Full form of ME is Master of Engineering and that of MTech is Master of Technology. MTech is a professional postgraduate engineering Master’s degree program awarded to candidates after completion of two years of study in the discipline of engineering. This degree is predicated in a specific branch of engineering.

In India, the ME/MTech degree is offered across various specializations. These specializations include Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, VLSI, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering etc.

This degree course is offered under the following categories:

1. Regular (Full-Time)
2. Sponsored (Full-Time)
3. Part-Time Mtech
4. Project Staff (For those who are presently working on sponsored projects)

This master degree programme is also receptive to working diploma holders or diploma holders having work experience for specified period.

In India, this master degree is regulated under the aegis of University Grants Commission of India (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Board of Accreditation (NBA). Admissions to ME/MTech programmes offered by technical colleges and universities in India is made through a National level/State-level/Institute-level engineering entrance examination.

Difference between ME and MTech

As mentioned above, ME stands for Master of Engineering while MTech stands for Master of Technology. The key difference between these two degrees is in terms of their practical impact, course material and orientation.

The basic eligibility requirement for admission to ME/MTech programme is:

• Candidates who have completed their BE/BTech degree with a valid score in GATE are eligible for ME/MTech degree course.
• Candidates who have completed a 5-year program in Science or Applied Sciences resulting in the award of a Master of Science degree are also eligible for Master of Engineering course.
• Admission is based on rank obtained in the entrance test conducted for ME./MTech.

Please note that the ME/MTech eligibility criteria would vary from institute to institute.

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE): Entrance Exam for MTech

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering or popularly known as GATE is a national-level engineering exam conducted every year for admission to postgraduate and doctorate level courses at IITs, NITs and IIITs. The exam is jointly conducted by seven IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Guwahati, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

Various government and private institutions across the country accept the GATE score for admission to their MTech programs. Moreover, Public Sector Units (PSUs) also recruit engineers through GATE.

In 2020, GATE will be organized by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in online mode on February 1, 2, 8 and 9. GATE 2020 will be conducted in 25 papers including the newly added subject, Biomedical Engineering. Application forms for GATE 2020 will be available from September 3, 2019, and the last date to apply for the same is September 24. GATE scores will be valid for a period of three years from the date of the release of the GATE 2020 result i.e. March 16.

The course curriculum for every ME/MTech specialization is different. Herein the syllabus. Course curriculum for some of the popular ME/MTech specializations.

The job opportunities for ME/MTech graduates are huge in technical fields. Any graduate who has successfully pursued the ME/MTech degree can get a job in almost all the sectors in India. Besides being hired as engineers, ME/MTech graduates are also hired as consultants, subject matter experts, researchers, managers, etc. Herein some of the popular job profiles for ME/MTech graduates.

As a ME/MTech graduate, it’s important to be aware of the choices that you are or you will be making for your future. To make the right decision, you must be aware of all the choices available to you to lead a better career. Some ME/MTech graduates also launch their own start-ups.

Top recruiters for ME/MTech

The demand for ME/MTech graduates is high across every domain. Every company – private of government, big or small recruit engineers in various capacities. Herein the list of some of the top companies recruiting ME./MTech graduates after a successful 2 year programme.