In earlier times, the extraction of minerals from the underground was carried out by labourers. The conditions in which miners worked were quite hazardous, be it the suffocating atmosphere beneath the ground or the fatality of accidents. They would put their lives in danger while working in a technologically challenging environment. The need for better machinery and equipment for mining arose and that’s when the study of mining engineering came into being. It aims to design efficient machines to take the place of miners and extract various valuable minerals stored inside the earth’s crust. Here is a blog aiming to elucidate the various aspects related to a career in Mining Engineering, including the courses offered, top universities as well as major career profiles.
Also Read: Geotechnical Engineering
Mining Engineering: Course Overview
Mining Engineering analyses the process of extracting minerals from the earth’s surface and converting them into usable forms. It also refers to the phenomenon of designing and crafting tools, machines and engines for mining. To deal with uncertain situations that may arise during the process of extraction, candidates get to learn about budgeting, planning the design, feasibility, exploration of mines, along with operation and execution of mines so that they can create efficient machines which can carry out extraction without the rigorous involvement of human labour.
Admissions
Candidates who want to enrol in undergraduate engineering programmes can apply for JEE Main. The JEE Advanced 2022 exam must be passed in order for applicants to be admitted to IITs or NITs. Students must pass the GATE exam, which is offered once a year, in order to enrol in master’s programmes in engineering.
There are numerous other exams that grant admission to mining engineering in addition to these entrance exams. These are listed below:
BITSAT 2022 (Birla Institute of Technology & Science Admission Test)
VITEEE 2022 (VIT Engineering Entrance Examination)
AP EAMCET 2022 (Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test)
TS EAMCET 2022 (Telangana Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test)
BCECE 2022 (Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination)
Subjects Covered
The curriculum of a program in Mining Engineering incorporates a multitude of aspects of the procedure of extraction of minerals. Though the varied disciplines and subjects of each course might vary as per the education level as well as the institution you are studying it from, here is a list of some of the key concepts covered in this field.
Mine Planning | Ventilation | Design of Engineering Structures |
Minerals Processing | Drilling and Blasting | Mine Cost Engineering |
Mine Health and Safety | Ore Reserve Analysis | Environmental Aspects of Mining |
Rock Mechanics | Industrial Management | Extracting Methods |
Eligibility Criteria
Students wanting to get admission into Mining Engineering at any of the leading and prestigious universities abroad have to fulfil certain prerequisites set by the institution. For those seeking enrollment in a course in this field, the primary eligibility requirement is to complete the formal schooling of 10+2 in MPC subjects. However, some universities accept students with BiPC subjects as well. Candidates have to qualify the SAT exam along with English language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. Along with all this, students are advised to have a lucrative Letter of Recommendation (LOR) with a Statement of Purpose (SOP). Further, these basic admission requirements can differ from one university to another and this is why it is advised to check their official website before applying for a course.
Check Out: BSc Geology
List of Mining Engineering Courses
There are a variety of courses available in this field which students can choose from. If you also want to acquire a degree in this springing field, here is a list of some of the key courses that you must consider at different levels of education:
- BE Mechanical Engineering
- BE Hons Science Major in Mining Engineering
- BE Hons Information Technology- Mining Engineering
- BSc Mining Engineering
- ME/MS Mining Engineering
- ME Mining, Geological and Geophysical Engineering
- MSc Mining and Minerals Engineering
- PGDip Mining Engineering
- MPhil Mining and Minerals Engineering
You cannot miss: MSc in Geology
Top Universities
Since it’s an emerging specialisation amongst the multitude of engineering branches, a plethora of universities and colleges offer courses in this field to students across the world. To help you further in your research, we have compiled the following list of some of the emerging and prominent institutions:
- The University of Queensland
- The University of New South Wales
- Virginia Tech
- Curtin University
- University of Wollongong
- University of Exeter
- University of Arizona
- The University of Adelaide
- University of Alberta
Top Universities in India
- Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
- Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
- National Institute of Technology, Raipur
- National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra
- Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad
- Government Engineering College, Gujarat
Jobs & Career Opportunities
There are several employment choices for mining engineers. Arab nations including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UK offer qualified applicants lucrative professional prospects.
In the public sector or government institutions, there are numerous job opportunities in mining engineering. Candidates with a master’s in mining engineering have a promising future in the teaching profession.
Top employers include:
- The Indian Bureau of Mines
- Geological Survey of India
- IPCL
- Neyvelli Lignite Corporation
- Essel Mining & Industries Ltd.
- Hindustan Zinc Limited
- Adani Mining Pvt. Ltd.
- Arcelor Mittal
- Bharat Forge Limited
- Cairn Energy
- Coal India Ltd.
- Damodar Valley Corporation
- DRDO
Job Profiles
- Mining Engineer – Granite
- Mining Engineering Technicians
- Research Engineers- Data Mining
- Deputy Chief Mechanical – Metals & Mining
- Assistant Mining Engineer
- Mining Engineer / Mine Planner
- Technical Consultant- Mining Industries
Thus, we hope that this blog has helped you understand what the field of Mining Engineering entails. If you are aspiring to pursue a degree in Engineering but don’t know which specialisation to opt for, sign up for a 30-minute free career counselling session with our Leverage Edu experts and we’ll assist you in finding an ideal program as well as a university that aligns with your interests and aspirations and equips you with the necessary skillset to sail farther in your career journey.