Taking the science stream in school is only the first step toward the world of technology. The next step is college, wherein the student needs to choose the right course to make a career in the same.
Nowadays, there are many courses to choose from. When it comes to technical courses, students usually opt for B.Tech, but another course that has been rapidly becoming popular is polytechnic. This course is equivalent to a degree in engineering and is of a shorter duration.
Vocational courses in engineering have proven themselves to be of great value and offer a solid base for a career in the world of technology. Here’s all about the polytechnic course and its types.
What Is Polytechnic?
Polytechnic can be termed as a vocational course or a diploma that focuses on giving technical education. A polytechnic course is usually of a duration of 3 years. Just like other engineering courses, a polytechnic course also offers a certificate on successful completion of the same. Initially, the course is offered only by government colleges or government-aided colleges. However, many private colleges are also offering the course.
Polytechnic Courses In India
There are a plethora of courses that fall under polytechnic. These courses are as follows:
- Diploma in Aerospace Engineering
- Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
- Diploma in Automobile Engineering
- Diploma in Food Processing and Technology
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- Diploma in Chemical Engineering
- Diploma in Civil Engineering
- Diploma in EC Engineering
- Diploma in Electrical Engineering
- Diploma in Mining Engineering
- Diploma in IC Engineering
- Diploma in Biotechnology Engineering
- Diploma in Environmental Engineering
- Diploma in Textile Engineering
- Diploma in Computer Science Engineering
- Diploma in Electronics Engineering
- Diploma in IT Engineering
- Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
- Diploma in Genetic Engineering
- Diploma in Plastics Engineering
- Diploma in Petroleum Engineering
- Diploma in Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Information Technology
- Diploma in Metallurgy Engineering
- Diploma in Infrastructure Engineering
- Diploma in Dairy Technology and Engineering
- Diploma in Power Engineering
- Diploma in Production Engineering
It can be difficult to choose the best course from the list mentioned above. In such a case, there are some courses that are taken by students more often. These courses are as follows:
- Diploma in Civil Engineering
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- Diploma in Chemical Engineering
- Diploma in Electrical Engineering
- Diploma in Electronics Engineering
- Diploma in Automobile
Eligibility Criteria
Like every course, polytechnic, too, has a certain eligibility criteria. Therefore, it is important to check if you are eligible for the course. Here is the eligibility criteria for a polytechnic course:
- The student should have successfully completed class 10th or 12th
- The candidate should have obtained a minimum of 40% marks in the qualifying exam. However, the minimum marks vary from institute to institute.
- The candidate should have compulsorily studied Science, English, and Mathematics in school.
Admission
There are many polytechnic colleges in Kerala and the admission process for a polytechnic course is as follows:
- Registration- Herein, the candidate needs to fill out a registration form for the chosen college, filling in the requested details. A registration form can be issued online as well as offline. The candidate is also required to submit the required documents.
- Admit Card- Once the candidate registers for a college, they receive an admit card for an entrance exam. The admit card contains the details of the student and the venue of the examination.
- Entrance Examination- An entrance exam is conducted for admission to the chosen college. These exams may vary from college to college.
- Result Declaration- The result is declared after a few days of the entrance examination. The admissions are done on the basis of the result.
- Counselling- Once the candidate passes the exam, they are called for counselling. After the process, the candidate is allotted the course and seat.
What Is The Difference Between B.Tech And Polytechnic Course?
Here’s how polytechnic is different from B.Tech:
- A polytechnic course’s duration ranges from 1 to 3 years, whereas the duration of a B.Tech course is 4 years.
- When it comes to fees, it is higher for B.Tech.
- A polytechnic course is a diploma course/ vocational course, whereas B.Tech is a degree.
Career Opportunities After Polytechnic Course
Students who have a keen interest in engineering can take up a polytechnic course. It trains you well in the field of technology and develops and polishes the necessary skills required in engineering.
If you are concerned about placements, many companies recognize it as a valuable course and offer jobs without making it compulsory for the candidate to enroll in a B.Tech or B.E. course. However, if you want to start with junior engineering jobs, a polytechnic course is an apt choice. You can go for a B.Tech or B.E. course later. Some polytechnic colleges also offer placements.
The course fees range from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5000 per annum in government colleges. The fees might go up to Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 30,000 per annum in government-aided colleges and might go even higher in private colleges. If you are looking to pursue a course in south India, you can find good polytechnic colleges in Kerala. If you want to opt for further studies, you can also choose from various engineering colleges in Kerala. You will find a plethora of B.E. and B.Tech colleges in Kerala.
Conclusion
Technology is one of the important pillars running the world. The preparation to enter the world of technology starts for an aspirant right from school. Once they take up science stream, they start their journey. The next step is to develop and brush up the skills necessary to ace the world of technology. While many students go for popular course, such as B.E. or B.Tech, many want to save time and money. Polytechnic course is yet another option that is gaining popularity at a great pace.
Polytechnic is a diploma course/ vocational course in engineering that is of a duration of 1 to 3 years, unlike B.Tech or B.E. which are of a duration of 4 years. The course offers technical education that acts as a solid base for engineering jobs. The course has an admission process like any other engineering course. Colleges offering the course conduct an entrance exam after the registration, and the candidate is enrolled in the course based on the result.
Some of best polytechnic colleges in Kerala offer extremely good educational courses that can be fruitful for your professional journey and can act as a roadway to dreams.