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M.Tech in Excavation Engineering 2-year postgraduate course which is designed for dealing with the reaction of rock and rock masses to force fields of their physical environment. The course offers innovative techniques for excavation in the field of mining, underground space technology etc. Also the course introduces students to advanced mining engineering such as soil exploration and testing, intricacies of soil dynamics and many more.
Candidates wishing to develop a career in this field and wishing to pursue MTech in Excavation Engineering must have passed 10+2 in Science stream and completed B.E./ BTech in relevant fields or B.Sc. in Geology/ Geophysics with a minimum of 55% aggregate score. For admission one must also qualify entrance exams such as GATE, VITMEE, etc.
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Most colleges offer admission to MTech in Excavation Engineering based on performance in engineering entrance exams whereas some offer direct admission. Currently only a few colleges offer MTech Excavation Engineering courses which include IIT Dhanbad Indian School of Mines, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, NIT Surathkal. The average cost for opting the course is between INR 1,00,000 to 3,00,000.
The MTech in Excavation Engineering course is a lucrative option in terms of employment and salary. Post completing the course candidates can work in various job profiles such as Assisting Mining Engineer, Mine Supervisor, Survey Geologist and many others depending upon their expertise. The average salary of a professional in this field is between INR 2,50,000 to 10,00,000 per annum which increases with experience and expertise.
Check out: Top Mining colleges in India
2.1 Why Study MTech in Excavation Engineering
2.2 Who should Study MTech in Excavation Engineering
2.3 When to Study MTech in Excavation Engineering
3.1 Eligibility
3.2 Admission 2023
3.3 Entrance Exams
M.Tech in Excavation Engineering: Course Highlights
| Course Name | MTech in Excavation Engineering |
| Course Level | Post Graduation |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Course Type | Degree |
| Eligibility | Must have passed 10+2 in Science and possess B.E./ BTech in relevant fields with 55% scores. |
| Admission Process | Merit based or Entrance based |
| Course Fee | INR 1,00,000 to 3,00,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2,50,000 to 10,00,000 per annum |
| To Job Profiles | Assisting Mining Engineer, Mine Supervisor, Mine Planner, Survey Geologist, Mine Manager |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Coal India Limited, L&T Group, Geological Survey of India, etc |
All about M.Tech in Excavation Engineering
- M.Tech in Excavation Engineering 2-year postgraduate course which is divided into 4 semesters and it imparts knowledge about various techniques used in excavations.
- To get admission in an MTech in Excavation Engineering course, the minimum eligibility criteria is a B.E./ BTech in any relevant field with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks from a recognized university.
- MTech in Excavation Engineering course fee ranges between INR 1,00,000 to INR 3,00,000 depending on the type of college.
- Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, IIT, Indian School of Mines are some of the colleges offering this course. Admissions in most of these colleges are either based on performance in national level entrance examinations namely CCMT, GATE, IIT JEE etc or institute specific aptitude test.
- Few of the subjects taught in a 2-year MTech in Excavation Engineering course are Surface Mining Operations and Equipment, Mineral Exploration and Geo-statistics, Rock Excavation Technology and Equipment etc.
- Various job profiles available after completing MTech in Excavation Engineering are Assistant Metallurgists, Mine Managers etc.
- Candidates can pursue PhD in Excavation Engineering and work as Research Fellow with colleges or work as Assistant Professor in some college.
Also Read: MSc in Applied Geophysics
Why to Study M.Tech in Excavation Engineering?
The excavation industry has seen an exponential growth in India for the past couple of years due to rock excavations for underground mines, tunnels, underground caverns for power houses, foundations for metro, railways etc. But this industry is facing major challenges in the areas of excavations and tunneling in urban areas, waste disposal and habitats, excavations in fragile and mountainous regions and many more with few professionals available in this field to meet such challenges.
Thus there is an immediate need for a maximum number of professionals in this field to handle such issues. Listed below are few reasons to pursue a M.Tech in Excavation Engineering course for your convenience:
- Diverse opportunities: A M.Tech in Excavation Engineering course deals with soil exploration and testing, rock mechanics, geotechnics for infrastructures and thus offer job opportunities for candidates in areas like deep excavations, underground space technology, excavations in fragile and mountainous regions etc where there is shortage of manpower and chances for exponential growth.
