The Master of Agricultural Science is a full-time, two-year graduate program in the field of agriculture sciences and technology. It is a career-oriented course that deals with agronomy whereby student gives advanced knowledge and skills upon completion enabling them to get jobs as agricultural researchers, teachers, extension agents, and managerial personnel in the agri-input sector.
The curriculum covers the courses on advanced crop technology utilization, soil science, agricultural microbiology, plant breeding, seed production technology, integrated nutrition and pest management application, environmental sciences, agricultural extension, and biotechnology. Research and the writing process are the remaining leg of a student's education where students submit a thesis on their particular area of specialization under the supervision of an instructor.
1. Find at least 3 research MSc Agronomy courses which can help you achieve your objectives. Choosing the universities with a strong research and laboratory infrastructure in your desired specialization areas is the key aspect to look for while selecting a program.
2. Read up on the eligibility criterion for the programs since it needs a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences or a related field in most of these programs. Select suitable programs that register you according to your background.
3. Take the standardized tests, such as GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS, if required.
4. Put your request for documents such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, CV/resume etc. together. Your academic and/or work abilities capabilities must be illustrated by your recommenders.
5. Review the funding option - there are some programs that offer teaching or research assistant appointments. And do not forget to use the search engine to see the external grants/scholarships that fit you.
6. Finish It -- Apply before the program deadlines, submit your graduate college application along with all supporting docs. Pay for any application fees, if there are any.
7. Check the status of application - do the interviews when the necessary. In your motivation letter, emphasize on the reasons why you are interested in the program being offered.
8. The final step - decide whether you should accept the offer from your first choice school or reject other offers. The time has come to commence your M.Sc. Program in Agronomy.
1. Bachelors's degree in Agriculture or allied disciplines: College graduates with a minimum of a Bachelor of science in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food science, agribusiness, or other relevant disciplines are the only eligible candidates for the position.
2. Minimum percentage in bachelor's degree: The colleges usually stipulate that one has to score 50-60% in the bachelor's degree or have an equivalent rank to be considered. Top colleges that want only the very highest scorers may demand a higher percentage at the time of admission.
3. Entrance test: Numerous colleges even stipulate mandatory qualification in an entrance test either an ICAR-AIEEA or a college level examination. The institutes have cut-off scores, which differ from other institutes.
4. Work experience: Even though it does not apply in all cases, some colleges provide partial or full scholarship if the candidate is experienced (1-2 years) in jobs like farming, extension tasks, food production, etc.
5. Personal Interview: In addition to the initial shortlisting of the candidates, a face-to- face interview is conducted at the respective institute and only then do students get admission.
ICAR AIEEA PG: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research holds the All India Entrance Examination for Post Graduate Studies in Agriculture; this includes all specializations such as agronomy and reaching the evaluation of the candidates based on their knowledge in agricultural sciences.
BHU PET: The BHU Postgraduate Entrance Test for admissions to MSc Agronomy evaluates aspirants' grasp of the principles of agronomy.
UPCATET: The mission of Uttar Pradesh Combined Agriculture and Technology Entrance Test is to analyze candidates' knowledge on agronomy and allied subjects for the purpose of filling in the seats for two-year MSc Agronomy program.
PAU CET PG: Punjab Agricultural University Common Entrance Test provides the selected students' skills through agronomy, soil science and related fields for the admission to postgraduate agronomy program.
OUAT PG Entrance Exam: Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology PG entrance exam is intended to measure the student's understanding of crop husbandry which is a key component of the MSc Agronomy programme admission.
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University PG Entrance Exam: Post Graduate Entrance Exam of TNAU determines the depth of agronomy knowledge of the candidates for admission in postgraduate agronomy programs.
Kerala Agricultural University PG Entrance Exam: The purpose of KAU PG Entrance Exam is to evaluate candidates' performance in agronomy for studying M.Sc Agronomy programs in Kerala.
