necessary for most colleges.

That entirely depends on the degree level. If a student wants to enroll in a Bachelor's degree, then no, prior coding knowledge is not required before applying. During a UG course, coding will be taught in the first semester, though it is advisable to familiarize one self with basic coding languages. Whereas, for a Master's degree, knowing how to code is a strict requirement.

For BTech in AI & ML, selection of the entrance test is the first most important step. In case of selecting the test, students have to see their eligibility criteria first. After meeting the eligibility criteria, go to the official website of the test or university (in case of private test).

Yes, a Master's in AI & ML after doing an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is a popular course of academics in India. To be eligible for a PG degree in AI & ML, a minimum aggregate score of 40% - 50% is required. Depending upon the institute, the BTech score could be considered for entrance, or candidates might have to appear for exams like GATE.

This depends on the level of examination a candidate is aiming for. For an undergraduate degree, JEE Mains and Advanced are a gateway to some of the top-ranking public, private and state colleges for a BTech/B.E., BSc or specialisation in AI & ML in India. Whereas, for postgraduate degree, candidates should lean towards the GATE examination for the same colleges.

JEE Mains is one of the most competitive exams in our country. According to a press release by NTA, the total number of candidates that appeared in both sessions of the exam was 15,38,468. 

The time required is subjective for each student. Roughly One to two years of preparation should be enough. Some students take a gap year but some start preparing in class 11th and give the JEE exam after class 12th boards. There is a 6 attempt limit on JEE Mains.

Yes, any candidate above the age of 17 can apply for a bachelor's degree in Engineering. There is no established maximum age. Verified documents like 12th marksheet, Aadhar Card, etc. will be needed at the time of application.

The application process depends on the exam a candidate has chosen. For national level exams like JEE/CUET, NTA guidelines are to be followed. But for state or university level exams, exact information and guidelines should be available on their official websites. Online applications are fairly simple; candidates should be ready with scanned copies of all official documents, and they are good to go.

The highest fees for a degree in AI & ML in India are an approximate of the range 13L to 16.5L. On the other hand, the lower fees band is around 40K – 45K. 

So, the price range is quite flexible. The cost entirely depends on the college a candidate chooses, the degree can be expensive and affordable according to it.

The top 3 colleges according to our research for AI & ML would be Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University,  Birla Institute of Technology – Mesra and Christ University. This is because they offer a globally renowned curriculum, good placements and helps attaining practical exposure through internships and such.

Generally, Machine Learning is harder than Artificial Intelligence. ML has more to do mathematics and statistics. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence is more logic based, it tackles problem solving. 

That said, difficulty and ease in any topic is entirely subjective to the person studying.

According to AICTE guidelines, around 20% to 30% syllabus in AI and robotics is customizable for students through Professional Electives, Open Electives and End Term Projects while still keeping the core subjects consistent. Students are allowed to tailor their course according to the career path they want to take. But within the regulations of the institution they are studying in.

AI & ML Engineer is the highest paid fresher job in India. According to Ambitionbox data, the average salary of an AI & ML Engineer with 0 to 6 years of experience is around 18.7 LPA. It is considered a good starting point in an AI specialists' career. With the top 10% and 1% engineers making around 30.4 LPA and 61.1 LPA respectively, the role gives a lot of scope of growth for young professionals.

ROI means Return on Investment. This means the financial return received after investing in something. 
To calculate ROI, subtract total benefits (salary + bonus, etc.) from the total cost (fees + living cost, etc.). Divide it again by total costs. Now multiply the fraction by 100 and the number received is your ROI%.
Calculating the ROI of a course is very necessary because then students can clearly understand what they will get out of the course financially.

The choice entirely depends on the candidate and their interests. A degree in BTech Data Science leads to a high use of statistics and extracting meaning and patterns from large data sets. 

Whereas a study in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning leads to generating highly efficient intelligent systems like AI assistants,  chatbots,  and eventually venturing into robotics.

Instead of understanding the academics and placement opportunities offered by colleges, students often chase the popularity and fame of a college. Candidates should focus if the ROI is good enough.

Fintech is the highest paying sector for AI & ML jobs, if the criteria for best is monetary compensation. But tech and cloud infrastructure offer a more lucrative learning opportunity as compared to fintech and e commerce firms. The average salary of an AI & ML engineer in the fintech sector is 34.1 LPA whereas a tech firm pays around 27.8 Lakhs annually.

People are losing their jobs because they are not progressing along with AI and not because AI is replacing jobs. The mass layoffs are a planned reorganization that will free up funds for hiring AI professionals. It is very logical to study and make a career in AI & ML since the shift towards AI is big. Data suggests that companies are moving large funds towards AI acquisition.