- Higher Education: Candidates after completion of the course can opt for higher education by enrolling for a PhD program in Geotechnical engineering and get involved in the research and development wing of any mining company/ oil exploration company or may join the academic world.
- Competitive Salary: Students with MTech in Excavation Engineering degree in India earn around INR 2,50,000 to INR 10,00,000 per annum depending on skill and experience. Candidates after gaining over 10 years of experience can get an average salary of INR 15,00,000 per annum.
Also Check: Diploma courses in Mining
Who should Study M.Tech in Excavation Engineering?
- Students who want to make their career in the mining industry and have deep interest in management of excavations, utilization of underground space in urban areas for storage, habitat and waste disposal can pursue MTech in Excavation Engineering .
- MTech in Excavation Engineering exposes students to underground excavations, ground improvement technique, foundation engineering etc.
- Individuals with an analytical mind and a passion for excavations in fragile and mountainous regions, management of excavations, and building profitable and sustainable material should enroll for such courses.
When to Study MTech in Excavation Engineering?
MTech in Excavation Engineering should be pursued after B.E/ B.Tech in Mining / Civil / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering/ M.Sc. in Geology /Applied Geology / Geophysics and get both theoretical and practical knowledge about this field of specialization. Since admission into most is based on performance in national level entrance examination, students are advised to start preparing for such entrances right from the 3rd year of B.Tech/ M.Sc in relevant subjects and secure a seat with some good college.
- The course should be pursued after the completion of B.Tech/ M.Sc in relevant discipline.
- Though many branches are similar to this field, candidates can choose to pursue M.Tech in Excavation Engineering, M.Tech in Mining Engineering etc. candidates should pursue his/her choice of course based on interest and future opportunities.
Check out: PG Diploma in Mining
MTech in Excavation Engineering: Admission Process
Admissions to the M.Tech in Excavation Engineering course in most colleges are based on scores secured in any of the entrance examinations conducted by various agencies or institutes. However there are few private colleges/ universities that offer admission based on the scores of students secured in the last qualifying exam. The basic eligibility requirements and admission process along with popular entrance exams for admission to the M.Tech in Excavation Engineering course is mentioned below:
Eligibility Criteria
- The eligibility criteria for M.Tech in Excavation Engineering is a 10+2 with at least 55% marks in Science stream from a recognized Board.
- Students must possess a BTech/ BE or equivalent degree in a similar stream like Mining, Petroleum or other related fields with the least score of 50% marks from a recognized University.
- There’s a 5% relaxation on the minimum aggregate score for the candidates belonging to reserved categories (SC/ST)
- For admission to top colleges, the students need to qualify for the GATE, VITEEE, etc. entrance exam compulsorily.
Admission
Most of the colleges/ universities grant admission to M.Tech in Excavation Engineering based on the score secured by the candidate in the entrance exam conducted at a National or State level. Some of the general steps for the admission to M.Tech in Excavation Engineering course are mentioned below:
- For registration in any of the entrance examinations, candidates must visit the official website of the entrance conducting body
- Fill the application form with essential personal and educational details like name, father’s name, marks secured in the last qualifying examination etc along with uploading a photograph and signature of the candidate.
- Make necessary payment of application fee either through Debit/ Credit card or Net Banking and complete the registration process.
- The conducting body provides a link for downloading admit cards of the entrance examination after a stipulated date and time.
- Registered candidates must visit the website and download the admit card
- List of successful candidates in such entrances would be made available on the exam conducting body’s website
- Depending on score, various colleges contact candidates for personal interview round where the general aptitude of a candidate is tested and successful candidates are offered admission
- These candidates must complete necessary admission formality by paying admission fee and other relevant charges.
Read More: How to prepare for GATE exam
Entrance Exams
Aspirants wishing to MTech in Excavations Engineering, Admission into most of the institutes offering the MTech in Excavation Engineering course is based on scores obtained by a candidate in an entrance examination. Some of the popular entrance exams conducted in India is listed below:
GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test is a national level entrance examination conducted in online mode for admission into any of the PG programs in engineering and science offered at various institutes namely IITs, NITs, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology etc. The examination consists of 65 questions including MCQs, Multiple Select Questions and Numerical Answer Type questions on General Aptitude and subject questions totaling 100 marks with the provision of negative marking.
