Instrumentation and Control Engineering is a discipline that deals with the design, development, and operation of automated machines and equipment. This course can be pursued at various academic levels such as diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes. Any sector can benefit from an Instrumentation and Control Engineering graduate’s increased stability, productivity, dependability, and instrument optimisation. With this degree, students have many career options in the mechanical and electrical fields. Prospective students can enrol in the undergraduate course after completing the 12th grade in a Science-related field with a minimum of 65% aggregate marks. For postgraduate courses, students must obtain a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from a recognised university.
Admission to this course is done through entrance exams and merit basis. Some of the popular entrance exams for these courses include JEE Main, WBJEE, GATE, BITSAT, MHT CET, etc. Further, these courses can be pursued offline, online, and in distant learning mode. Some of the top institutes that offer Instrumentation and Control Engineering in India include Manipal Academy of Higher Education, College of Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Trichy, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Woxsen University, etc. with an average course fee ranging between INR 1 LPA and INR 3 LPA. After the completion of the course, students can attain positions such as Controls Engineer, Instrumentation Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Project Engineer, etc. with an average starting salary of between INR 4 LPA and INR 8 LPA.
Instrumentation and Control Engineering Course Highlights
The major highlights of the Instrumentation and Control Engineering course are given below:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Name | Instrumentation and Control Engineering |
| Course Level | Diploma, Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), Doctorate (PhD) |
| Duration | Diploma: 3 years
UG: 4 years PG: 2 years |
| Examination Type | Semester-wise |
| Eligibility | UG: Passed 10+2 with at least 65% aggregate marks in Science-related stream.
PG: Obtained bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognised institution. |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based + Entrance Exam |
| Top Entrance Exam | JEE Mains, MHT-CET, WBJEE, BITSAT, OJEE, CET, and more. |
| Average Course Fee | INR 1 LPA to INR 3 LPA |
| Average Salary Offered | INR 4 LPA to INR 8 LPA |
| Best Institute | Manipal Academy of Higher Education, College of Engineering, NIT Trichy, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Woxsen University, Chandigarh University, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, and so on. |
| Job Position | Controls Engineer, Instrumentation Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Proto Instrumentation Technician, etc. |
| Top Recruiting Company | BSNL, A&H InfoTech Private Ltd., Reliance Industries Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation, Steel Plants, GE, ESSAR, Invensys, and more. |
Why Choose Instrumentation and Control Engineering?
Candidates who are inquisitive about operating and functioning with machines and other equipment are appropriate for the Instrumentation and Control Engineering course. Those who have an analytical perspective are open to pursuing the course. It would be an intriguing as well as an enchanting prospect for those candidates who want to perform in Indian Engineering Services.
Graduates of this course have a superabundance of alternatives and opportunities to choose from. After graduation, candidates develop electrocardiograph equipment for infirmaries and summed tomography scanners for protection systems. There are several diverse career prospects available for instrumentation and control engineers. A substantial part of every triumphant aeronautical research project is recreated by graduates in the field. Because of its interdisciplinary temperament, the course confers possibilities inside and outside the endeavour for graduates.
How Many Courses Are There in Instrumentation and Control Engineering?
There are a variety of choices available for candidates who are willing to pursue Instrumentation and Control Engineering courses. Candidates can take a look at them based on their preferences discussed below.
Diploma Course:
- The duration of a Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering course is three years.
- Candidates can pursue a diploma course after the culmination of their class 10. To be qualified for a diploma course, candidates must have a Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) background in 10th grade.
UG Course:
- The duration of the BTech in Instrumentation and Control Engineering course is four years.
- Candidates are mandated to have Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics (PCMB) as core subjects in class 10+2. Further, they must sit for national-level entrance exams or the one that is recognised by their preferred institution.
PG Course:
- The duration of the Master in Instrumentation and Control Engineering course is 2 years.
- Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field with at least 50% to 60% marks (relaxation of between 45% and 55% is given to the reserved candidates) from a reputed institute.
nstrumentation and Control Engineering Eligibility Criteria
Instrumentation and Control Engineering eligibility criteria are the parameters by which candidates are admitted into the course. However, it may vary from one university to another. Discussed below is a commonly followed eligibility criteria for Instrumentation and Control Engineering:
Eligibility for Undergraduate Degree:
- Students must obtain at least 65% aggregate marks in classes 10+2 in the relevant stream where a relaxation of 5% is given to the candidates who belong to the reserved categories.
