Computer Engineers work with computers, which are today, the most important office automation products. They design the computer and its control systems (the hardware) and also develop computer software. They are constantly engaged in improving the end product and building state-of-the-art equipment such as super computers, multimedia machines, graphic terminals, laser and inkjet printers, pentium based machines, etc.

To become a qualified engineer one must have a graduate degree (B.E / B.Tech) or atleast a diploma in any one of the several branches of Engineering.

A candidate has to have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and also preferably Computer Science, in order to be eligible for the B. Tech course in computer science.

Selection : Selection to all Engineering courses is on the basis of : (a.) merit / marks secured in the final exams of 10+2 (with science subjects) ; (b.) through the means of entrance exams (joint entrance exam / JEE for the IIT's and separate state level and national level exams for other institutions). Engineering courses are available at two levels. There are the degree and postgraduate degree courses offered by the engineering colleges and Institutes of Technology (IITs), and, the diploma courses available at polytechnics.

The six Indian Institutes of Technology ( IITs) at Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur and Guwahati, and the Institute of Technology (BHU) at Varanasi, conduct the Joint Entrance Examination for admission jointly.

Competitive examinations on an all-India basis for admission to a B Tech / B E course are also conducted by The Birla Institute of Technology, at Pilani, Rajasthan, and at Ranchi; the University of Roorkee, UP; Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal; the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University, among others.

There are also 17 Regional Engineering colleges all over the country which offer admission in various branches of engineering, on the basis of marks obtained in the Class 12 examination.

There is also the (AMIE) Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers which enables working people in the private and public sector, or diploma holders to acquire a Bachelor's degree through distance education, for career advancement.

BE / B.Tech courses are of 4 years' duration The diploma courses are of 2-3 years' duration.

Some of the premier engineering colleges in India are listed as follows :

Indian Institute of Technology ( New Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, and Chennai )

Regional Engineering Colleges ( Warangal, Andhra Pradesh ; Silchar, Assam ; Jamshedpur, Bihar ; Surat, Gujarat ; Kurkshetra, Haryana; Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir; Surathkal, Karnataka ; Calicut, Kerala ; Visvesvaraya REC, Nagpur, Maharashtra ; Rourkela, Orissa ; Jaipur, Rajasthan ; Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu ; Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh ; Durgapur, West Bengal ; Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh ; Jalandhar, Punjab.)

Birla Institute of Technology (BITS) - (Pilani and Ranchi.)

Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi.

University of Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh.

Jadavpur University, Calcutta.

Job Prospects:
Computer Engineering, in particular is the most popular branch of Engineering today. With widespread use of computers in literally all areas of work, computer engineers can find employment in any area of the industrial sector and in defence and research establishments.

They can find employment in the following areas :
* Government Sector, including the railways, municipal corporations, telecommunications departments, etc.
* Public Sector organisations,
* Private companies,
* As commissioned officers in the defence services,
* Research organisations and laboratories,
* As technical experts on engineering projects in banks and financial corporations,
* An engineer can set up his / her own small unit / company or consultancy.