Last Updated on July 27, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
Aerospace Engineering has not been a very popular branch among Engineering course aspirants! Aeronautical branch has been able to garner some attention towards itself. But, Aerospace Engineering branch continues to be overlooked by many 12th Science students! Many of them think that both Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering are one and the same! No, they both are two quite different branches. In this article, I will write in detail about Aerospace Engineering. I’ll write on topics such as- basic course details, career prospects, scope etc.
What is Aerospace Engineering branch all about?
In simple words, it is a branch of Engineering that focuses on fields of Space research and exploration. Yes, it is a very interesting field.
Talking about the course material, some important topics covered in this program are- Aerodynamics, propulsion and avionics, flight mechanisms, sensor systems, artificial satellites, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles etc. Such special focused subjects are taught along with other Engineering subjects such as Physics, Mathematics, Elements of Electrical Engineering etc.
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering are entirely different branches
Many students think that both the above mentioned Engineering branches are one and the same! This is absolutely wrong! Yes, there might be some similar topics present in both the branches, but, looking at the bigger picture, they both are two different branches.
Aeronautical Engineering chiefly deals with aircraft maintenance, machines involved in it, aerodynamics etc. Aerospace Engineering, on the other hand, focuses on Space exploration and research.
Course duration and course type
For undergraduates, BE or B Tech programs in Aerospace Engineering are available. The course duration is 4 years long.
PG courses after Graduation
After graduation, Aerospace Engineering graduates may go for ME/M Tech program. Going for research program of PhD is another good option that is available.
Some good Colleges offering this course in India
The best available Institutes offering this course are the IITs (Indian Institute of Technology). Not all IITs offers Aerospace Engineering. The program is available at the following IITs- IIT Mumbai, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Hyderabad and IIT Kanpur. Other than IITs, two other prominent Institutes offering this course are- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Other good private colleges offering this program are- BIT Mesra, Amity University, Amrita School of Engineering and Management etc.
Eligibility criteria
To get admission in BE/B Tech program, one should have passed 12th Science schooling with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics subjects. In case of IITs, for admission, students have to clear the JEE (Joint Entrance Examination). In case of other private institutes, students have to clear state wise and/or respective Colleges’ entrance tests.
Scope and Career prospects
Job opportunities are available in both Public as well as Private sectors in ample amounts! Many big private players are making their presence felt in the aerospace sector. One may land a lucrative job in private firms such as Mahindra Aerospace or TATA Aerospace. Apart from them, a number of other private players are also set to jump in. The decision of Government to allow private players to participate in Defence sector activities will help more private firms enter aerospace field and thus create new job opportunities.
Airline Industries also hire Aerospace Engineering graduates in large amounts. Government sector entities like DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) as well as HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) also hire Aerospace Engineers.
Some advantages that Aerospace Engineering offers
First of all, this Engineering branch is not very saturated. There are comparatively lesser number of Colleges in India, which are offering this course. Number of graduates passing out each year is very less. On the other hand, the demand for Aerospace Engineers is on the rise! Thus, finding a good job won’t be a difficult task!
Space exploration and research is a fast developing field. Especially the research sector looks promising. A career in the R&D sector can be built, which will be very rewarding!
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Defence and Airline Industry are another two sectors that recruits Aerospace Engineers in large amounts. Both these sectors are set to grow at good pace and are not showing any signs of slowing down. In short, for Aerospace Engineers, new job opportunities will keep on coming!
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.
What if I want to do aerospace engineering after completing b.sc. it..what would be the course duration and fees for the same?
Course duration will be 4 years, for undergraduate course. Fees may vary from one institute to another. Not knowledgeable about it.