What is RF and Microwave Engineering?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions
Vidhi JainContent Writer
RF and Microwave Engineering courses basically deals with the wireless communications, radars and navigation, medical imaging and radio science. RF and Microwave Engineering falls under the umbrella of Electrical Engineering, with a strong focus on the analytical study and usage of electromagnetic waves and frequencies used to operate various devices, machinery, and systems. In India the RF and Microwave Engineering is mostly given as a specialization at the PG level after completing a UG degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and Electrical Engineering, or another relevant field.
RF and Microwave Engineering Course Details: Highlights
Students can refer to highlights for a quick reference:
| RF and Microwave Engineering Particulars | RF and Microwave Engineering Course Details |
|---|---|
| RF and Microwave Engineering Course Levels | Undergraduate and Postgraduate |
| RF and Microwave Engineering Course Duration |
UG: 4 Years (5 years in case of Integrated BTech-MTech) PG: 2 Years |
| RF and Microwave Engineering Admission Eligibility |
UG: Class 12 along with entrance examination PG: B.E/BTech along with entrance examination |
| RF and Microwave Engineering Examination Type | Semester-wise |
| RF and Microwave Engineering Entrance Exams | JEE Main, GATE, CUET PG, TS EAMCET, WBJEE, MHT CET, etc. |
| Best RF and Microwave Engineering Colleges in India | Delhi Technological University, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Guwahati, NIT Rourkela, Birla Institute of Technology (Mesra), R.V College of Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University, etc. |
| RF and Microwave Engineering Course Fees | INR 50,000 - 5 lakh |
| Average RF & Microwave Engineering Salary | INR 4 LPA - 4.5 LPA |
| Top RF and Microwave Engineering Jobs | RF Microwave Engineer, RF Design Engineer, Associate RF Engineer, and Electrical Engineer. |
| Top RF and Microwave Engineering Recruiters |
Keysight Technologies, Verizon, Intel, Nokia, Microsoft, IBM, Boeing |
Note- This information is taken from the official website and may vary.
Why Pursue RF & Microwave Engineering?
Studying RF and Microwave Engineering can prove to be extremely beneficial for students in the digitalized world that we are living in today, where everything around us is operated electronically with the help of electromagnetic waves and signals. Some of the benefits of pusuing RF and Microwave Engineering are mentioned below:
Diverse Career Options: RF Microwave engineers are in demand across various industries such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, telecommunications, and consumer electronics. RF and microwave engineers can be found figuring out the best way to securely encode a signal for transmission and implementing the circuitry to do so. For example, a radio station takes the audio signal of some song, modulate it by encoding it as a high frequency which is ready to travel through the air. It is then received by the radio in our bedroom for us to hear it clearly and enjoy.
Skill Enhancement: RF Microwave engineers can also be found assisting the medical field, for instance, with MRI machines. MRI machines use radio frequency pulses and magnetic fields to generate detailed images of the internal structures of the body, giving medical professionals invaluable insights on their patients. All of this leads to an excellent growth in terms of skills and technical expertise in such an intricate domain.
Earning Potential: The earning opportunities for RF Microwave engineers are quite decent because of the complex tasks that they accomplish and their demand across industries. Recruiters often pay them well. For people interested in electromagnetic waves zooming through space or enhancing the lives of medical patients, RF and microwave engineering could be the profession for them.
RF and Microwave Engineering courses are offered at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. If you have completed your Class 12 in Science background and have studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, you are eligible to pursue RF and Microwave Engineering course. You can also take up a UG level course in Electronics and Communication Engineering or Electrical Engineering, and then opt for M.Tech RF and Microwave Engineering as only 4 colleges in India offer a full-fledged course in this field at the undergraduate level.
Further, for taking up the course at the postgraduate level, you should have completed BTech degree or BE in ECE/Electrical Engineering, or any other allied discipline and must also possess a valid GATE score. Entrance tests are an important part of the admission process for which you need to work hard and get good marks to secure admission at prestigious Engineering institutions in the country.
