Part-time B.Tech courses will be offered to unemployed diploma-holders from this year. Until last year, the part-time B.Tech degree courses, which is three years and six months long, was only offered to working diploma-holders.

To be eligible, a candidate must have at least two years’ work experience and an engineering diploma in the same branch that they are applying to.

S Elango, an associate professor with the Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT) Coimbatore, said that they had requested the state to expand the course to include unemployed diploma-holders due to the pandemic.

The criterion set by the AICTE that a candidate should be working with a company within 120 km of the college will not be applicable now.

Part-time courses are offered at nine government and aided engineering colleges in the state- the Government College of Technology; PSG College of Technology; Coimbatore Institute of Technology; Government College of Engineering, Salem; Government College of Engineering, Tirunelveli; Alagappa Chettiar Government College of Engineering and Technology Karaikudi, Thanthai Periyar Government Institute of Technology Vellore; Government College of Engineering Bargur; and Thiagarajar College of Engineering.

This year, admission and counselling for 1,4565 vacant seats across the nine colleges will be held online. Only 35 percent of the seats were filled in 2019.

The Principal of CIT said that part-time candidates have to take theory and practical sessions just like regular engineering candidates. This opens a window of better career prospects or promotions.

The online application process was activated on 10 August. To apply, candidates have to visit www.ptbe-tnea.com. The last date to apply is 30 August. The application status will be published on 10 September, and ranking will be announced on 17 September.

The online counselling will be held from 19 September for special reservation and teacher quota. For the general category, the counselling will be held from 23 September to 9 October.

For details, call 9486977757, 422 2574071, or 422 2574072.