Focuses on material science, extractive metallurgy, alloy development, and metal processing, for roles in metallurgical and materials industries.

GATE Metallurgical Engineering

Official 2025 syllabus extracted from https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in/doc/2025/GATE%20_MT_2025_Syllabus.pdf

Engineering Mathematics

Matrices and determinants

Systems of linear equations

Eigen values and eigen vectors

Linear Algebra

Limit, continuity and differentiability

Partial derivatives

Maxima and minima

Sequences and series

Test for convergence

Fourier series

Calculus

Gradient

Divergence and curl

Line, surface and volume integrals

Stokes, Gauss and Green's theorems

Vector Calculus

Linear and non-linear first order ODEs

Higher order linear ODEs with constant coefficients

Cauchy's and Euler's equations

Laplace transforms

PDEs: Laplace, one dimensional heat and wave equations

Differential Equations

Definitions of probability and sampling theorems

Conditional probability

Mean, median, mode and standard deviation

Random variables

Poisson, normal and binomial distributions

Analysis of experimental data

Linear least squares method

Probability and Statistics

Solutions of linear algebraic equations

Solutions of non-linear algebraic equations (Bisection, Secant, Newton-Raphson)

Integration by trapezoidal and Simpson's rule

Single and multi-step methods for differential equations

Numerical Methods

Metallurgical Thermodynamics

First law – energy conservation

Second law – entropy

Enthalpy, Gibbs and Helmholtz free energy

Maxwell's relations

Chemical potential

Applications to metallurgical systems

Solutions: ideal and regular solutions

Gibbs phase rule

Phase equilibria

Binary phase diagram and lever rule

Free-energy vs. composition diagrams

Equilibrium constant, activity

Ellingham and phase stability diagrams

Thermodynamics of point defects, surfaces and interfaces

Adsorption and segregation phenomena

Laws of Thermodynamics

Single electrode potential

Electrochemical cells

Nernst equation

Potential-pH diagrams

Electrochemistry

Transport Phenomena and Rate Processes

Concept of viscosity

Shell balances

Bernoulli's equation

Mechanical energy balance equation

Flow past plane surfaces and through pipes

Momentum Transfer

Conduction, Fourier's law

1-D steady state conduction

Convection: heat transfer coefficient relations for forced convection

Radiation: black body radiation, Stefan-Boltzmann law, Kirchhoff law

Heat Transfer

Diffusion and Fick's laws

Mass transfer coefficients

Mass Transfer

Buckingham Pi theorem

Significance of dimensionless numbers

Dimensional Analysis

First order reactions

Reaction rate constant

Arrhenius relation

Heterogeneous reactions

Oxidation kinetics

Chemical Kinetics

Polarization

Electrochemical Kinetics

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy

Comminution techniques

Size classification

Flotation

Gravity and other methods of mineral beneficiation

Agglomeration: sintering, pelletizing, briquetting

Mineral Processing

Material and energy balances in metallurgical processes

Extraction of non-ferrous metals: aluminium, copper and titanium

Extractive Metallurgy

Material and heat balance in blast furnace

Structure and properties of slags and molten salts

Basicity of slags

Sulphide and phosphate capacity of slags

Production of metallurgical coke

Other methods of iron making (COREX, MIDREX)

Iron and Steel Making

Basic oxygen furnace

Process dynamics

Oxidation reactions

Electric arc furnace

Primary Steel Making

Ladle process: deoxidation, argon stirring, desulphurization

Inclusion shape control

Principles of degassing methods

Basics of stainless steel manufacturing

Secondary Steel Making

Fluid flow in tundish and mould

Heat transfer in mould

Segregation

Inclusion control

Continuous Casting

Physical Metallurgy

Ionic, covalent, metallic and secondary bonding

Crystal structure of solids: metals and alloys

Crystal structure of ionic and covalent solids

Crystal structure of polymers

Chemical Bonding and Structure

Bragg's law

Optical metallography

Principles of SEM imaging

X-ray Diffraction and Microscopy

Point defects

Line defects

Surface defects

Coherent, semi-coherent and incoherent interfaces

Crystal Imperfections

Diffusion equation: steady state and error function solutions

Homogenization and carburization

Kirkendall effect

Uphill diffusion

Atomic models for interstitial and substitutional diffusion

Pipe diffusion and grain boundary diffusion

Diffusion in Solids

Driving force

Homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation

Growth kinetics

Solidification in isomorphous, eutectic and peritectic systems

Cast structures and macrosegregation

Dendritic solidification and constitutional supercooling

Coring and microsegregation

Phase Transformation

Precipitation

Spinodal decomposition

Ordering

Massive transformation

Discontinuous precipitation

Eutectoid transformation

Diffusionless transformations

Precipitate coarsening

Gibbs-Thomson effect

Solid-state Transformations

Principles of heat treatment of steels

TTT and CCT diagrams

Surface hardening treatments

Recovery, recrystallization and grain growth

Heat treatment of cast iron and aluminium alloys

Heat Treatment

Electronic properties of materials

Magnetic properties of materials

Optical properties of materials

Basic forms of corrosion and its prevention

Properties of Materials

Mechanical Metallurgy

Strain tensor and stress tensor

Mohr's circle

Elasticity

Stiffness and compliance tensor

Yield criteria

Plastic deformation by slip and twinning

Elastic and Plastic Behavior

Edge, screw and mixed dislocations

Source and multiplication of dislocations

Stress fields around dislocations

Partial dislocations

Dislocation interactions and reactions

Dislocation Theory

Work/strain hardening

Strengthening due to grain boundaries

Solid solution strengthening

Precipitation strengthening

Dispersion strengthening

Strengthening Mechanisms

Fracture behaviour

Griffith theory

Linear elastic fracture mechanics

Fracture toughness

Fractography

Ductile to brittle transition

Fracture

Cyclic stress-strain behaviour

Low and high cycle fatigue

Crack growth

Mechanisms of high temperature deformation and failure

Fatigue and Creep

GATE Metallurgical Engineering Syllabus 2025, 2026 and more: Subjects, Topics, and What to Study