Structural Engineering vs Civil Engineering: Understand the Differences

Structural Engineering vs Civil Engineering: Understand the Differences

Edited By Ankita Sinha | Updated on Jan 28, 2025 10:37 AM IST | #B.E /B.Tech

Structural Engineering is one of the core branches of Civil Engineering that focuses on designing building structures. This course provides knowledge of structural analysis and supervision of the construction site. Civil Engineering is one of the popular branches of engineering, which covers various aspects of planning, building, and implementing large infrastructure projects.

Structural Engineering vs Civil Engineering: Understand the Differences
Structural Engineering vs Civil Engineering: Understand the Differences

Structural Engineering and Civil Engineering are two closely related fields of engineering or to be specific, it is a branch of Civil Engineering that focuses on building and infrastructure development. Although, these two branches have unique differences in terms of their scope, courses, eligibility, fees, career options, and salaries.

Structural Engineering vs Civil Engineering: Course Curriculum

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering courses are offered in both BTech and MTech degree programmes that cover a broad range of topics such as designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure. Some of the major topics that are included in the Civil Engineering course curriculum are:

  • Mechanics of Soils
  • Structural Analysis
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Irrigation & Environmental Engineering Drawing
  • Engineering Geology
  • Construction Management
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Structural Engineering

Structural Engineering is a specialised branch of Civil Engineering. It focuses on analysing and designing structures to ensure they can withstand various forces and loads. Structural Engineering emphasises the safety and durability of structures like buildings, towers, and bridges. Some of the subjects covered in the structural engineering course are:

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  • Advanced Mechanics of Solids
  • Structural Dynamics
  • Energy and Environment
  • Offshore Structural Engineering
  • Analysis And Design of Tall Structures
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Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering: Eligibility Criteria

Civil Engineering course is offered in both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, and Structural Engineering course is offered in postgraduate programmes. Structural programmes are offered by top IITs and NITs. The eligibility criteria for both the courses are at UG and PG level is similar.

Undergraduate Programme:

  • Candidates must complete their 10+2 in the Science stream, with major subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
  • They need to score at least 50 per cent on their board exam.
  • Candidates need to appear for the entrance exams, such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced.
  • They need to appear for JoSAA counselling process after clearing the JEE Main entrance exam.

Postgraduate:

Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering: Colleges and Fees

Civil Engineering courses are offered by a lot of private and government colleges in India. In the table below, we have mentioned a few BTech and MTech Civil Engineering colleges and their fees.

Civil Engineering CollegesCivil Engineering Fees

IIT Madras

Rs. 5.58 Lakhs

SLIET, Longowal

Rs. 64,500

IIT Indore

Rs. 9.91 Lakhs

BIT Mesra

Rs. 15.74 Lakhs

Mahindra University, Hyderabad

Rs. 20 Lakhs


Structural Engineering course is mainly offered at the postgraduate degree level. In the table below, we have mentioned the Structural Engineering colleges and their fees.

Structural Engineering CollegesStructural Engineering Fees

IIT Kharagpur

Rs. 45,850

IIT BHU

Rs. 55,380

NIT Trichy

Rs. 2.18 Lakhs

IIIT Hyderabad

Rs. 8 Lakhs

NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad

Rs. 19,980

Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering: Career Options and Salary

Civil Engineers can join a diverse field, having opportunities in both public and private sectors. The civil engineering salary is Rs. 7.4 LPA. Some of the major job roles after pursuing civil engineering are:

The structural engineering course provides knowledge of structural safety and design. The structural engineering salary is Rs. 11 LPA. Graduates can work as structural engineers and design engineers:

Conclusion

Structural engineering is a specialised profession that focuses on creating long-lasting sturdy structures, while civil engineering is a more general field with a variety of applications in infrastructure development. Candidates should choose one course based on their interests and professional objectives, as both disciplines provide great career options.

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Questions related to B.E /B.Tech

Have a question related to B.E /B.Tech ?

Hello Avinash,

For BE/B.Tech admission counselling, here is a general overview of the main options and steps:

  1. JoSAA Counselling

  • Covers IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other government-funded institutes.

  • Based on JEE Main and JEE Advanced ranks.

  • Usually starts in June.

  • Process includes online registration, choice filling, seat allotment, document verification, fee payment, and admission confirmation.

  1. State-Level Counselling

  • Each state has its own counselling for seats in state colleges.

