What Is Computer Engineering: Computer Engineering combines several disciplines of computer science and electronics to develop computer hardware and software. A Computer engineer designs and develops computer systems and other technological devices. The Computer Engineering course teaches how to prototype and test microchips, circuits, processors, conductors and any other component used in computer devices or systems. It also teaches how to develop firmware, which is an essential type of software that allows operating systems and applications to take full advantage of the hardware.

A computer hardware engineer researches, designs, develops and tests computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks and routers. Software engineering teaches how to build everything from small circuits to large systems. This branch of engineering trains students to design, construct, and repair any digital system. For more detailed information about Computer Engineering, candidates can go through this article.

What is Computer Engineering?

For those minds thinking, ‘Is computer engineering a good career?’ let us brief you on that first. Computer Science engineering, essentially, is an integrated field of engineering which combines aspects of electronic engineering with computer sciences. It is mainly bifurcated into two parts – Hardware Engineering and Software Engineering. As the name reflects, Hardware engineering is all about constructing a small microchip for large scientific computers. Software engineering covers designing and constructing software for various purposes.

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It isn’t easy to define computer engineering in a statement due to the extensive nature of this field. Computer engineers undertake various responsibilities depending on the industry and their place of employment, ranging from the manufacturing of microprocessors to creating and designing computer programs and algorithms.

Skills Required for a Software Engineer

Computer engineering is a dynamic field, and candidates must possess a certain set of skills to be successful in this field. Given below are some of the skills that a software engineer should possess:

Analytical and diagnostic skillsThe knack for solving problemsCreative outlookProgramming and algorithmic skillsBasic knowledge of web development, Technical writing skillsBasic knowledge of machine learningThe ability to think criticallyAttention to details

What does a Computer Engineer Do?

Given are some of the roles and responsibilities of a Computer Engineer:

(1) Oversee the security, stability, and functionality of the company’s database. (2) Create codes for various computer applications, software, and operating systems. (3) Lend technical support and assistance to customers or businesses. (4) Design the architecture and user interface of a computer system. (5) Develop software and create applications for a computer system or similar device. (6) Coordinate research, conduct surveys, record and analyse data and gather information through the internet for the company. (7) Tests the different components of a computer system.

Computer Engineering Course Details

It is mandatory to have a PCM background in 10+2 to take up Computer Science Engineering in graduation. Interested candidates should score a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. For Post Graduation courses, it is mandatory to have the same background during graduation, i.e., B.Tech/BE Computer Engineering. To be a teacher, it is necessary to have at least a master’s degree in computer engineering. There are also some other levels of this course available in India like PhD, M. Phil, and Diploma in Computer Engineering. Computer engineering has different levels that are being followed in India.

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Computer Science Engineering Eligibility Criteria

Given below are the general eligibility criteria to pursue the Computer Science Engineering program at the UG and PG levels:

CourseEligibilityUndergraduate– Passed Class 12 exam from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects.– Minimum 60% marks.Postgraduate– B.Tech degree in the same specialisation with a minimum CPI of 6.5 or 60% of marks or First Class in the qualifying degree.– Minimum qualifying marks in GATE ME.

Courses in Computer Science Engineering

(1) BE/B.Tech: It is mandatory to score at least 50% marks in 10+2 to be eligible for a tier 2 college at least. To get admission in a top Indian college, it is mandatory to crack JEE Mains and Advanced. To attempt JEE, it is necessary to have 75% with the PCM background in 10+2. A top score on JEE provides you with admission to a tier-1 College. (2) ME/M.Tech/MSc: To get admission for a postgraduation course in Computer Engineering, it is mandatory to crack B.Sc or B.Tech. As per the level of the college, the eligibility requirement differs. For example, to get admission to IIT Kharagpur, it is mandatory to crack master’s with at least 60% and the GATE exam with top rank. GATE score can be waived off if the candidate belongs to an IIT and scores at least 6.5 overall and 8.0 CPI in 2 Years of his/her graduation. (3) M. Phil/PhD: To pursue a doctorate in computer engineering, it is mandatory to have a postgraduation degree for the same. The duration of doctorate courses can vary from 6 months to 5 years. In India, students need to have a minimum GATE or NET score to become eligible for a doctorate level course from a top college. (4) Diploma Courses: To be eligible for a diploma course, it is mandatory to have a PCM background in 10+2. Good colleges can provide admission if you have scored at least 40%. The average duration of this course is 3 years. A diploma in Computer Engineering also has good demand but not as much as a graduate in the field.(5) Distance Courses: There are so many international and national universities that provide distance learning or online learning courses for Software Engineering. It is necessary to have the same background to pursue these courses as well.

