UPES B.Tech Smart Manufacturing: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. This program is specifically designed for students who want to work at the intersection of manufacturing and digital technology, which is where the industry is heading. Unlike traditional Mechanical Engineering, this program integrates Industrial AI, digital twins, IIoT, and smart factory systems from the very first year. If you are interested in working with companies like Siemens, Tata Motors, GE Aerospace, or Rockwell Automation in roles that combine engineering with data and AI, this program offers a more targeted and future-ready pathway. Traditional Mechanical Engineering may still be preferred if you want broader engineering fundamentals or are targeting core manufacturing roles.

Ans. The "Atoms to Bits" philosophy means that every physical manufacturing activity, whether it is a machine, a material, a shopfloor, or a supply chain, is paired with a digital intelligence layer. In practice, this means students learn both the physical side (manufacturing processes, mechatronics, robotics) and the digital side (AI/ML, digital twins, IIoT, big data analytics) simultaneously. For example, before working on a real production line, students first build a digital twin of it using NVIDIA Omniverse and Siemens Tecnomatix. This dual approach ensures graduates can bridge the gap between physical engineering and digital operations, which is the core skill demanded by Industry 4.0/5.0 employers.

Ans. The Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) hub is a INR 25 crore facility at UPES equipped with AMRs, Cobots, and MES platforms. For Smart Manufacturing students, this hub provides 6-month immersive hands-on training where they work with real industrial automation equipment and earn industry-recognised certifications. The factory hackathon assessment, where students restore a broken production line using AI and mechatronics, is conducted in this facility. This real-world exposure is a significant differentiator compared to programs that only offer theoretical knowledge of smart manufacturing.

Ans. The three elective baskets are: (A) Robotics and Autonomous Systems - covering Cobots, computer vision for robotics, and swarm intelligence for AMR fleets, leading to roles in automotive, logistics, and aerospace automation; (B) Industrial Data and AI - covering deep learning for quality control, predictive maintenance, and edge computing, leading to roles in manufacturing analytics, AI-driven inspection, and industrial IoT; and (C) Digital Manufacturing and Enterprise - covering blockchain in supply chain, AR/VR for remote maintenance, and sustainable manufacturing, leading to roles in supply chain management, digital operations, and green manufacturing consulting.

Ans. Yes, this program is well-suited for students with a software and AI inclination who also want to apply their skills in the physical world of manufacturing. The curriculum includes strong components in Industrial AI and ML, big data analytics, IIoT, edge computing, and digital twins, which are software-heavy domains. The 50/50 rule (50% lab-based learning) ensures students also get hands-on manufacturing exposure. Students who choose Basket B (Industrial Data and AI) can focus heavily on the software and AI aspects while still understanding the manufacturing context, making them highly valuable to companies building AI-driven factory solutions.

Ans. The total academic fee for the 4-year program is INR 12,59,000. Including one-time charges (PDC fee INR 23,300, Training and Certification fee INR 31,300, Alumni fee INR 2,100, Convocation fee INR 3,300, I-Card INR 500, Medical Insurance INR 500, Technology fee approximately INR 30,400) and a refundable security deposit (INR 20,000), the total cost excluding hostel is approximately INR 13,70,400. With optional hostel (triple sharing at INR 1,83,000 per year), the 4-year total comes to approximately INR 20,62,400. Education loans are available through banks such as SBI, HDFC Credila, and Axis Bank. Students are advised to contact the UPES financial aid counsellor for guidance on loan options and repayment schedules.