  • Examples:

    • Uttar Pradesh (UPTAC) for JEE Main qualified candidates.

    • Tamil Nadu (TNEA) based on Class 12 marks and reservations.

    • Andhra Pradesh (AUEET) with online certificate verification and seat allotment.

  • Registration and counselling dates vary by state.

  1. Private University Counselling

  • Many private universities conduct their own admission tests and counselling.

  • Examples: IIIT Delhi, PES University, Chandigarh University.

  • Process usually involves registration, entrance test (if any), choice filling, seat allotment, and admission.

General Counselling Steps:

  • Register online on the official counselling website.

  • Fill your preferred colleges and courses.

  • Wait for seat allotment based on merit and preferences.

  • Complete document verification.

  • Pay admission fees to confirm your seat.

  • Report to the college to complete admission.

Counselling schedules and processes can change, so check official counselling authorities regularly for updates.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

With a VIT Vellore entrance rank of 52,290 in slot 3, your chances for popular B.Tech courses like Computer Science, Electronics, or Mechanical Engineering are low because these usually require a better rank. However, you can look for other branches like Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Biotechnology. These branches may still have seats available at your rank. It’s best to check the official VIT counselling website for the latest seat availability and options for your rank slot.



With a VITEEE rank of 59,290 in slot 3, getting popular B.Tech courses like Computer Science or Electronics at VIT Vellore is difficult. But you may get other branches like Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Biotechnology at VIT Bhopal or VIT-AP campuses. You can also try courses like BCA or B.Sc in Multimedia. Check the official VIT counselling for available seats and choose the best option for your rank.


With 74.19 percentile in JEE Main 2025, here are some good B.Tech CSE colleges in Delhi NCR you can consider:

1. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) – 64.6K total fees

2. GGSIPU Colleges (like ADGITM, BVCOE, MSIT) – 4.5–6.5 lakhs

3. Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW) – 5.2 lakhs (for girls only)

4. GNIOT, Greater Noida – 1.4 lakhs/year


Apply through JoSAA, IPU CET, or direct admissions where eligible

Hello Alok,

Choosing between CSE or ISE at MSRIT Bangalore and CSE at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore depends on several factors, especially placement opportunities , infrastructure , faculty quality , and location advantages . Here's a comparative overview to help you decide:

1. Placement and Package Prospects :

  • MSRIT Bangalore (CSE/ISE) :

    • Strong Industry Connections : MSRIT is well-known for its industry links, especially in Bangalore, the tech hub of India. The CSE and ISE branches have good placement records.

    • Average Package : Around Rs. 6-8 LPA (varies with batch and skills).

    • Top Companies : Companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft , and local IT firms visit for placements.

  • Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore (CSE) :

    • Nationally Recognized : Amrita has consistently been ranked among the top private universities for engineering.

    • Average Package : Around Rs. 5-7 LPA with potential for higher packages depending on performance.

    • Top Companies : Companies like Amazon, Cognizant, TCS , and others visit for recruitment.

      2. Infrastructure & Campus Life :

  • MSRIT Bangalore :

    • Location Advantage : Located in Bangalore, close to top tech firms, providing ample internship and networking opportunities.

    • Modern Infrastructure : Well-equipped labs and facilities.

  • Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore :

    • Strong Campus : Known for its lush campus and world-class facilities.

    • Research Focus : Good emphasis on research and development, which could help in higher studies and specialized fields.

      3. Reputation and Rankings :

  • MSRIT Bangalore : MSRIT is a top engineering college in Karnataka with a solid reputation, especially for Computer Science and Information Science .

  • Amrita Coimbatore : Amrita is consistently ranked highly among private institutions and has a strong focus on engineering education and research .


    4. Location :

  • MSRIT : Being in Bangalore , a city with the highest concentration of tech companies in India, offers great placement opportunities and internship access.

  • Amrita : Located in Coimbatore , it’s slightly more isolated but still provides ample opportunities through on-campus recruitment .

    5. Final Recommendation :

  • If placement opportunities and access to top tech companies are your primary concern, MSRIT Bangalore could be a better option, especially because of its location in Bangalore.

  • If you prefer a holistic environment with a strong research focus and are looking for a slightly less competitive environment, Amrita Coimbatore is also an excellent choice.

Ultimately, both are good institutions, but if your goal is industry placement , MSRIT might offer a slight edge due to its proximity to the tech ecosystem in Bangalore.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, then feel free to share your questions with us, we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

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