- Some universities or colleges offer admissions based on 10+2 scores and others through national-level entrance exams or university-level entrance tests following a round of interviews.
- Most of the institutes conduct exams like UPSEE, WBJEE, and OJEE to provide admissions.
Eligibility for Postgraduate Degree:
- Applicants must have obtained a bachelor’s degree in a related field from a recognised institution.
- For admission to the majority of engineering colleges, students must sit for a national-level or state-level entrance examination that is recognised by their desired institution.
- Candidates are required to score at least 50% to 60% aggregate in the last qualifying exam where a relaxation of 5% is given to the candidates who belong to the reserved categories.
Instrumentation and Control Engineering Types
Instrumentation and Control Engineering can be pursued online, and offline as well as in distant learning mode. The following is a discussion of the course types offered:
Full-Time Courses
In this type of course, students must attend full-time in-person classes, complete regular assignments, and take semester-wise offline exams on campus. They must also present projects and perform practicals as part of the course curriculum. With this, students gain practical experience in the subject as well as in-depth learning through actively engaging with their instructors and other students.
Part-Time Courses
For students who cannot commit to the full-time programme or who are working in their professions full-time, there are part-time Instrumentation and Control Engineering courses available at colleges such as PSG College Of Technology, School of Engineering [CUSAT], Saveetha Engineering College, and so on.
Distance/Online Courses
Distance/online Instrumentation and Control Engineering courses take less duration to complete than full-time and part-time courses and they can be pursued from anywhere and anytime. This course is designed for students who are working professionals and who cannot attend full-time or even part-time on-campus courses.
How to Get Admission for Instrumentation and Control Engineering?
Admission to Instrumentation and Control Engineering courses is done based on merit basis and entrance exams. For a better understanding, candidates can check the pointer below to clarify the exam admission process.
| Course Type | Admission Process |
|---|---|
| BE/B Tech | Students are offered admission based on the entrance exam such as JEE Main, UPSEE, WBJEE, etc. To apply for Lateral Entry, students with a three-year Diploma from a recognised institution are offered direct merit-based admissions. |
| Diploma | Admissions are offered to the students based on the qualifying exam marks obtained in class 10. However, some top institutions may conduct their entrance exam followed by a personal interview round. |
| M.Tech | Students are offered admissions based on the entrance exam scores obtained by them like GATE, BITS HD, etc. |
What is Instrumentation and Control Engineering Course Fees?
The average fee for Instrumentation and Control Engineering courses in India ranges between INR 1 LPA and INR 3 LPA. The fee for this programme depends on the type and level of the programme as well as the type of institute (whether government or private) one wants to enrol in. The following table shows the average Instrumentation and Control Engineering course fee for popular colleges in India:
| College Name | Average Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Woxsen University | 3.02 LPA |
| Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune | 1.5 LPA |
| Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology | 2.60 LPA |
| NIT Trichy | 1.49 LPA |
| New Horizon College of Engineering | 2.50 LPA |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education | 3.35 LPA |
| Lovely Institute of Technology, Punjab | 1.8 LPA |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University | 12,500 p.a. |
| Jadavpur University, Kolkata | 30,000 p.a. |
| I K Gujral Punjab Technical University | 80,750 p.a. |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University | 1.17 LPA |
| Government College of Engineering, Maharashtra | 6,000 p.a. |
| Dr D Y Patil Institute of Technology and Engineering, Pune | 85,000 p.a. |
| College of Engineering | 40,500 p.a. |
| Chandigarh University | 1.60 LPA |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Mumbai | 95,000 p.a. |
| Assam Engineering College, Guwahati | 9,500 p.a. |
Required Skill Set for Instrumentation and Control Engineering
Good communication, interpersonal, and the ability to motivate others are the types of skills needed in Instrumentation and Control Engineering when candidates are working with a team. The required skill set that frames and shapes the candidates to become successful Instrumentation and Control Engineers has been explained in the following pointers.
- Innovative problem-solving dexterities and troubleshooting skills: Some of the common Instrumentation and Control Engineering failures include instrument failure and shortage of spares, use of equipment in an inaccurate way, erroneously specified instrumentation, or inaccurately inaugurated installation Strong problem-solving skills help engineers out of these.
- Critical thinking: Critical thinking is fundamental for all departments of engineering, particularly in the mechanical and technical development branches
- Knowledge of high-level computer technology: Some of the main software that is required for Instrumentation and Control Engineering to know is Matlab, Labview, and Arduino. In circumstances where candidates are required to draw some layouts, panel drawings, GA drawings, and wiring drawings, AutoCAD or any other computer-aided design software is required.
