Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The B.Tech (Lateral Entry) in Aeronautical Engineering at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal is a 3-year full-time undergraduate program spread across 6 semesters (3rd to 8th semester), designed for diploma holders seeking direct entry into the second year of the B.Tech program. The program covers aerodynamics, aircraft structures, propulsion systems, avionics, flight mechanics, and aerospace materials, combining rigorous classroom learning with hands-on laboratory experience. The total academic fee for the 3-year program is Rs. 12,22,000, and admission is through the Manipal Entrance Test (MET). MIT Manipal is one of the few private engineering institutes in India offering Aeronautical Engineering with a dedicated department, well-equipped labs, and strong industry connections with aerospace and aviation companies. The program is offered in full-time on-campus mode at the Manipal campus in Karnataka.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are currently ongoing. The application window opened on December 1, 2025, and the last date to apply is March 31, 2026. Students are encouraged to apply at the earliest as seats are limited. The tentative course commencement date is in the last week of March 2026.

Key Points

Direct entry to 2nd year (3rd semester) of B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering for diploma holders, saving one year compared to a regular B.Tech.
Curriculum covers aerodynamics, aircraft structures, propulsion, avionics, flight mechanics, aerospace materials, and design, aligned with the regular B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering program.
Access to dedicated aeronautical engineering labs including wind tunnels, aircraft structures lab, propulsion lab, and avionics lab at MIT Manipal.
Strong placement record with recruiters including HAL, ISRO, DRDO, Boeing, Airbus, IndiGo, Air India, Tata Advanced Systems, and Mahindra Aerospace.
MIT Manipal is ranked 59th in Engineering by NIRF 2025 and holds Institution of Eminence (IoE) status granted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Lateral entry students are eligible for MAHE Merit Scholarships and the Freeship/Scholar/Achiever Scholarship scheme.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Ranking
FAQs

MIT Manipal B.Tech Lateral Aeronautical Engineering Fees

The total academic fee for the B.Tech Lateral Entry in Aeronautical Engineering at MIT Manipal is Rs. 12,22,000 for the entire 3-year program. Hostel accommodation is available on campus and is optional; the minimum hostel fee is approximately Rs. 97,500 per year. The total cost including hostel for 3 years is approximately Rs. 15,15,000.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (3rd Sem)	Year 2 (5th Sem)	Year 3 (7th Sem)	Total
Tuition Fee	Rs. 4,07,333 approx.	Rs. 4,07,333 approx.	Rs. 4,07,334 approx.	Rs. 12,22,000
Total Academic Fees				Rs. 12,22,000
Hostel Fee (Non-AC, per year, optional)	Rs. 97,500 approx.	Rs. 97,500 approx.	Rs. 97,500 approx.	Rs. 2,92,500 approx.

A refundable caution deposit is payable at the time of admission.
Hostel fees are not mandatory and are charged separately based on the type of accommodation chosen.
AC room options are available at higher rates.
Students from Manipal Group Polytechnic Institutions may be eligible for the Merit Scholarship for B.Tech Lateral Entry students.
Education loans are available through SBI Scholar Loan Scheme, Axis Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, and ICICI Bank iSMART Scheme for MAHE students.
Fee payment is typically made annually at the beginning of each academic year.

MIT Manipal B.Tech Lateral Aeronautical Engineering Admission 2026

Admissions to the B.Tech Lateral Entry Aeronautical Engineering program at MIT Manipal are conducted through the Manipal Entrance Test (MET) 2026. Applications opened on December 1, 2025, and the last date to apply is March 31, 2026. Candidates are shortlisted based on MET scores and called for counselling. The tentative course commencement is in the last week of March 2026.

MIT Manipal B.Tech Lateral Entry Aeronautical Engineering Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Window Opens	December 1, 2025
Last Date to Apply	March 31, 2026
MET Exam (Phase 1)	April 13-14, 2026
MET Exam (Phase 2)	May 23-24, 2026
Counselling (Tentative)	2nd Week of June 2026
Course Commencement (Tentative)	Last Week of March / April 2026

Accepted Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Exam Date	Remarks
MET 2026 (Phase 1)	April 13-14, 2026	Primary admission exam for B.Tech Lateral Entry at MIT Manipal
MET 2026 (Phase 2)	May 23-24, 2026	For candidates who missed Phase 1

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed a 3-year Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering or a relevant engineering stream (Mechanical, Electronics, Electrical, or related disciplines) from a State Board of Technical Examination or equivalent.
Minimum 45% aggregate marks in the qualifying diploma.
Candidates with a B.Sc. degree (with Mathematics as a subject) with minimum 45% marks are also eligible.

Admission Process

Register and apply online at apply.manipal.edu between December 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
Appear for the Manipal Entrance Test (MET) in Phase 1 (April 13-14, 2026) or Phase 2 (May 23-24, 2026).
Merit list is prepared based on MET score.
Shortlisted candidates are called for online/offline counselling.
Complete admission formalities, pay the first-year fee (including refundable caution deposit), and report for course commencement.

MIT Manipal B.Tech Lateral Aeronautical Engineering Scholarships 2026

MAHE Manipal offers several scholarship options for B.Tech Lateral Entry students, making the program financially accessible. A dedicated Merit Scholarship is available for lateral entry students from Manipal Group Polytechnic Institutions. Additionally, the Freeship, Scholar, and Achiever Scholarship scheme is available for meritorious students, and the HBSF-MAHE EduEmpower Scholarship supports economically weaker students. The Military/CAPF scholarship is also available for wards of armed forces personnel.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Benefit
Merit Scholarship for B.Tech Lateral Entry (Manipal Group Polytechnic)	Lateral entry students from Manipal Group Polytechnic Institutions	Fee waiver (amount as per MAHE guidelines)
Freeship Scholarship for B.Tech	Top MET rank holders; min. 80% in qualifying exam; parental income criteria	Up to 100% tuition fee waiver
Scholar Scholarship for B.Tech	High MET rank; min. 8 CGPA in Semester 1; no backlogs	Partial tuition fee waiver
Achiever Scholarship for B.Tech	Merit-based on MET rank and academic performance	Partial tuition fee waiver
HBSF-MAHE EduEmpower Scholarship	Economically weaker students at MIT Manipal	Financial support towards tuition fees
Merit Scholarship for Wards of Indian Military/CAPF	Parent serving/retired from Indian Armed Forces or CAPF	25% fee waiver (50% for wards of martyrs)
MAHE Interest Subsidy on Education Loan	Students availing education loans from partner banks	Interest subsidy on education loan

Scholarship continuation in subsequent years requires maintaining the minimum CGPA and no backlogs as specified in MAHE scholarship guidelines.
Applications for MAHE scholarships must be submitted via the MAHE Scholarship Application Form to the MAHE Admissions Office.
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and State Scholarship Portal (SSP) of Karnataka are also available for eligible students.
AICTE Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) scheme is also available for economically weaker students in AICTE-approved programs.

MIT Manipal B.Tech Lateral Aeronautical Engineering Placement 2026

Placement Recruiters

Recruiters
HAL
ISRO
DRDO
Boeing
Airbus
IndiGo
Air India
Tata Advanced Systems
Mahindra Aerospace

MIT Manipal B.Tech {Lateral} Aeronautical Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#132 out of 500 in India 2025

#9th in Karnataka

Indiatoday Ranking

#19 out of 269 in India 2025

#1st in Karnataka

The Week Ranking

#27 out of 286 in India 2025

#2nd in Karnataka

NIRF Ranking

#59 out of 300 in India 2025

#2nd in Karnataka

Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here

MIT Manipal B.Tech Lateral Aeronautical Engineering FAQs

Q1. What is the difference between B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering and B.Tech Lateral Entry Aeronautical Engineering at MIT Manipal?

Ans. The regular B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering is a 4-year program starting from the 1st semester, open to 10+2 (PCM) students. The B.Tech Lateral Entry is a 3-year program starting from the 3rd semester (2nd year), open to diploma holders in relevant engineering streams. Both programs lead to the same B.Tech degree in Aeronautical Engineering from MAHE Manipal. The lateral entry route saves one year and is ideal for diploma holders who want to upgrade their qualification to a full engineering degree.

Q2. Which diploma streams are eligible for lateral entry into B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering at MIT Manipal?

Ans. Candidates with a 3-year diploma in Aeronautical Engineering are directly eligible. Candidates with diplomas in Mechanical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related streams may also be considered, subject to MET performance and seat availability. Candidates with a B.Sc. degree (with Mathematics) with minimum 45% marks are also eligible.

Q3. What are the career opportunities after completing B.Tech Lateral Entry Aeronautical Engineering from MIT Manipal?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in aerospace and aviation companies such as HAL, ISRO, DRDO, Boeing, Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems, Mahindra Aerospace, IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet. Roles include Aircraft Design Engineer, Aerospace Systems Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, and Flight Test Engineer. Graduates can also pursue M.Tech or MBA for further specialization.

Q4. Is the B.Tech degree obtained through lateral entry equivalent to a regular B.Tech from MIT Manipal?

Ans. Yes, the B.Tech degree awarded to lateral entry students is the same as that awarded to regular B.Tech students. Both are awarded by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), a deemed-to-be university of eminence. The degree does not distinguish between lateral entry and regular entry, and is recognized by all employers and institutions for further studies.

Q5. What is the MET exam pattern for B.Tech Lateral Entry admissions at MIT Manipal?

Ans. The MET for B.Tech Lateral Entry is an online computer-based test. The syllabus is based on the relevant diploma-level subjects of the engineering stream applied for. The test is conducted in two phases (Phase 1: April 13-14, 2026; Phase 2: May 23-24, 2026). Candidates can appear in either phase. The merit list is prepared based on MET scores. Detailed syllabus and instructions are available on the official MAHE website at manipal.edu/entranceexam.

Q6. What is the total cost of studying B.Tech Lateral Entry Aeronautical Engineering at MIT Manipal including hostel?

Ans. The total academic fee for the 3-year program is Rs. 12,22,000. If you opt for on-campus hostel accommodation, the minimum hostel fee is approximately Rs. 97,500 per year (Rs. 2,92,500 for 3 years), bringing the total estimated cost to approximately Rs. 15,15,000 for the full program. AC room options are available at higher rates.