Note: The duration mentioned above is taken from various official websites of Tier-1 and Tier-2 colleges. It can vary as per the rules and regulations various universities follow.

Common Specialisations of Computer Engineering in India

Some of the common specialisations in India are as under:

Software EngineeringData Science & AnalyticsMachine LearningArtificial IntelligenceNetworkingCyber SecurityMobile and Web ComputingHuman-Computer InteractionBioinformaticsRoboticsCloud ComputingTheoretical Computer ScienceInformation Systems & ManagementInformation SecurityForensic Security

Note: The specialisations mentioned above are taken from Quora. Apart from these, there are so many fields in which a computer hardware engineer learns. It totally depends upon the Computer Engineering syllabus and the choices you get.

Topics & Subjects in Computer Science Engineering

Usually, every engineering college or university follows the same syllabus for the first year. Any kinds of change in the syllabus occur from the third year semester of the course.

A list of Computer Engineering subjects/topics taught at the UG level is given below:

Engineering in Mathematics.Electronic Circuits.Logic Design.Discrete Mathematical Structures.Data Structures With C.Object-Oriented Programming With C++.Data Structures With C/C++ Laboratory.Electronic Circuits and Logic Design Laboratory.Graphics Theory and Combinatorics.Design and Analysis of Algorithms.UNIX and Shell Programming.Computer Organization.Design and Analysis of Algorithm Theory.Microprocessors Laboratory.Software Engineering.Systems Software.Operating Systems.Database Management.Computer Networks.Formal Language and Automata Theory.Database Applications Laboratory.System Software and Operating Systems and Laboratory.Management and Entrepreneurship.UNIX System Programming.Compiler Design.Computer Graphics and Visualization.Object-Oriented Modeling and Design.Embedded Computing System.Programming the Web.Advanced Computer Architecture.Advanced DBMS.Digital Signal Processing.JAVA and J2EE.Multimedia Computing.Data Warehousing and Data Mining.Neural Networks.Software Architectures.System Modeling and Simulation.

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Computer Science Engineering subjects list taught at PG level is as under:

Computer Networks.Advances in OS.Advance Data Management System.Computer System Performance Analysis.Formal Models in Computer Science.Advanced Algorithms.Advanced Computer Architecture.Cloud Computing.Information Security.Project Work Evaluation and Viva-Voce.

Note: Subjects of Computer Engineering mentioned above are taken from the official website of CMRIT, Bengaluru. These can vary as per the syllabus of various universities or colleges.

Entrance Exams for Computer Engineering

A list of the top engineering entrance exams in India is as follows:

Top Colleges for Computer Science Engineering

Provided below are some of the best colleges in India:

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), BangaloreInternational Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, DelhiIndian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani.Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay LNM Institute of Information Technology, Jaipur.Vellore Institute of Technology, VelloreNational Institute of Technology, Trichy

Computer Engineering Admission Fee

A general fee structure for UG courses in India is tabulated below:

Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)

CollegesFee (in INR)Government/Public6,000 (minimum)3.99 L (average)12.46 L (maximum)Private1.09 L (minimum)3.94 L (average)12.48 L (maximum)

Bachelor of Engineering (BE)

CollegesFee (in INR)Government/Public9,520 (minimum)2.23 L (average)5.87 L (maximum)Private60,500 (minimum)3.35 L (average)17.08 L (maximum)

A general fee structure for Computer Engineering courses for the Post Graduate programme in India is tabulated below:

Master of Engineering (ME)

CollegesFee (in INR)Government/Public9,100 (minimum)1.05 L (average)2.34 L (maximum)Private65,000 (minimum)1.96 L (average)20.4 L (maximum)

Master of Technology (M.Tech)

