Published: 01 Sep 2025 | Reading Time: 5 min read
For many students completing their 12th grade, software engineering is an enticing career option. Regardless of whether you completed your 12th grade in science, commerce, or arts, there are plenty of ways to step into the software engineering pathway. This guide will look in detail at how to become software engineer after 12th without JEE, focusing on the courses to take after 12th grade, courses to become a software engineer, and career options in computer science.
Software engineering is a systematic approach to software development using engineering principles. It covers a software system's design, development, testing, and maintenance. Software engineering is not programming, as programming contains code while software engineering contains a complete software development reasoning to create a software that is reliable, efficient, and scalable.
There are many good reasons to choose to pursue software engineering after 12th grade:
Choosing the right course after 12 is very important for your career and personal development. Here are some reasons why:
Choosing a course that aligns with your goals, specific to your career interests, such as software engineering for technology lovers, enables you to develop the required skills which will help prepare you for the industry you want to work in.
Choosing a course aligned with your interests, can help you stay engaged to perform at your best, which will give you job satisfaction, workplace fulfilment, and ultimately a successful career.
Different courses carry different costs and expected returns. A course of study that is highly regarded in its prospects, like the software engineering degree can help you improve your financial return on your investment, as well as the eventual employment opportunities you may get.
Courses with pursuing a career in highly-stressed industries would generally help you expand your employment prospects and stay in the job longer for increased career advancement. Software engineering degrees fall within the high-stress section for jobs and employment prospects make it a promising career.
A good course will prepare you to develop both technical and soft skills, give you confidence to make decisions, and develop your career desires well into the future.
If you're exploring how to become a software engineer after 12th, the first step is choosing the right course. Degree, diploma, and certification programs with practical, hands-on training can set the foundation for your career.
The Bachelor of Engineering degree specifically in Computer Science is the most traditional and comprehensive route towards this field. This degree normally includes an established course structure and content that covers a broad range of topics from programming and software development, to algorithms, system design, and more.
Duration: 4 years.
Eligibility: Generally require a background in science, including topics such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry, as well as potentially positive entry and high school grades from exams such as JEE Main or state-level tests.
A diploma program can offer training on certain aspects of software development, typically coding, databases, or software testing. Diploma programs are also great if you want to get out in the work force quickly or to improve your current skills.
Duration: 3 years.
Eligibility: Normally if your background is Science, you will be the preferred candidates.
These programs include a variety of certification programs, and online programs that will typically be more focused on practical skills, and are shorter and more flexible than degree programs.
Duration: Typically few months to upto a year.
Eligibility: Students come from all kinds of backgrounds, and should not have to have previously known or have any experience.
With the technology sector progressing rapidly, specialized programs that provide targeted knowledge are becoming more important. These specialized programs will also help increase your career opportunities and place you into highly paid positions that have a promising future. Here is a summary of top specialized computer courses:
As cyber risks have increased, so has the demand for cybersecurity expertise. Cybersecurity training focuses on protecting systems and networks from cyber assaults using technical skills such as hacking, threat assessment, and intrusion detection.
Data science is the discipline of analyzing massive volumes of data to discover significant insights that aid decision-making across a wide range of businesses. Data science is a growing field that will further expand as the value of data-driven decision-making becomes more apparent.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the world by enabling machines to learn and perform tasks needing human-like intelligence - and this will only continue to grow. This program will provide you a pathway for developing intelligent systems.
As businesses become increasingly cloud-centric, cloud computing is becoming essential. This area focuses on creating, maintaining, and managing applications and data in the cloud.
Web development concentrates on constructing and maintaining websites and web applications. This area is becoming increasingly important as businesses and services continue to move online. Many web development courses have courses on front-end development, back-end development, UX design, and web security.
Software engineering focuses on the planned procedures for designing, implementing, and managing software systems. Specifically, software engineering spans a software system's entire lifecycle, from conception to retirement or maintenance. Many software engineering programs offers courses that challenge students with complex software projects or large-scale systems design.
| Institute Name | Application Fees | Eligibility | Entrance Process | Tuition Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Madras | General/OBC: ₹3000 SC/ST/PWD: ₹1500 | 70% or above in 10+2 | JEE Mains & Advanced | ₹115,500 per semester |
| IIT Bombay | ₹650 | B.Tech/BE or MSc/MCS in CS, strong academic record | JEE Mains & Advanced | ₹1,23,350 per semester |
| IIT Delhi | ₹1000 | B.Tech/BE or MSc/MCS in CS, strong academic record | JEE Mains & Advanced | ₹1,00,000 per semester |
| IIT Kharagpur | ₹500 | JEE Advanced for B.Tech, Dual Degree, or Integrated MS | JEE Mains & Advanced | ₹1,49,005 per semester |
| IIT Kanpur | - | JEE-Main & JEE-Advanced, 10+2 or equivalent | JEE Mains & Advanced | ₹98K to 1.10 lakhs annually |
| NIAT | - | 10+2 or above | NxtWave Admission Test (NAT) | ₹5,00,000 annually |
| NIT Trichy | - | 10+2 or above | JEE Main, DASA UG | ₹1,12,450 annually |
| NIT Warangal | - | 10+2 or above | JEE Main | ₹1,05,000 annually |
| BITS Pilani | ₹6750 | 10+2 or above | BITSAT | ₹2,59,000 annually |
| VIT Vellore | ₹1350 | 10+2 or above | VITEEE | ₹1,76,000 - ₹1,98,000 annually |
| Osmania University | ₹500 | 10+2 or above | OUCET, GATE, TS-EAMCET, TSICET | ₹2,52,000 annually |
| Andhra University | ₹1000 | 10+2 or above | AP EAMCET | ₹2,00,000 annually |
| Anna University | ₹850 | 10+2 or above | TNEA | ₹32,000 per semester |
There are many tips for being successful in a software engineering career such as:
Ultimately, how to become a software engineer after 12th standard is dependent on finding the right path in your education based on your academic background and career goals. Whether you choose to navigate a degree, diploma or certification, as long as the program focuses on real-world skills and you gain practical skills, you are on your way. Remember to be active in your learning and be adaptable as new technologies come into play to remain competitive in an evolving field. It involves preparation and determination.
The best course for you depends on your academic background and career goals:
So, how to become a software engineer after the 12th standard? The steps are as follows:
Continuing in software engineering after 12th arts can be difficult because you have no base knowledge of subjects like mathematics and science, but some institutions may offer bridge courses for you to catch up.
Contact Information: