Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

The Master of Engineering [ME] in Thermal Engineering at Government College of Engineering (GCE), Salem is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme affiliated to Anna University, Chennai. The course covers advanced topics in heat transfer, thermodynamics, combustion engineering, refrigeration and air conditioning, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and energy systems. The total fees for the programme is Rs. 34,745 (Others category) for the entire 2-year duration, making it one of the most affordable government PG engineering programmes in Tamil Nadu. The course has a seat intake of 18 and is offered in full-time on-campus mode. Admission is based on GATE or CEETA-PG scores through the CEAP (Common Engineering Admission Procedure) conducted by Anna University. The programme is popular among mechanical engineering graduates seeking specialisation in thermal systems, energy management, and fluid mechanics, with strong career relevance in power plants, automotive, aerospace, and HVAC industries.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are upcoming. Based on last year's schedule, CEETA-PG 2026 notification is expected to be issued on March 11, 2026, with registration tentatively starting in late March 2026. GATE 2026 scores (exam held February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026; result expected March 19, 2026) are also accepted. CEAP 2026 counselling for ME/M.Tech. programmes is expected to commence around July-August 2026, following the pattern of CEAP 2025.

Key Points

Offered by GCE Salem, one of the oldest and most reputed government engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, established in 1966.
The programme is affiliated to Anna University and follows its curriculum and examination pattern.
Admission is through CEAP (Common Engineering Admission Procedure) conducted by Anna University, accepting both GATE and CEETA-PG scores.
The Mechanical Engineering department at GCE Salem has well-equipped thermal engineering and fluid mechanics laboratories.
SC/ST candidates are fully exempted from paying tuition fees as per Government Order.
First-generation graduates are also exempted from tuition fees.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

GCE ME Thermal Engineering Fees

The ME Thermal Engineering programme at GCE Salem is extremely affordable, being a government-run institution. For the Others (General/OBC) category, the total fees for the 2-year programme amount to Rs. 34,745, which includes one-time admission charges, annual fees, and refundable deposits. SC/ST candidates pay even less, as tuition fees are fully waived for them, bringing their total to Rs. 28,745. Hostel facility is available on campus and is optional; hostel charges are separate from the academic fees.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Others (Rs.)	SC/ST (Rs.)
Admission Fee (One-time)	200	200
University Fees - Recog, Regn, Admn (One-time)	2,000	2,000
Academics Administration Fees (One-time)	2,000	2,000
Certificate Verification Fee (One-time)	15	15
University Sports Fee / NSO (One-time)	300	300
Placement / Training / Autonomous (One-time)	1,500	1,500
Institution Deposit (Refundable, One-time)	500	500
Library Deposit (Refundable, One-time)	500	500
Tuition Fees (Per Annum x 2 years)	4,000	NIL
Development Charges (Per Annum x 2 years)	4,000	4,000
Special Fees (Per Annum x 2 years)	3,000	3,000
Library Fees (Per Annum x 2 years)	200	200
Computer Charges (Per Annum x 2 years)	2,400	2,400
Education Media Service Charges (Per Annum x 2 years)	100	100
Internet Society Fee (Per Annum x 2 years)	150	150
University Cultural and Professional Society Fee (Per Annum x 2 years)	100	100
Students Accident and Medical Relief Fund (Per Annum x 2 years)	200	200
Registration and Enrolment Fee (Per Annum x 2 years)	400	400
Red Cross Society Membership Fee (Per Annum x 2 years)	40	40
Flag Day Collection (Per Annum x 2 years)	20	20
NSS Annual Subscription (Per Annum x 2 years)	20	20
Smart ID Card (Per Annum x 2 years)	500	500
Group Insurance (Per Annum x 2 years)	600	600
Total Fees (2 Years)	Rs. 34,745	Rs. 28,745

Institution Deposit (Rs. 500) and Library Deposit (Rs. 500) are refundable at the time of leaving the institution.
SC/ST students are fully exempted from paying tuition fees irrespective of parental income, as per G.O. Ms. No. 722, Social Welfare Department, dated 13-10-1977.
First-generation graduates are also exempted from tuition fees.
Hostel fees are separate and optional.
Hostel admission fee: Rs. 200; Caution Deposit: Rs. 3,000 (refundable); Block Deposit: Rs. 1,500 (refundable); Establishment charges: Rs. 2,750 per year; Amenities and Maintenance charges: Rs. 3,220 per year.
Mess charges are on a dividing system and are additional.
No EMI option is officially mentioned; fees are typically paid at the time of admission and annually thereafter.

GCE ME Thermal Engineering Admission 2026

Admission to the ME Thermal Engineering programme at GCE Salem is conducted through CEAP (Common Engineering Admission Procedure) by Anna University, Chennai, under two categories: GATE and CEETA-PG. Candidates must have a valid GATE score in Mechanical Engineering (ME) or CEETA-PG score to be eligible. The counselling for the 2026-27 batch is expected to be held around July-August 2026, following the pattern of previous years. CEETA-PG 2026 notification is expected on March 11, 2026.

College Admission Dates

Event	Date (2025 Actual / 2026 Tentative)
CEETA-PG 2026 Notification	March 11, 2026 (Tentative)
CEETA-PG 2026 Registration Start	Late March 2026 (Tentative)
CEETA-PG 2026 Registration End	April 2026 (Tentative)
CEETA-PG 2026 Exam Date	April/May 2026 (Tentative)
CEAP 2026 Merit List Publication	July 2026 (Tentative)
CEAP 2026 Choice Filling	July-August 2026 (Tentative)
CEAP 2026 Tentative Allotment	August 2026 (Tentative)
Date of Joining College	August 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
GATE 2026	Exam Conducted	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
GATE 2026	Result / Score Card	March 19, 2026 (Tentative)
TANCET / CEETA-PG 2026	Notification	March 11, 2026
TANCET / CEETA-PG 2026	Registration Start	February 24, 2026 (Tentative)
TANCET / CEETA-PG 2026	Registration End	March 10, 2026 (Tentative)
TANCET / CEETA-PG 2026	Admit Card	March 15, 2026 (Tentative)
TANCET / CEETA-PG 2026	Exam Date	March 21, 2026 (Tentative)
TANCET / CEETA-PG 2026	Result	April 24, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a B.E./B.Tech. degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline from a recognised university.
Minimum 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying degree (45% for SC/ST candidates).
Must have a valid GATE score in Mechanical Engineering (ME paper) or a valid CEETA-PG score.

Admission Process:

Appear for GATE (conducted by IITs) or CEETA-PG (conducted by Anna University) in the relevant discipline.
Register for CEAP (Common Engineering Admission Procedure) on the Anna University CFA portal.
Merit list is prepared based on GATE percentile or CEETA-PG percentile score.
Participate in online choice filling and locking of college/course preferences.
Receive provisional allotment order and report to GCE Salem for document verification and fee payment.
Confirm admission by paying the prescribed fees within the stipulated date.

GCE Salem: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 1 Reviews

Admission to this college is conducted through Anna University's counseling process, based on TANCET scores for seat allocation. The faculty is highly qualified, with over six years of experience and most holding Ph.D. degrees. The college, as a government institution, maintains a low annual fee structure of only 10,000 INR without additional charges.

Various scholarships, including those for minorities and BC, MBC, and SC/ST categories, further enhance financial accessibility. In terms of placements, around 56 students secured positions, with companies like Accenture, Tech Mahindra, Titan, Hyundai, and Mahindra, offering annual salaries of approximately 3.5 lakh INR. While internships are not commonly provided, Titan did offer internships to two mechanical students last year.

PG students benefit from a monthly stipend of 6,000 INR.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

GCE ME Thermal Engineering Scholarships 2026

GCE Salem, being a government institution, offers several state and central government scholarships to eligible students. SC/ST students benefit the most, with full tuition fee exemption and additional post-matric scholarships. BC/MBC/DNC students can avail half or full fee scholarships based on parental income. These scholarships significantly reduce the financial burden for deserving students, making the ME programme highly accessible.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Name	Amount	Eligibility
State Govt. Scholarship for BC/MBC/DNC Students	Rs. 6,825/year (Half Fee) or Rs. 5,425/year (Full Fee)	BC/MBC/DNC students; Full fee for parental income up to Rs. 1,00,000/year and first graduate in family; Half fee if income limit alone is satisfied
Govt. of India Post Matric Scholarship	Rs. 8,750/year (Day Scholar) or Rs. 17,800/year (Hosteller)	SC/ST students with parental income not exceeding Rs. 2,00,000/year
State Govt. Award for Bright Students	Rs. 1,500/year	SC/ST students who secured highest marks in HSC in their respective schools
Award of Prize Money to SC/ST Students	Rs. 5,000/year	SC/ST students who secure 60% and above in B.E. Degree Examinations in 4 years
Tuition Fee Exemption	Full Tuition Fee Waiver	All SC/ST students (irrespective of income) and all first-generation graduates
AICTE Yashasvi Scholarship	Rs. 50,000 (one-time)	OBC/EBC/DNT students; based on AICTE eligibility criteria

Scholarship applications are typically processed through the college principal's office.
Students must submit income certificates, community certificates, and other relevant documents at the time of admission.
The AICTE Yashasvi Scholarship is a central government scheme; GCE Salem has had 204 students benefit from this scheme in a single year.
Deadlines for scholarship applications are announced by the respective sanctioning authorities each academic year.

GCE Salem ME Thermal Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#468 out of 500 in India 2025

#30th in Tamil Nadu

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GCE ME Thermal Engineering FAQs

Ques. Is GATE mandatory for ME Thermal Engineering admission at GCE Salem, or can I apply with CEETA-PG score?

Ans. Both GATE and CEETA-PG scores are accepted for ME Thermal Engineering admission at GCE Salem. Admission is conducted through CEAP (Common Engineering Admission Procedure) by Anna University under two separate categories: GATE category and CEETA-PG category. A valid score in either exam makes you eligible to apply.

Ques. What GATE paper should I appear for to be eligible for ME Thermal Engineering at GCE Salem?

Ans. Candidates should appear for the GATE paper in Mechanical Engineering (ME) to be eligible for ME Thermal Engineering admission at GCE Salem. Candidates with GATE scores in Engineering Sciences (XE) may also be considered under a combined GATE+CEETA-PG score in a 70:30 ratio, as per CEAP guidelines.

Ques. How many seats are available for ME Thermal Engineering at GCE Salem?

Ans. There are 18 seats available for the ME Thermal Engineering programme at GCE Salem. Seats are allotted through CEAP counselling conducted by Anna University based on GATE or CEETA-PG merit.

Ques. What is the total fee for ME Thermal Engineering at GCE Salem for a general category student?

Ans. The total fees for the 2-year ME Thermal Engineering programme for an Others (General/OBC) category student is Rs. 34,745, which covers all one-time charges, annual fees, and refundable deposits. This is one of the lowest fee structures for a government PG engineering programme in Tamil Nadu.

Ques. What are the career prospects after ME Thermal Engineering from GCE Salem?

Ans. Graduates of ME Thermal Engineering from GCE Salem find opportunities in power plants, oil and gas companies, automotive and aerospace industries, HVAC firms, and research organisations. Roles include thermal design engineer, energy auditor, R&D engineer, and faculty positions. The specialisation is also valued for GATE-based PSU recruitment in organisations like BHEL, NTPC, and ONGC.

Ques. Is hostel facility available for ME students at GCE Salem?

Ans. Yes, hostel facility is available at GCE Salem for ME students. The hostel is optional and not mandatory. Hostel charges include a one-time admission fee of Rs. 200, a refundable caution deposit of Rs. 3,000, a refundable block deposit of Rs. 1,500, annual establishment charges of Rs. 2,750, and amenities/maintenance charges of Rs. 3,220 per year. Mess charges are additional and are on a dividing system.