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The Bachelor of Engineering (BE) Lateral Entry in Mechanical Engineering at VSB College of Engineering Technical Campus (VSBCETC), Coimbatore, is a 3-year full-time undergraduate programme that enables diploma holders to directly enter the second year of the BE Mechanical Engineering programme. Affiliated to Anna University and approved by AICTE, the course covers core mechanical engineering subjects including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, manufacturing technology, machine design, CAD/CAM, and industrial engineering. With a government-regulated tuition fee of approximately Rs. 55,000 per year (Government Quota), the lateral entry route offers diploma holders a direct and affordable pathway to earn a full engineering degree. The college is NAAC accredited and NBA approved.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are open. Lateral entry admissions are conducted through TNEA Lateral Entry counselling by the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE), Tamil Nadu. Registration for TNEA 2026 is tentatively expected to open in May 2026. Candidates who have completed a 3-year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline from Tamil Nadu State Board of Technical Education (or equivalent) are eligible to apply.

Key Points

Lateral entry students directly join the second year (third semester) of the BE Mechanical Engineering programme, completing the degree in 3 years instead of 4.
The programme is affiliated to Anna University and follows the same curriculum as the regular BE Mechanical Engineering programme from the second year onwards.
The Mechanical Engineering department is one of the founding departments of the college, established in 2012.
65% of lateral entry seats are filled through TNEA Single Window Counselling and 35% through the Consortium of Self-Financing Professional Colleges, Tamil Nadu.
The current sanctioned intake for BE Mechanical Engineering (regular) is 30 seats; lateral entry seats are a subset of the total intake.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

VSBCETC BE Lateral ME Fees

The BE Lateral Entry (Mechanical Engineering) programme at VSBCETC is a 3-year course with government-regulated tuition fees under TNEA norms. The tuition fee for Government Quota seats is approximately Rs. 55,000 per year, making the total tuition fee for 3 years approximately Rs. 1,65,000. Additional charges such as exam fees, library fees, and miscellaneous fees are levied separately each year.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (per year)	Total (3 Years)
Tuition Fee (Government Quota)	Rs. 55,000	Rs. 1,65,000
Exam Fee	Rs. 3,000	Rs. 9,000
Library / Technology Fee	Rs. 2,000	Rs. 6,000
Miscellaneous Fee	Rs. 5,000	Rs. 15,000
Application Fee (one-time)	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 1,000
Total Fees (Government Quota)	Rs. 66,000	Rs. 1,96,000

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel Component	Amount
Room Rent	Rs. 1,450 per month
Mess Bill	Rs. 2,100 per month
Total Hostel Cost (approx.)	Rs. 42,600 per year

Tuition fee is as per TNEA Government norms and is subject to revision by the Tamil Nadu government.
Hostel facility is optional and available for both boys and girls on campus.
Transport facility is also optional, with charges ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 13,000 per year depending on distance.
Management Quota fee is higher and set by the Consortium of Self-Financing Professional Colleges, Tamil Nadu.

VSBCETC BE Lateral ME Admission 2026-27

Lateral entry admissions at VSBCETC are conducted through TNEA Lateral Entry counselling for 65% of seats and through the Consortium of Self-Financing Professional Colleges for the remaining 35%. The 2026-27 admission cycle is currently open. Candidates must have passed a 3-year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline with the required minimum marks as per community category.

College-Specific Admission Dates

Event	Date
College Application Portal Open	Open (2026-27 cycle active)
TNEA Lateral Entry Registration Start (Tentative)	May 2026
TNEA Lateral Entry Registration Last Date (Tentative)	June 2026
Document Upload Deadline (Tentative)	June 2026
Certificate Verification at TFCs (Tentative)	June 2026
Rank List Publication (Tentative)	July 2026
Lateral Entry Counselling (Tentative)	July - August 2026
Batch Commencement	August / September 2026

TNEA Lateral Entry Admission Process Dates

Event	Date (Tentative)
TNEA Lateral Entry Registration Opens	May 2026
TNEA Lateral Entry Registration Closes	June 2026
Rank List Publication	July 2026
Counselling Begins	July 2026
Counselling Ends	August 2026