- RF and Microwave Engineering Eligibility Criteria
- RF and Microwave Engineering Admission Process 2025
- RF & Microwave Engineering Entrance Exams 2025
- RF and Microwave Engineering Subjects
- Best RF & Microwave Engineering Colleges in India
- Popular Private RF & Microwave Engineering Colleges in India
- RF & Microwave Engineering Careers Scope, Jobs, Salary and Top Recruiters
- RF and Microwave Engineering FAQs
- Popular RF & Microwave Engineering UG Courses
- Popular RF & Microwave Engineering PG Courses
RF and Microwave Engineering Eligibility Criteria
For the admission into the RF & Microwave Engineering course the students will have to meet some of the eligibility criteria which are here:
| RF and Microwave Engineering Courses | RF and Microwave Engineering Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate (Integrated BTech Hons Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering + MTech in RF and Microwave Engineering/ BTech in Radio Physics and Electronics/ BTech Electronics and Communication Engineering (Microwave Engineering) |
|
| Postgraduate (MTech in Microwave and Optical Communication/ MTech in RF and Microwave Engineering/ MTech in Microwave and Radar Engineering/ MTech in RF and Microwave Systems) |
|
Useful Links for RF & Microwave Engineering:
For RF and Microwave engineering eligibility, students should have completed their class 12 qualifying examination from a recognised board or University. They should have studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects and score a minimum aggregate of 50 percent marks. To pursue PG courses, students should have a BE/BTech degree from a recognised University as well as appear and score good rank in GATE Exam.
You cannot opt for courses in RF and Microwave Engineering with PCB stream in Class 12. The academic institutions require you to have studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics subjects in Class 12 and secured at least 50% marks in your board exams to be eligible for RF and Microwave Engineering courses.
It is important to note that out of the 33 RF and Microwave Engineering colleges in India, only 4 colleges provide the courses at the UG-level. Rest, all of the colleges offer MTech courses in RF & Microwave Engineering for which you must have a BTech degree in ECE or Electrical Engineering with at least 55 to 60% marks and a valid entrance exam score like GATE or CUET PG.
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RF and Microwave Engineering Admission Process 2025
Interested students can go through a general guide of the admission process for RF and Microwave Engineering courses at Indian colleges below:
Step 1: Check the Eligibility and if you qualify it or not
First thing is that you have to do is go to the official site of the college you wanna apply to.
Step 2: Sit for the Entrance Exam
If the course or college asks for it then you have to appear for entrance exams that can be state-level or college-level.
Step 3: Apply for the college Online
Go to the official website of the college and fill out the application form very much carefully.
Step 4: Merit List will be out
After exams are over colleges will release a merit list based on entrance or qualifying marks. Keep checking for your name.
Step 5: Counselling
Take part in counselling sessions which are held by the university to choose your seat.
Step 6: Document Check
Submit all your docs like mark sheets, ID proof, and exam scores for verification.
Step 7: Pay the Fee
Once everything is clear then you have to pay the admission fee to lock your seat and your admission is completed, you just need to attend the classes.
Note- The process can differ a bit from one university to another.
GATE papers have three major sections; General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics & Specific Subject. There are 65 questions asked for 100 marks in GATE exam.
General aptitude questions are asked for 15 marks, Engineering mathematics in some paper codes, 13 marks and the rest 72 marks from the chosen subject.
In some paper codes engineering mathematics will be excluded only 15 marks general aptitude questions and rest 85 marks will be of chosen subject.
RF & Microwave Engineering Entrance Exams 2025
For admissions to undergraduate courses, JEE Main and JEE Advanced are conducted. GATE is conducted for admissions to M. Tech courses in RF (Radio Frequency) & Microwave Engineering. Other state-level and university-level entrance exams include CUET PG, CCMT, Karnataka PGCET, AP PGECET, etc.
|
Engineering Exams 2025 |
Exam Dates |
Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
JEE Main 2025 |
JEE Main Exam Date Session 1: January 2026 (Tentative) JEE Main Exam Date Session 2: April 2026 (Tentative) |
|
|
JEE Advanced 2025 |
18 May’25 |
|
|
WBJEE 2025 |
27 Apr’25 |
|
|
GATE 2025 |
February 2026 (Tentative) |
|
|
CUET PG 2025 |
13 Mar'25 - 31 Mar'25 |
Note- This information is sourced from the official website of the institute/exam.
Relevant Links for RF & Microwave Engineering Exams 2025:
CUET PG Syllabus 2025 (OUT): Download Course- Wise Syllabus PDF Here
How to Prepare for GATE 2025 Exam? - Check Preparation Tips, Strategy & Guide
31 Oct ' 25 - 27 Nov ' 25 | JEE Main 2026 Registration Session 1 |
Jan '26 | JEE Main Admit Card 2025 Session 1 TENTATIVE |
Dec '25 - Feb '26 | MHT CET 2026 Application Form TENTATIVE |
Apr '26 | MHT CET 2026 Admit Card TENTATIVE |
Feb '26 | KCET Notification 2026 TENTATIVE |
Mar '26 - Apr '26 | AP EAMCET 2026 Application Form Dates TENTATIVE |
May '26 | AP EAMCET 2026 Application form last date with la... TENTATIVE |
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The GATE exam is the most popular entrance examination for admission into MTech RF & Engineering. There are a total of 33 RF and Microwave Engineering colleges in India, out of which 21 accept the GATE exam scores. Other state-level and university-level entrance exams include CUET PG, CCMT, Karnataka PGCET, TS PGECET, AP PGECET, etc.