VITEEE: Vellore Institute of Technology Masters Entrance Examination is an entrance examination conducted in online mode by Vellore Institute of Technology for admission into various Masters programmes at School of Mechanical and Building Sciences (SMBS), School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST), etc. The exam is of 2 hours duration consisting of MCQ type questions with no provision for negative marking.
IIIT Delhi: Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi M.Tech Entrance Exam is an entrance examination conducted online by Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi once a year for admission into various M.Tech courses. The exam is of one hour duration consisting of MCQ type questions on General Mathematics, Analytical Abilities and Comprehension Skill.
Important Dates
| Exam Name | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| GATE | Check Here |
| SRMJEE | Check Here |
| WBJEE | Check Here |
| AP PGECET | Check Here |
| TS PGECET | Check Here |
Check: GATE Exam Syllabus
Full-time MTech in Excavation Engineering
Since Excavation Engineering is a specialized branch of mining only few government institutes in India offer M.Tech in Excavation Engineering while there are few private colleges/ universities offering the course but the average course fee at private institutions is comparatively much higher compared to their government colleges/ universities. Colleges irrespective of govt or private in India presently offer this course only in regular mode.
M.Tech in Excavation Engineering is one of the emerging popular courses among young candidates who have an inclination in excavation management, excavations and tunneling in urban areas and have an analytical mind and love taking challenges and contributing effectively for nation building. It is a professional degree course pursued for a duration of 2-years consisting of 4 semesters. Presently the course is offered by a few selected colleges in India in full time mode only.
MTech in Excavation Engineering: Syllabus and Subjects
M.Tech in Excavation Engineering 2-year postgraduate course which comprises 4 semesters. The syllabus of the course covers various concepts such as applied statics, dissertation, geo-mechanics and many other topics related to excavations of rocks and mining.
The curriculum of the Master in Excavation Engineering basically focuses on imparting knowledge of advanced soil mechanics, soil dynamics and machine foundation, rock mechanics etc. Though different institutes have their own curriculum for MTech in Excavation Engineering courses, most institutes offer some common subjects relevant for mining and rock excavation.
Also Check: MTech in Aeronautical Engineering
MTech in Excavation Engineering: Subjects
The subjects or topics that are taught in the course curriculum of M.Tech in Excavation Engineering are tabulated below in semester wise:
| SEMESTER I | SEMESTER II |
|---|---|
| Numerical Modelling in Ground Control | Mineral Exploration and Geo-statistics |
| Geo-mechanics | Computer Aided Mine Planning & Design |
| Advanced Numerical Methods and Applied Statistics | Advanced Mine Safety Engineering |
| Surface Mining Operations and Equipment | Professional Elective Groups- Opencast Mining Planning and Design of Surface Mines Analysis and Design of Slopes in Surface Mines Environmental Aspects of Mining Term Paper |
| Managerial Decision Making | Mine Planning and Design |
| - | Design of Underground Structures in Rocks |
| - | Underground Mine Ventilation and Environmental Engineering |
| - | Planning and Design of Underground |
| - | Methods of Exploitation for Coal & Metalliferous Deposits |
| - | Rock Excavation Engineering |
| - | Blasting Technology in Rock Excavation |
| - | Tunnel Engineering |
| - | Rock Excavation Technology and Equipment |
| SEMESTER III | SEMESTER IV |
| Industrial training /minor project | Dissertation |
| Seminar/ viva-voce on industrial training/viva-voce | Seminar on dissertation |
| Dissertation (Interim) | Viva-voce on dissertation |
| Seminar & viva-voce | Evaluation of teaching assignment/ lab development work |
| Evaluation of teaching assignment/ lab development work | - |
M.Tech in Excavation Engineering and M.Tech in Mining Engineering: Course Comparison
Below is presented a tabulated structure of comparison between the above two courses based on few parameters:
| Parameter | M.Tech in Excavation Engineering | M.Tech in Mining Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Study of intricacies of soil dynamics and machine foundations, soil exploration and testing, advanced foundation engineering. | Study of extracting metals from minerals and post processing of raw minerals from earth excavation. |
| Duration | 2-years | 2-years |
