West Bengal has been center of education and learning since centuries. Excellence in education is a matter of pride for the state of West Bengal. There is wide choice of engineering colleges for a student to choose from in the state. There are more than 15,000 engineering seats in West Bengal providing admission to all the interested students.
The admission to engineering colleges in West Bengal is conducted through The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) conducted by Central Selection Committee of Engineering and Technology. The government run colleges are the most popular in West Bengal. The Jadavpur University in Kolkata is the most prestigious college of engineering in West Bengal followed by Bengal Engineering and Science University Shibpur and Kalyani Government Engineering college (note: listed are colleges which accept WBJEE score hence National Institute of Technology Durgapur is not included). Among the private colleges the institutes of the Techno India group, Heritage Institute of Technology Anandpur, BP Poddar Institute of Engineering and Management Kolkata, Haldia institute of Technology Kolkata are the reputed institutes.
The preferred streams are Electronics and Communications Engineering, Computer Science Engineering and Information Technology Engineering. The students in West Bengal prefer to take admission in their first attempt of engineering entrance than give another shot at Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) and All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE). The students prefer a college rather than the specialization and opt for the college of repute than availability of the specialization of their choice.
The placements in Kolkata based colleges are above average given the heavy presence of Information Technology (IT) industry and core industry companies. The pay packages offered to students are in the range of 2-4 lakhs per annum. In West Bengal engineering is a herd mentality born out of peer and parental pressure. The governments emphasis on encouraging the Information Technology industry will lead to creation of more jobs in West Bengal and give an impetus to engineering education in the state.
| West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Introduction | West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam is conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board for admission to degree program in Engineering and Technology courses. |
| Eligibility | The applicant must be an Indian citizen and passed the HSC (10+2) or its equivalent examination from a recognized University/Board with 45% marks for General candidate (40% marks for SC/ST candidates) in the subjects Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics taken together and with 30% marks in English (for all candidates). Those appearing in HSC or equivalent examination in may also appear in JEE for consideration of provisional admission |
| Application Process | Application forms are available in December at the following Branches of United Bank of India at Kolkata and Howrah - Old Court House St, College St, Sealdah, Shyambazar, Jadavpur, Behala, Mayukh Bhawan-Salt Lake, BE College Extn Counter and at Asansol, Durgapur City Centre, Bardhaman, Katwa (Station Road), Seramporc, Arambag, Kalyani, Krishnagore, Barasat, Diamond Harbour, Kolaghat Haldia, Kharagpur, Suri, Bankura, Purulia, Berhampur, Raiganj, Balurghat, Malda, Siliguri, Darjceling (25, HD Lama Road), Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, New Delhi (90/8 Connaught Circus), Mumbai (25, Sir Phcroze Shah Mehta Rd Fort), Chennai (117, Armenian St), Raipur (12/101-103 Malviya Rd), Bhubaneswar (Market Building), Patna (32 Station Rd), Rancht (94, Main Rd), Guwahati (Chariati Police Point), Silchar (Central Rd) and Agartala (Hari Ganga Basak Road) on all banking hours on payment of requisite fee. The application form and the information brochure may also be obtained by post from the Board Office on application addressed to Member Secretary with an additional fee of Rs 50/-. The total amount has to be paid by Demand Draft drawn in favour of "West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board" payable at Howrah/Kolkata. The duly filled in application form must be sent in the printed envelope by SPEED Post so as to reach the office of the Board by the notified date. Submission of application form by hand or courier service will not be accepted. There is no provision for selling or receiving of application form with the late fee from the Board office. |
| Admission Process | Selection for Engineering & Technological courses will be based on the basis of the merit/option having regard to preference for the colleges/universities and Branches at a fixed venue, date and time to be notified by the Central Selection Committee in this regard. Selected candidates for both the Government & non-Government colleges will have to furnish a demand draft for Rs 5000/- (non-refundable) in favor of Central Selection Committee (Engineering & Technology) before allotment is made. The amount will be sent to the concerned Universities/Colleges for adjustment against fees payable at the time of admission. |
| Paper Pattern | Test consists of Physics, Chemistry (50 marks each) and Mathematics (100 marks) of 2 hour duration each. The questions are of 12th standard and in English language with Bengali translation. Two Hours are given for Physics and Chemistry and two hours for Maths. The entire paper is for four hours. The medium of examination is English. |
| Reservations | There is domicile reservation for West Bengal residents. Candidates should have been residing in the State continuously for 10 years or whose parents are permanent residents of West Bengal |
| Top Colleges | Jadavpur University Kolkata Bengal Engineering and Science University Howrah Institute of Engineering and Management Kolkata Haldia Institute of Technology Haldia Kalyani Government Engineering College Nadia Heritage Institute of Technology Kolkata Techno India College of Technology Kolkata Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College Jalpaiguri College of Ceramic Technology Kolkata BP Poddar Institute of Management and Technology Kolkata |