You must work hard and prepare well for the exam as it is important to secure very good marks and a decent rank in order to secure admission to PG level RF and Microwave Engineering courses.
Candidates can download all the GATE (PYQs) previous paper question papers through official website of GATE 2025. Shiksha also have compiled all the GATE previous year question apers for the ease of the students candidates can download each question paper pdf through the link given below;
RF and Microwave Engineering Subjects
Here are the topics that students study in an RF & Microwave Engineering program:
|
RF and Microwave Engineering Subjects |
|
|---|---|
|
Advanced Engineering Mathematics |
Microwave Circuit Lab |
|
Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering |
Antenna Theory and Design |
|
Microwave Circuits and Systems |
Computational Methods for Electromagnetics |
|
Microwave Semiconductor Devices |
Antenna Design Lab |
Besides the above, students will also be given an option to choose three of the following electives across the 2nd and the 3rd semester.
|
RF & Microwave Engineering Electives |
|
|---|---|
|
RF IC and Microwave Mems |
Optoelectronics and Fiber Optic Communication |
|
Millimetre-Wave Integrated Circuits |
Wireless Channels and UWB Radios |
|
RF Packaging and Electromagnetic Compatibility |
Remote Sensing |
|
Adaptive and Smart Antennas |
Millimeter-Wave Integrated Circuits Lab |
|
Phased Array Antennas |
Electromagnetic and Microwave Application of Metamaterials |
|
Satellite Communication |
|
Note: The above topics will vary from college to college.
Useful Link for RF & Microwave Engineering Syllabus:
The various subjects taught under RF & Microwave Engineering includes:
- Microwave Circuit Lab
- Antenna Theory and Design
- Computational Methods for Electromagnetics
- Advanced Engineering Mathematics
The various electives taught under RF & Microwave Engineering include:
- RF IC and Microwave Mems
- Millimetre-Wave Integrated Circuits
- RF Packaging and Electromagnetic Compatibility
- Remote Sensing
- Millimetre-Wave Integrated Circuits Lab
- Electromagnetic and Microwave Application of Metamaterials
Best RF & Microwave Engineering Colleges in India
Many institutes conduct their own entrance exams for postgraduate programs (MTech) in RF & Microwave Engineering. These exams might test your knowledge of core electrical engineering concepts, aptitude for problem-solving, and sometimes include a specific section on RF & Microwave theory. For most of the institutes, national-level entrance exams like GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) scores might be considered for admission.
Best Government RF and Microwave Engineering Colleges in India
In India, top IITs like IIT Kharagpur and NITs like NIT Rourkela provide RF & Microwave Engineering courses. Refer to the table below for more information on RF & Microwave Engineering government colleges:
|
Government RF and Microwave Engineering Colleges |
Course Fee |
|---|---|
|
INR 20,000 - 10 lakh |
|
|
INR 1.23 lakh - INR 1.84 lakh |
|
|
INR 1.4 lakh |
|
| IIT Roorkee |
INR 20,000 - INR 10.71 lakh |
| IIT BHU, Varanasi |
INR 40,000 |
| IIT Guwahati |
INR 1.14 lakh |
| Visvesvaraya Technological University |
INR 11,940 |
|
INR 2 lakh |
|
|
INR 24,000 - INR 34,930 |
Note- This information is sourced from the official website/ counselling body and may vary.
Best Private RF & Microwave Engineering Colleges
Some of the private colleges providing RF & Microwave Engineering courses are given below:
|
Private RF and Microwave Engineering Colleges |
Course Fee |
|---|---|
|
INR 4.47 lakh |
|
| Medi-Caps University, Indore |
INR 5 lakh |
|
INR 1.63 lakh |
|
|
INR 89,700 |
|
| Career Point University, Kota | INR 2.16 lakh - INR 3.24 lakh |
Helpful Link for RF & Microwave Engineering Colleges:
Following are some of the top colleges to pursue RF Systems Engineering:
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Kharagpur
- DTU
- BIT, Mesra
- IPU
There are a total of 33 colleges in India that offer courses in this field. The average fee to pursue RF & Microwave Engineering ranges from INR 50,000 to INR 5 lakh. The course fee will differ from college to college. If you target top institutes like the IITs and the NITs, the RF and Microwave Engineering course fee would be quite high and may reach up to INR 10 lakh. On the other hand, for other colleges it would not be very high but still range between INR 50,000 and INR 2.5 lakh.