Note: TNEA Lateral Entry is a merit-based counselling process based on Diploma marks. No separate entrance test is conducted.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed a 3-year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline conducted by Tamil Nadu State Board of Technical Education or an equivalent recognised board.
Minimum aggregate marks: 45% for OC category; 40% for BC/MBC/DNC and SC/ST categories (aggregate of 5th and 6th semester marks).
Candidates in the pre-final or final semester of their diploma are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Admission Process

Register on the TNEA portal (tneaonline.org) during the lateral entry registration window.
Upload required documents including Diploma mark sheets, community certificate, and transfer certificate.
Attend certificate verification at the designated TNEA Facilitation Centre (TFC).
Participate in online counselling based on rank and fill college/branch preferences.
Receive allotment and report to the college with original documents.
Alternatively, apply directly through the college portal for Management Quota seats via the Consortium process.

VSBCETC BE Lateral ME Scholarships 2026-27

Students enrolled in the BE Lateral Entry Mechanical Engineering programme at VSBCETC are eligible for a range of government scholarships based on community category, family income, and academic merit. Tamil Nadu state government scholarships cover tuition and special fees for eligible SC/ST, BC, MBC, and minority students. First-generation graduates are also eligible for a dedicated scholarship of Rs. 20,000 per year.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
Tamil Nadu SC/ST Post-Matric Scholarship	SC/ST students; family income below prescribed limit	Full tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Tamil Nadu BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship	BC/MBC/DNC students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per year	Tuition fee and special fee reimbursement
Tamil Nadu First Graduate Scholarship	First graduate in the family	Rs. 20,000 per year
Central Government Post-Matric Scholarship (OBC)	OBC students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per year	Partial tuition fee reimbursement
AICTE Pragati Scholarship (for Girls)	Girl students in AICTE-approved institutions; family income below Rs. 8 lakh per year	Rs. 50,000 per year (up to 3 years)
AICTE Saksham Scholarship (Differently Abled)	Differently abled students in AICTE-approved institutions	Rs. 50,000 per year

Scholarships are disbursed through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) or Tamil Nadu state scholarship portals.
Students must apply within the prescribed deadlines, typically between July and October each academic year.
Scholarship amounts are subject to revision by the respective government authorities.
Students must maintain satisfactory academic performance to continue receiving scholarships in subsequent years.

VSBCETC BE Lateral ME FAQs

Ques. What diploma branches are eligible for lateral entry into BE Mechanical Engineering at VSBCETC?

Ans. Candidates who have completed a 3-year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Automobile Engineering, or related disciplines from Tamil Nadu State Board of Technical Education or an equivalent recognised board are generally eligible. The exact list of eligible diploma branches is specified in the TNEA lateral entry notification each year.

Ques. What is the fee for BE Lateral Entry Mechanical Engineering at VSBCETC?

Ans. The tuition fee under TNEA Government Quota is approximately Rs. 55,000 per year, totalling around Rs. 1,65,000 for the 3-year course. Additional charges (exam fee, library fee, miscellaneous) add approximately Rs. 10,000 per year. Management Quota fees are higher. Always confirm the latest fee structure directly with the college.

Ques. Do lateral entry students get the same BE degree as regular students?

Ans. Yes. Lateral entry students who complete the programme receive the same BE degree from Anna University as regular students. They join directly in the second year and complete the programme in 3 years instead of 4.

Ques. Is the sanctioned intake for BE Mechanical Engineering at VSBCETC very limited?

Ans. Yes. The sanctioned intake for BE Mechanical Engineering (regular) is 30 seats, which is relatively small. Lateral entry seats are a subset of this intake. Candidates are advised to apply early and participate actively in TNEA counselling to secure a seat.

Ques. Are lateral entry students eligible for hostel accommodation at VSBCETC?

Ans. Yes. Lateral entry students are eligible for hostel accommodation on the same basis as regular students. The college has separate boys and girls hostels on campus. Hostel accommodation is optional and allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, with room rent of approximately Rs. 1,450 per month and mess charges of approximately Rs. 2,100 per month.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing BE Lateral Entry Mechanical Engineering from VSBCETC?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Core companies like Bosch, Schneider Electric, and SPIC have recruited from VSBCETC. Graduates can also pursue higher studies such as ME/M.Tech or appear for GATE for PSU recruitment. The college's placement cell actively supports students in securing core engineering roles.

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VSB College of Engineering Technical Campus Coimbatore BE {Lateral} Mechanical Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

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