Mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. Mechanical engineering programs usually include courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences, as well as engineering and design. Mechanical engineering technology programs focus less on theory and more on the practical application of engineering principles. They may emphasize internships and co-ops to prepare students for work in industry.

Some colleges and universities offer 5-year programs that allow students to obtain both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative plans combine classroom study with practical work, enabling students to gain valuable experience and earn money to finance part of their education.

We will study about 30 to 40 courses and work on some projects in 8 semesters,which include:

Mechanics

This is the study of interconnection of various bodies with each other and the resultant response of any other body, when an input in terms of motion is given to a link. Few subjects coming under this topic are:

• Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery
• Kinematics of Machinery

Dynamics

This is the next step and one of the most interesting topics after Mechanics. Under this, the systems are studied which are dynamic. Features like velocity, acceleration, vibration, gyroscopic effects etc. are extensively looked upon for a variety of cases. This is really the bread and butter of mechanical engineers. Some of the subjects under this are:

• Dynamics of Machinery
• Turbo-machines
• Machine tools and Meterology

Material

The above topics are only abstract, till you add a material to make it physical. This topic does just that! With strengths, rigidity, manufacturing process etc., discussed for almost all materials, this is really very important subject to read.

• Material Science
• Manufacturing Technology
• Strength of Materials

Computation and Design

If the above topics are the foundation, this topic is the actual construction over it. This topic deals with the application of all the above topics in a multi-dimensional problem from an engineer's point of view. Some of the topics under this are:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Design of Machine Elements
• Finite Element Method

And lastly, to top it off, some other subjects are:

• Thermodynamics
• Internal Combustion Engines and Automobile engineering
• Mechatronics
• CAD/CAM
• Management Science and Productivity
• Linear Control Systems

and many more....

Mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. Mechanical engineering programs usually include courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences, as well as engineering and design. Mechanical engineering technology programs focus less on theory and more on the practical application of engineering principles. They may emphasize internships and co-ops to prepare students for work in industry.

Some colleges and universities offer 5-year programs that allow students to obtain both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative plans combine classroom study with practical work, enabling students to gain valuable experience and earn money to finance part of their education.

Best institutes for mech.engg. in India

• IIT Bombay
• IIT delhi
• IIT Kharagpur
• IIT Kanpur
• IIT Madras
• BITS Pilani
• IIT Roorkee
• IIT Guwahati
• Dehli Technological University
• IIT Varanasi
• Anna University
• IIT Dhanbad

Mechanical Engineering offers a great variety of jobs in govt. and private sector

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.

Drafters

Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.

Materials Engineers

Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances in order to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.

Mathematicians and Statisticians

Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply mathematical and statistical techniques to help solve real-world problems in business, engineering, healthcare, or other fields.

Mechanical Engineering Technicians

Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices, including tools, engines, and machines. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings.

Natural Sciences Managers

Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.

Nuclear Engineers

Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. Many of these engineers find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials—for example, in equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment.

Petroleum Engineers

Petroleum engineers design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the Earth's surface. Petroleum engineers also find new ways to extract oil and gas from older wells.

Physicists and Astronomers

Physicists and astronomers study the ways in which various forms of matter and energy interact. Theoretical physicists and astronomers may study the nature of time or the origin of the universe. Some physicists design and perform experiments with sophisticated equipment such as particle accelerators, electron microscopes, and lasers.

Sales Engineers

Sales engineers sell complex scientific and technological products or services to businesses. They must have extensive knowledge of the products' parts and functions and must understand the scientific processes that make these products work.

There are many options that you can specialise in 

Robotics

As a mechanical engineer working in the field of robotics, you may design and fabricate machines and devices that interact with their surroundings and can be operated remotely. Robots can range from simple machinery to complex creations that perform repetitive tasks in manufacturing settings, hazardous tasks too dangerous for humans or more nuanced motions, such as moving a limb. As a robotics engineer, you may work in many different industries, including agriculture and transportation.

Thermodynamics

If you're working in thermodynamics, your focus is on energy and the systems available to conserve and transform it for a number of different uses. For example, you may design systems that change thermal heat into mechanical energy. You could work in geothermal energy production or refrigeration. You may use your knowledge of heat transfer and fluid mechanics to help design power plants, propulsion systems or refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology engineers manipulate atoms and molecules measured in nanometers, or one-billionth of a meter, for use in manufacturing and modeling. In this field, you'll apply your knowledge of the principles of mechanical engineering to problem solving at this smallest of scales, where materials, because of their size, may behave differently. You'll seek to take advantage of these differences in your work to improve manufacturing and other processes.

Manufacturing

When you're a mechanical engineer who works in manufacturing, you may have a variety of jobs, ranging from the design and development of machines, to working in research or testing. Common to all of these jobs is the task of exploring efficient ways to convert raw materials into finished goods. You may also find opportunities to work in the design and coordination of production systems. Working in this field, you'll help make a variety of products, including cars, airplanes, toys, electronics and recreational equipment.

some popular options are:

• Automotive
• Biomechanics Engineering / Biomaterial
• Combustion / IC Engine modeling (Experimental, Computational)
• Controls, Robotics
• Dynamics, Controls & Vibrations
• Energy / Heat & Mass transfer / Thermal Science
• Fluid Mechanics / Computational Fluid Mechanics
• Manufacturing
• Materials / MEMS / NANO - 3D Printing
• Solid Mechanics - Computational mechanics
• Automotive
• Biomechanics Engineering / Biomaterial
• Combustion / IC Engine modeling (Experimental, Computational)
• Controls, Robotics
• Dynamics, Controls & Vibrations
• Energy / Heat & Mass transfer / Thermal Science
• Fluid Mechanics / Computational Fluid Mechanics
• Manufacturing
• Materials / MEMS / NANO - 3D Printing
• Solid Mechanics - Computational mechanics

Best institutes in the world to pursue mech.engg.

• Massachusetts Insitute of Technology
• Stanford University
• University of Cambridge
• University of California,Berkley
• Imperial College of London
• University of Michigan
• Harvard University
• National University of Singapore
• University of Oxford
• Georgia Institute of Technology