Popular Private RF & Microwave Engineering Colleges in India
RF & Microwave Engineering Careers Scope, Jobs, Salary and Top Recruiters
After completing a BTech/MTech in RF & Microwave Engineering, here are the types of job roles/profiles one can expect to get into:
| RF & Microwave Engineering Jobs | Job Description | Average RF & Microwave Engineering Salary |
|---|---|---|
| RF Engineer | Designs, develops, tests, and troubleshoots RF circuits and components used in various applications like wireless communication systems, radars, and medical equipment. | INR 4.2 LPA |
| Microwave Engineer | Specializes in designing and developing microwave circuits, systems, and devices operating at higher frequencies. They work on components like waveguides, antennas, and microwave transistors. | INR 3.1 LPA |
| RF Hardware Engineer | Focuses on the hardware aspects of RF systems, designing and building prototypes, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and integration with other hardware components. | INR 4.5 LPA |
| Applications Engineer | Provides technical support and guidance to customers on using RF and microwave components and systems. They may also conduct training and participate in product development. | INR 7.7 LPA |
| RF & Microwave Test Engineer | Develops and executes test plans to evaluate the performance of RF and microwave circuits, systems, and devices. They ensure adherence to quality standards and specifications. | INR 4 LPA |
| Radar Engineer | Designs, develops, and maintains radar systems used in various applications like air traffic control, weather monitoring, and military defense. | INR 7 LPA |
| RF & Microwave System Engineer | Designs and integrates complete RF and microwave systems, considering factors like signal processing, antenna placement, and system performance optimization. | INR 8 LPA |
| RF & Microwave Research Engineer | Conducts research and development in the field of RF and microwave technologies, exploring new materials, design techniques, and applications. | INR 8.5 LPA |
Note- The above salary has been taken from external sources, and hence may vary.
Useful Link for RF & Microwave Engineering Career:
Top Recruiters for RF and Microwave Engineering
Take a look at some of the top companies recruiting RF & Microwave Engineering professionals:
|
Top Recruiters |
|
|---|---|
|
IBM |
Qualcomm |
|
BOEING |
Keysight Technologies |
|
Intel |
General Dynamics Mission Systems |
|
Nokia |
Mercury Systems |
|
Microsoft |
COMSOL India |
|
Verizon |
Raman Research Institute (RRI) |
|
SpaceX |
Accord Global Technology Solutions |
|
Engineering Network International |
Imagination Technologies |
|
Kyocera International, Inc |
Indian Railways |
Helpful Links for RF & Microwave Engineering Careers:
Some of the top job prospects for RF & Microwave Engineering are -
- Electrical Engineer
- RF Engineering
- RF Systems Engineers
- R&D Engineer (RF)
- Antenna Engineer
- Applications Engineer
The top recruiters for RF & Microwave Engineering students are -
- IBM
- Boeing
- Microsoft
- Qualcomm
- Raman Research Institute (RRI)
The entry-level salary for RF and Microwave Engineering students is around INR 4 LPA. The medium-level salary ranges from INR 4 LPA to INR 8 LPA. The RF & Microwave Engineering salary varies on the basis of experience, skill set and educational qualifications. Recruiters are willing to pay extra to skilled and talented RF Microwave engineers. You must focus on enhancing your skill set as much as possible to do well in the field so that you get paid well and move upwards in your career.
RF and Microwave Engineering FAQs
Take a look at the FAQs for RF and Microwave Engineering courses:
Listed below are some of the skill sets that the candidates are expected to have to excel in the field.
| Skillset for RF & Microwave Engineering | |
|---|---|
| Communication Skills | Critical Thinking |
| Experience in ECAD tools | Attention to Detail |
| Leadership | Management |
Popular RF & Microwave Engineering UG Courses
UG Courses
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Popular RF & Microwave Engineering PG Courses
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RF & Microwave Engineering is a sub-branch that includes transmission or receiving a radio wave on all devices under radiofrequency. RF (Radio Frequency) & Microwave Engineering is a subset of electrical engineering. These specialists design, construct and operate devices that transmit or receive radio waves. These devices include radios, wireless equipment, mobile phones etc. An RF (Radio Frequency) & Microwave Engineering programme is most suitable for individuals wanting to develop their expertise and grow in the field of RF, microwave, millimetre wave engineering.