Subject | Syllabus Content |
---|---|
Advanced Agronomy | Principles and practices of advanced agronomic practices, such as crop rotation, cropping systems, irrigation management, nutrient management, and weed management. |
Advanced Crop Physiology | Principles and processes of crop physiology, such as photosynthesis, respiration, growth, and development. |
Advanced Soil Science | Principles of soil science, such as soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility. |
Advanced Crop Production | Principles and practices of crop production, such as land preparation, seed selection, sowing, planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest and disease control, harvesting, and storage. |
Advanced Weed Science | Principles and practices of weed science, such as weed identification, weed biology, weed control methods, and herbicide resistance. |
Advanced Crop Breeding | Principles and practices of crop breeding, such as genetic diversity, selection, and hybridization. |
Agricultural Research Methods | Principles and practices of agricultural research, such as experimental design, data collection and analysis, and scientific writing. |
Tabulated below is the collection of the Top 10 Private Master of Science [M.Sc] (Agronomy) Colleges in India with Fee Structure, including their key features.
Name of the institute | Location | Fees |
---|---|---|
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | Dehradun, Uttarakhand | INR 850,600 |
Lovely Professional University | Jalandhar, Punjab | INR 406,000 |
Quantum University | Roorkee, Uttarakhand | INR 147,000 |
Centurion University of Technology and Management | Paralkhemundi, Orissa | INR 750,000 |
Gopal Narayan Singh University | Sasaram, Bihar | INR 150,000 |
Sardar Patel University | Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh | INR 161,500 |
Shri Krishna University | Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh | INR 170,000 |
Apex University,Jaipur | Jaipur, Rajasthan | INR 252,000 |
Shyam University | Dausa, Rajasthan | INR 120,000 |
Renaissance University | Indore, Madhya Pradesh | INR 325,000 |
Tabulated below is the collection of the Top 10 Government Master of Science [M.Sc] (Agronomy) Colleges in India with Fee Structure, including their key features.
Name of the institute | Location | Fees |
---|---|---|
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University of Social Sciences | Indore, Madhya Pradesh | INR 49,440 |
Agricultural College and Research Institute | Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu | INR 50,225 |
Agricultural College and Research Institute | Madurai, Tamil Nadu | INR 80,416 |
Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, College of Agricultural Engineering Bapatla | Guntur, Andhra Pradesh | INR 27,800 |
College of Agriculture | Nagpur, Maharashtra | INR 110,000 |
Kerala Agricultural University, College of Agriculture Padanakkad | Kasaragod, Kerala | -- |
Kerala Agricultural University, College of Agriculture Vellayani | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | INR 35,000 |
Kerala Agricultural University, College of Horticulture Vellanikkara | Thrissur, Kerala | -- |
RMD College of Agriculture and Research Station | Raipur, Chhattisgarh | INR 5,000 |
SKN College of Agriculture | Jaipur, Rajasthan | INR 90,010 |
The average CTC for M.Sc. Agronomy graduates in India is around INR 4 lakhs per annum. However, the actual CTC can vary depending on the employer, the industry, and the candidate's skills and experience.
College Name | Average CTC (INR per annum) |
---|---|
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) | 7 lakhs |
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) | 6.5 lakhs |
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCS HAU) | 6 lakhs |
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | 5.5 lakhs |
G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) | 5 lakhs |
Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV) | 4.5 lakhs |
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) | 4 lakhs |
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (DRPRCAU) | 3.5 lakhs |
Job Title | Average Salary (INR per annum) | Specialization |
---|---|---|
Agronomist | 4.5 lakhs | General Agronomy |
Crop Physiologist | 4.5 lakhs | Crop Physiology |
Soil Scientist | 4.5 lakhs | Soil Science |
Plant Breeder | 4.5 lakhs | Plant Breeding |
Agricultural Research Scientist | 5 lakhs | Agricultural Research |
Agricultural Extension Officer | 4 lakhs | Agricultural Extension |
Agricultural Economist | 4.5 lakhs | Agricultural Economics |
Agricultural Engineer | 4.5 lakhs | Agricultural Engineering |
Agricultural Entomologist | 4.5 lakhs | Agricultural Entomology |
Agricultural Microbiologist | 4.5 lakhs | Agricultural Microbiology |
Agricultural Pathologist | 4.5 lakhs | Agricultural Pathology |
Horticulturist | 4.5 lakhs | Horticulture |
Plant Biotechnologist | 4.5 lakhs | Plant Biotechnology |