Course Curriculum for Instrumentation and Control Engineering
The course curriculum for Instrumentation and Control Engineering varies as per the level of the programme one chooses to enrol in. While the diploma and undergraduate courses cover the fundamentals concepts, postgraduate courses cover advanced-level knowledge and practical-based learning through internships, projects seminars, lab subjects and so on. The common Instrumentation and Control Engineering course curriculum includes the following:
- Research Projects
- Laboratory exercises
- IV to VIII semesters
- Internships
- Guest visits
- Elective subjects
- Core subjects
Instrumentation and Control Engineering Syllabus & Subjects
A credit-based approach is used for Instrumentation and Control Engineering courses, and prospective students can choose from a variety of elective subjects along with the core subjects (except for a diploma course). Common engineering topics, practicals, fundamental mechanics-related topics, and projects are all included in this course curriculum. Given below is a brief list of the Instrumentation and Control Engineering subjects & syllabus at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Syllabus & Subjects for Undergraduate Degree:
- Transducers, Mechanical Measurement and Industrial Instrumentation
- Engineering Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Measurements
- Digital Electronics
- Control Systems and Process Control
- Basics of Circuits and Measurement Systems
- Analytical, Optical and Biomedical Instrumentation
- Analog Electronics
Syllabus & Subjects for Postgraduate Degree:
- Sensors
- Optical Instrumentation
- Image Processing
- Experimental Methods and Analysis
- Electrical Circuits
- Digital Electronics
- Biomedical Instrumentation
- Advanced Mathematical Techniques
- Adaptive and Robust Control Systems
Instrumentation and Control Engineering Scope in India
The scope of Instrumentation and Control Engineering in India is vast and provides intriguing career opportunities for those who are interested in working with Indian Engineering Services. Graduates in this field have a wide range of opportunities. After the completion of the course, they are employed by manufacturers, equipment designers, and installation companies. They produce computed tomography scanners for security systems and electrocardiograph devices for hospitals.
The study of different measurements is covered in the Instrumentation and Control Engineering scope in India, which gives students the knowledge they need to effectively understand industry-specific difficulties, business practices, and production processes. This enables the students to develop a fulfilling career for themselves. Given below are a few career prospects for professionals:
- Technical Support Engineer
- Manager
- Lead Instrumentation & Control Engineer
- Instrumentation Design Engineer
- Electrical Electronics Instrumentation Engineer
- Controls and Instrumentation Engineer
What is Instrumentation and Control Engineering Salary?
The average salary of Instrumentation and Control Engineering graduates varies with profession. Freshers should apply for a job based on their interests and career objectives and eventually expect to grow in the field. The average estimated salary in India for freshers in this field has been captioned in the following table:
| Job Profile | Estimated Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Instrumentation and Control Specialist | 3-4 LPA |
| Supervisor | 2-4 LPA |
| Process Technician | 2-5 LPA |
| Materials Engineer | 3-5 LPA |
| Quality Control Technician | 2-4 LPA |
| Mining Engineer | 4-6 LPA |
| Manufacturing Engineer | 3-4 LPA |
Career Options and Job Prospects After Instrumentation and Control Engineering
After completing the Instrumentation and Control Engineering course, graduates have a variety of career options and job prospects. The following table highlights some popular job profiles along with their job descriptions for the same:
| Job Profile | Description |
|---|---|
| Materials Specialist | A Material Specialist confirms that the correct material is utilised for the right job and is concerned with creating, sustaining, and assessing materials. |
| Mining Engineer | A Mining Engineer corroborates that the belowground resources such as oil, minerals, and oil are yanked safely and efficiently. They assess the feasibility and retail usefulness of recent sites. |
| Manufacturing Engineer | A Manufacturing Engineer aims to improve the manufacturing process of products like food, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. They also design the latest equipment, methodologies, and techniques. |
| Design Engineer | Design Engineers analyse and research concepts for new developments and the equipment employed to construct them. They decide if a design will be cost-effective and work efficiently. |
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Technician is accountable for testing materials and guarantees they satisfy all the rules of a firm and industry standards. |
| Instrumentation Control Specialist | An Instrumentation and Control Specialist is responsible for designing, developing, and managing the equipment. Make sure that these instruments work effectively. |
| Process Technician | Process Technician functions to plan, investigate and manage the differentia of manufacturing processes. |