Top NITs like Surathkal, Trichy, and Warangal are considered close to if not at par with old IITs and definitely better than some new IITs.

Unless you are from the top IITs, admission to foreign universities for an MS does not depend on the college you are from. Many students from top IITs go to foreign universities every year. For non-IITians what matters is the project, internships, UG research quality, and extracurriculars. In fact, the sole reason IITians make it to top foreign universities is their strong determination and grasp of these aspects. Yes, the IIT alumni network does help you in the research internship but ultimately it’s your efforts that matter.

So even if you are not an IITian, keep working hard and you are likely to get admission to top foreign universities.

Yes, it’s definitely worth studying Civil Engineering at NIT Surathkal. It’s a tier 1 NIT offering premium education to aspiring civil engineers and construction professionals. Here is why I strongly recommend you to join this college.

• Curriculum : NIT Surathkal has an extensive and rigorous academic curriculum that covers all important areas of civil engineering be it structural analysis or transportation engineering.
• Faculty : The institute has a reputation for having the best faculty pool with highly qualified and experienced faculty members. They are experts in their respective fields and are passionate about teaching. 
• Facilitates: NIT Surathkal has modern facilities like well-equipped laboratories, research centers, and workshops that allow students to gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge. The department keeps up with the latest advancements in civil engineering technology.
• Exposure : NIT Surathkal has strong industrial connections and often holds guest visits of industrial experts to offer exposure to its students. This helps students socialize with professionals, and secure job or internship offers even before they graduate.
• Alumni network: NIT Surathkal has birthed many successful alumni who have made significant contributions to the field of civil engineering. They offer career guidance, mentorship, and job prospects.

Ultimately, the final decision depends on your personal goals and inclinations. 

Both NIT Suathkal and BITS Pailni are the dream colleges of most engineering aspirants owing to their high reputation and excellence in the field of education. However, NIT is a government college whereas BITS Pilani is a private engineering college that costs much more. Here are a few points you would like to consider before making the final decision

1. First of all, you need to determine what you are looking for from your degree. If you want to associate yourself with a brand then NIT has better recognition globally. Letters of Recommendation from Surathkal professors are very valuable.
2. NIT Surathkal has a better location being near the IT hub, Bangalore. The opportunities offered both on and off campus are plentiful. 
3. Infrastructure-wise, NIT Surathkal is better mainly because it has its own private beach. Additionally, hostels are well-built and the facilities are at par with IIT standards.
4. NIT Surathkal charges very low fees in comparison to BITS.

So, I feel it's better to opt for NIT Surathkal!

As a B.Tech Mechanical Engineering student at NITK, I am sharing some facts about my department-

• Faculty- The Mechanical faculty is strict. However, when approached for guidance, the teachers don’t hesitate in showing their support for students.

One of my friends wanted to work at the IITs. He told one of the professors about the same. The teacher mailed an IIT Hyderabad professor and arranged for my friend to work with him. My friend also wrote a conference paper under the same IIT Hyderabad professor.

• Placements- The placements are good for the Mechanical department. The batch strength for B.Tech is around 150 students, even then, around 90% are placed during campus placements.

• Labs and Workshops- The department offers several labs, like Strength of Materials lab, Fluids lab, Fuels lab, Pyrolysis lab, IC Engines lab, etc. 

Several workshops are organized by the department, like Metal fitting workshop, Carpentry workshop, Lathe machine workshop, etc. The campus also offers virtual labs, which are present in some IITs and NIT Surathkal only. 

Apart from these UG labs, there are several PG labs as well. UG and PG students can also work with each other. 

• Extracurricular activities- Apart from your academics, you can join various clubs at NITK. Some of these are- FSAE Racing club, BAJA Racing club, IEEE, IE, Rotaract, Artist forum, Photography club, etc.

• Library- The central library contains lots of reference books and articles.

Overall, the Mechanical department of NIT Surathkal is quite good. In fact, NITK is known for its CS, Mining and Mechanical studies.