| Eligibility | Passed B.E/ BTech in Mechanical/ Chemical/ Petroleum Engineering or B.Sc in Geology/ Applied Geology/ Geophysics from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks | Passed under graduation in relevant fields with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized University. |
| List of Entrance Exams | GATE, VITMEE and other state level PG entrance examinations | GATE, and other state level PG entrance examinations |
| Admission Process | Merit or Entrance Based | Merit or Entrance Based |
| Average Fees | INR 1,00,000 to 3,00,000 | INR 50,000 to 2,40,000 |
| Job roles | Assistant Metallurgists, Safety Officers, Mine Managers among others. | Mine planner, Site engineers, Mining technician among others. |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Geological Survey of India, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Reliance Group | Hindalco industries, NMDC, Hindustan Zinc Ltd |
| Salary | INR 2,00,00 to 10,00,000 per annum | INR 2,50,000 to 10,00,000 per annum |
| Top Colleges | Indian School of Mines, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, NIT | IIT Kharagpur, NIT-Rourkela, Indian School of Mines |
MTech in Excavation Engineering: Top Colleges
Following are the top colleges in India along with their fee structure offering Master in Excavation Engineering:
| College/ University Name | Average Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| IIT Dhanbad, Indian School of Mines | INR 1,09,000 |
| Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology | INR 88,000 |
| NIT Surathkal | INR 90,000 |
MTech in Excavation Engineering: Top Colleges Abroad
For admissions to M.Tech in Excavation Engineering course abroad, students must have completed graduation in relevant discipline from a recognized university. In addition, students are required to qualify for any of the English proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS. For admission in the top foreign universities/ colleges, aspirants may also need to qualify various entrance exams such as GMAT, SAT, GRE etc.
Some of the popular universities/ colleges that offer M.Tech in Excavation Engineering are given below in the table chart:
| College/ University Name | Average Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| University of Wollongong | INR 20,09,422 |
| University of New South Wales | INR 25,31,049 |
| Curtin University | INR 19,11,135 |
| University of Kentucky | INR 23,21,297 |
| University of Adelaide | INR 23,82,227 |
| Virginia Tech | INR 10,46,979 |
| Federation University Australia | INR 15,63,169 |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | INR 19,15,991 |
| University of Queensland | INR 23,98,287 |
| University of Exeter | INR 16,49,798 |
| Laurentian University | INR 19,49,503 |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | INR 21,28,371 |
| Queen’s University | INR 11,25,430 |
| McGill University | INR 14,14,555 |
| University of Utah | INR 24,31,835 |
Check out:
MTech in Excavation Engineering: Jobs Profiles
An engineer with M.Tech in Excavation Engineering has plenty of lucrative and highly paid job opportunities in private and government sectors. Students graduating in this field can work as Data Mining Expert, Mine Managers, Mining Subject Matter Expert with leading Govt or non-Govt organizations namely Geological Survey of India, Reliance Industries Limited, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, TATA Power etc.
Apart from this, students can also go for higher studies and join some research laboratories for research and development to boost their knowledge and become experts in this field. The following table shows the list of popular job profiles for M.Tech in Excavation Engineering graduates:
| Job Profiles | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Mining Engineer | These are individuals who produce models or plans for mining sites along with extracting minerals, metals, oil etc in a safe and effective manner. | INR 6,50,000 |
| Mine Supervisor | These are individuals who supervise staff to prepare, inspect and work in mines or underground and conduct research, design calculations and other allied activities. | INR 6,50,000 |
| Survey Geologist | These are individuals who work mainly for government departments for building framework of geological knowledge for better understanding of minerals and energy resources. | INR 5,25,000 |
| Mine Planner | These are experts who devise the easiest and cheapest way for extracting minerals, metals and other resources from the ground. | INR 9,00,000 |
| Mine Manager | These are individuals who are responsible for overall management, control and supervision of mining projects | INR 10,00,000 |
Read More: How to become a Mine Supervisor
Top Recruiters
On completing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering, engineers get employed with government or private oil exploration companies or some are engaged in mines. While some prefer to go for higher studies and join some research laboratories.
The following table shows the list of top recruiting companies of the graduates in MTech Excavations Engineering:
| Coal India Ltd | Neyveli Lignite Corporation |
| Geological Survey of India | L & T Group |
| Reliance Group | Schlumberger |
| TATA Power | ONGC |
M.Tech in Excavation Engineering Scope
The scope in the field of Excavation Engineering is so vast because of very less competition and graduates in this field. Students after completing their M.Tech in Excavation Engineering can either start their career as a professional excavation engineer or pursue higher education in the form of PhD to enhance their knowledge in this field.
Since M.Tech in Excavation Engineering is a specialized branch of mining only few candidates graduate every year in this field due to limited number of seats available in colleges offering the course, thus this results in the huge demand for the graduates in MTech Excavation Engineering in mines, oil exploration companies, research centers etc.
Higher Education
There are many options available to pursue post completing MTech in Excavation Engineering education career, some of them are mentioned below:
- Doctoral degree: Many candidates prefer to pursue an academic career and thus opt for higher studies after completing their M.Tech in Excavation Engineering course. After completing their post graduation, candidates complete their PhD program in their area of interest and further get into research and analyze their area of work.
- Mining/ Oil Exploring jobs: Many candidates prefer working in mines or oil exploration companies. Some candidate’s prefer being a consultant and offer consultancy services in this field.
M.Tech in Excavation Engineering: FAQs
Ques. I am a graduate in Geology from JNU with 60% marks and willing to pursue M.Tech in Excavation Engineering. Am I eligible to apply for such a course?
Ans. Candidates willing to pursue M.Tech in Excavation Engineering must be either B.E. / B.Tech in Mining/Civil / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering or B.Sc in Geology /Applied Geology from a recognized university. Candidates with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks are eligible to apply for such courses.
Ques.Which NITs offer M.Tech in Excavation Engineering?
Ans. Listed below are the various NITs offering M.Tech in Excavation Engineering:
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NIT Surathkal
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NIT Jalandhar
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NIT Arunachal Pradesh
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NIT Meghalaya
Ques. Does VNIT offer stipend facilities for students pursuing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering from this college?
Ans. Yes. All Govt colleges offering M.Tech in Excavation Engineering offer INR 12,400 per month as stipend for GATE qualified candidates.
Ques. What are the placement opportunities offered by VNIT for candidates pursuing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering from this college?
Ans. VNIT has a dedicated placement cell administered by faculties and students of the college who give utmost importance for placement opportunities to every student of the institute. Some of the major employers who recruit students from Excavation Engineering background are Ambuja Cement, ACC Limited, AFCONS Infrastructure with median salary being offered is INR 6,00,000.
Ques. Recommend books for candidates pursuing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering ?
Ans. Some of the must read books for candidates pursuing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering are listed below:
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Rock Indentation: Experiments and Analyses written by Chivukula S.N. Murthy
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Engineering in Rocks for slopes, foundations and tunnels written by T. Ramamurthy
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Ground Improvement Techniques written by Bujang B.K. Huat, ?Arun Prasad, ?Sina Kazemian
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Deep Excavation: Theory and Practice written by Chang-Yu Ou
Ques. Who is a Chief Mining Engineer?
Ans. These are individuals who are involved in overseeing mining and mineral extraction projects which includes maintaining mine plans, engineering drawing, economic evaluation and feasibility study.
Ques. What are the various areas in which a candidate can pursue doctorate after completing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering?
Ans. Candidates willing to pursue PhD after completing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering can pursue in the following areas:
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PhD Geotechnical Engineering
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PhD Civil Engineering
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PhD in Mining and Rock Engineering
Ques. Is it mandatory to be GATE qualified for pursuing M.Tech in Excavation Engineering from Indian School of Mines?
Ans. Apart from offering admission to candidates based on GATE score, India School of Mines offer admission to this course for sponsored candidates as well who hold B.Tech from Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) and have 80% aggregate marks during graduation.
Ques. What are the commonly used software tools in excavation engineering?
Ans. Some of the commonly used software tools used widely in the industry for excavation engineering are listed below:
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Planswift
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Sage Group
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Assignar
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Rocscience software
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DeepEX
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