Career in Environmental Engineering: Where to study, entrance exams and job prospects

Environmental Engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on using technology to combat environmental challenges taking a toll on society and nature. After studying this topic, you may become a policymaker and regulate environmental laws to ensure the safety of people and the environment.

Studying Environmental Engineering:

• You need to clear your Class XII board exams or any equivalent exam with at least 50% aggregate and Physics, Chemistry and Maths/Biology as compulsory subjects.
• On completion of your board exams, you need to clear one of the entrance exams to get admission to BTech courses in Environmental Engineering.
• You can also pursue a BTech degree in diverse fields like Civil, Production, Food Technology and Chemical Engineering courses and then appear for PG entrance exams to pursue MTech courses in Environmental Engineering.
• You can also pursue MTech courses in Environmental Engineering after completing your MSc in either Environmental Science or Environmental Studies.

Some popular BTech entrance exams:

Joint Entrance Exam Main (JEE Main)

For admission to NITs, CFTIs and other engineering institutes, you need to clear the JEE Mains exam conducted by the National Testing Agency. This exam also serves as the preliminary exam for JEE Advanced clearing which you’ll be eligible for admission to IITs and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.

• Eligibility: You need to pass your Class XII board exams or an equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as subjects. You also need 75% aggregate in your board exams to become eligible for admission to IITs, NITs and GFTIs,
• You can learn more here.

Joint Entrance Exam Advanced (JEE Advanced)

This exam is required for admission to IITs and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. You need to clear JEE Main to appear for this exam.

• Eligibility: You need to be one of the top 2,50,000 successful candidates (in all categories) in the JEE BE/BTech paper (Main). You can only take JEE Advanced twice in two years.
• You can learn more here.

West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE)

You need to clear WBJEE conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board for admission to private and government engineering institutions in the state.

• Eligibility: You need to complete your Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry and Math as required subjects. Alternatively, you need to pass your 10+3 diploma exams with Maths as a required subject. You also need at least 50% marks in each of the required subjects and 50% aggregate.
• You can learn more here.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science Aptitude Test (BITSAT)

For admission to the BTech course offered by the Birla Institute of Technology and Science Aptitude Test, you need to clear BITSAT.

• Eligibility: You need to pass your Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry and Maths/Biology as compulsory subjects.
• You can learn more here.

Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Exam (VITEEE)

For admission to the Vellore Institute of Technology engineering course in Environmental Engineering, you must clear VITEEE.

• Eligibility: You need to pass your Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry and Maths/Biology as compulsory subjects.
• You can learn more here.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education Online Entrance Exam (MAHE-OEE)

For admission to the Manipal Academy of Higher Education BTech course, you must pass the Manipal Academy of Higher Education Online Entrance Exam (MAHE-OEE).

• Eligibility: You need to pass your Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry and Maths/Biology as compulsory subjects.
• You can learn more here.

MTech entrance exam for Environmental Engineering:

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

For admission to MTech courses in Environmental Engineering at IITs, NITs and other institutes, you must clear GATE.

• Eligibility: You need to complete your BTech course. You can appear for the exam even if you are in the final year of your BTech course.
• You can learn more here.

Some popular institutes in India for Environmental Engineering

• Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), multiple locations
• National Institute of Technology (NIT), multiple locations
• Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), West Bengal
• Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai
• Anna University, Chennai
• Pondicherry University School of Engineering and Technology, Pondicherry
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Rajasthan
• Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan
• Gautam Buddh Technical University, Uttar Pradesh
• Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Uttar Pradesh

Studying abroad:

Environmental Engineering is a well-established field of engineering overseas. Here is a list of foreign institutes that offer such courses:

• University of Manchester, UK
• Imperial College London, UK
• University of Bristol, UK
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US
• Stanford University, US
• Harvard University, US
• University of Toronto, Canada
• University of Queensland, Australia
• National University of Singapore, Singapore

Job roles after studying Environmental Engineering:

Ecologist: They are responsible for determining the extent of human influence on nature and its consequences. They work for NGOs, government organisations and worldwide environmental organisations like WWF.

Waste management officer: Their primary responsibility is to supervise the recycling and disposal of waste materials. They work for both state and central government organisations as well as for environmental organisations.

Water project manager: They are involved in water management processes such as biological treatment, advanced water treatment technologies, and physical and chemical separation of water.

Public health specialist: They develop strategies to encourage people to live healthily and conduct health surveys.

Environmental health and safety director: They ensure that businesses comply with environmental regulations. They also promote new solutions that encourage sustainable practices and design.

Green building engineer: There is a growing demand for environment-friendly buildings that will leave a low carbon footprint. Environmental engineers work in tandem with architects and civil engineers on these projects.

Agricultural engineering consultant: They are responsible for increasing the efficiency of agricultural machinery and designing agricultural machinery.