CollegesFee (in INR)Government/Public10,440 (minimum)1.79 L (average)5.43 L (maximum)Private70,160 (minimum)1.97 L (average)8.57 L (maximum)

Jobs & Career Opportunities in B.Tech/BE Computer Engineering

Almost every sector in India is getting digitalised, which directly impacts the industries which manufacture digital gadgets like desktop computers, laptops, etc. Now India is known as an IT hub for the world. With so many digital marketing companies, the Indian corporate sector is open to so many job opportunities for computer engineers. From being an IT technician to a software development manager, Or IT Consultant for MNCs, the Indian market has grown to create so many levels of jobs for computer engineers. A computer hardware engineer also makes a good living off the salary and can quickly scale up the company hierarchy or move to a new company.

Companies like Google, Facebook, and Alibaba are some MNCs hiring Indian Computer Engineering graduates out of the colleges. With so many international and national job opportunities, Indian computer engineers have a large scope of getting hired by off-campus or on-campus hiring processes. Just like the other branches of engineering, growth in this industry is also based on performance.

Some of the job roles played by computer engineers are below:

(1) IT Consultants (2) Web Developers (3) Software Testers and Developers (4) Security Analysts and Consultants (5) Data Warehouse Developer/ Manager or Analyst (6) UX Developers (7) IT Auditors(8) Data Architects (9) Computer Engineer(10) Systems Engineer(11) Network Engineer(12) Quality Control Engineer (13) Mobile Device Engineer

Top Recruiters for Computer Science Engineering in India

As mentioned above, computer engineers have a great scope of getting hired in India. The reason behind so many career opportunities is that almost every sector is currently dependent on IT activities. BE Computer Engineering has been on a boom for decades now. In almost every organisation, digital gadgets are being used. Computer engineers perform various roles for industries like Software Engineers, IT technicians, IT Consultants, Software Developers, etc. Some of the companies that recruit computer engineer graduates are:

Infosys TechnologiesCognizantTata Consultancy Services AccentureIBMHCL TechnologiesWipro

Given below are the average packages offered by some of the top companies that hire computer engineers in India:

CompanyAverage Package (in INR)ISRO 6,00,00DRDO2,31,123Facebook8,63,000IBM7,90,523Google10,81,896 TCS3,68,000

Note: Salary details mentioned above are taken from various sources like Quora, Payscale, etc. Embibe doesn’t promise you any package on behalf of any organisation in any case.

The Future of Computer Engineering

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the growth of jobs for Hardware Engineers by 7% and Software Engineers by 22%, respectively, from 2012 to 2022. This is owing to the increased requirement for technical skills and that the innovation in the technology field in the software aspect is much higher than that of hardware.

FAQs on Computer Engineering

Some of the frequently asked questions are as follows:

Q1: Is it possible for a computer engineer to tackle a PSU job?Ans: Yes. There are many Indian PSUs that are hiring computer engineers in India. Some of those companies are ISRO, CIL, BEL, ICL, ONGC, etc.

Q2. What should I do if I want to be a teacher after pursuing B.Tech in computer engineering?Ans: To be an engineering teacher, it is necessary to have real-life working experience. In India, the most common qualification for being a teacher is to have a PhD degree to teach college students. Some private institutes also provide career opportunities for a teacher with just a postgraduation degree. India has so many engineering institutes, due to which being a teacher with some experience and knowledge is not so tough.

Q3. How can JEE be helpful for me if I want to join the computer engineering field as a student?Ans: JEE provides you access to top colleges in India if you wish to pursue a career in engineering. It is mandatory to score 75% in 10+2 if your target colleges are IITs or NITs.

Q4. Which branch of Computer Engineering has more scope in the future?Ans: For the same duration, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts higher growth in Software Engineering in comparison to Hardware Engineering.

Q5. Is it possible for me to find a freelancing job after pursuing computer engineering?Ans: A computer engineer can easily be a freelancer due to the skills and knowledge he or she possesses. Many international and national organisations will pay a freelancer for developing software or consulting about IT requirements, etc.

It is evident that this sector is filled with unlimited opportunities. To be successful in engineering when there is so much competition, it is mandatory to have good knowledge, skills, and experience.

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