MSc Horticulture is a 2-year postgraduate course involving the study of plant harvesting including Breeding, Storage, Shortage of Vegetables and Fruits. This course shares diverse areas from Perennial, Annual Species ,Delicious Fruits and Vegetables, Decorative Indoor and Landscape Plants. It also covers deeper concepts and techniques like Eco friendly practices and food production. To be considered eligible to apply to this program, students are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in Science with an aggregate of at least 50% marks.
Admission to MSc Horticulture course will be done either on the basis of the candidate's performance in the Bachelor’s degree exam or on the basis of their performance in the entrance exams conducted by admission authorities. The average fee charged by colleges offering this MSc Horticulture ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 80,000 per annum. It can vary depending upon the college the student has chosen.
After completion of MSc Horticulture course, one can opt to enroll in PhD in Horticulture, DSc etc.
Also check top PhD Horticulture Colleges in India.
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Table of Contents |
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Full-Form | Master of Science in Horticulture |
| Duration | Two years |
| Examination type | Online / Offline |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university. |
| Admission Process | Valid score in ICAR AIEEA ,CET, BHU PET/ Merit-Based |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 5,000 to 80,000 |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 4,00,000 to 7,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing Plant, Fertilizer Manufacturing Company, Gene Bank, Agriculture Department, Forest Department, Ornamental and Medicinal Plant Business. |
| Job Positions | Scientist in Research Studies, Food Processing Units, Horticulturist, Floriculturist, Food Processing Plant etc. |
MSc Horticulture: What is it about?
On completion of this course, the MSc Horticulture degree holders can work in Private Plants, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing Firms, Fertilizer Production Companies, Marketing Firms, Landscape Design and Interior Design firms, Private Colleges etc. and they can get jobs as a Horticulturist, Floriculturist, Food Processing Plant Manager etc.
The average salary that one can expect after completing MSc Horticulture course ranges from INR 3,00,000 to 7,00,000 per annum, depending on the job roles and experience of candidates.
Why Study MSc Horticulture?
There are so many reasons why an individual should pursue an MSc Horticulture course. Students can pursue this course because of the following benefits of the course:
- MSc in Horticulture encourages students to learn more about the sustainable,organic lifestyle which includes fresh produce.
- Horticulture courses help the students to understand the nourishment, health benefits and aesthetics of different highly valued plants.
- By researching and learning about the consumer base ,the designers get the opportunity to design products which are more user friendly.
- Through this course students will learn about various social, financial,environmental and functional aspects.
- Genetics and functionality is the fundamental of this course with upcoming digital skills.
- The annual salary of a MSc Horticulture graduate can be around INR 4,00,000 to 7,00,000.
What is the MSc Horticulture Admission Process?
Admission to this course is usually based on the score obtained by a candidate in an entrance exam. Some of the major all India entrance exams conducted for this purpose are BHU PET, DUET etc. Some colleges also offer admission on merit basis. The various steps involved in the admission process are given below.
Merit-Based Selection
The guide for merit based Msc Horticulture is mentioned below:
- Submit the application to the colleges or universities you are interested in.
- Maintain a good score throughout your Bachelor’s degree exams.
- In due course of time, colleges release their cutoff lists. Check if you are eligible for admission into the desired course.
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If eligible, visit the college and submit all the required documents.
Entrance Based Selection
The guide to apply for entrance exam based admission is as follows.
- Registration: Candidates have to register themselves for the entrance exams.
- Application form: Fill up the application form with all necessary details carefully.
- Submit documents: Scan and upload all required documents like mark sheets. Documents need to be uploaded in a specific format only, as specified by the institute’s application portal.
- Application fee: A minimal application fee is to be paid online during the submission of the application form. Payment can be done by all online payment modes.
- Download admit card: Admit cards are released once all applicants are judged for eligibility. The admit card must be downloaded and printed out to be used on the day of the examination.
- Examination: Prepare for the exam as per the syllabus and past papers. Appear for the examination on the date announced.
- Results: Based on candidates performance in the entrance exam, results will be announced.
What is the MSc Horticulture Eligibility Criteria?
The eligibility criteria for MSc Horticulture aspirants is not complicated and is as follows. It must be noted that the eligibility criteria will differ from institute to institute.
- Any candidate with a bachelor’s degree in Botany, Agriculture, Horticulture or equivalent from a recognized institute is eligible to apply.
- The candidate must possess at least 50% marks in their graduation degree.
- There is no special provision for reserved category candidates.
Which are the Popular MSc Horticulture Entrance Exams?
In most of the colleges, the MSc Horticulture admissions are done on the basis of the results in the entrance tests. The forms for the entrance tests are mostly released in the months of December and January and the examinations are held shortly after that. However, this year, the dates have been deferred because of the COVID-19 crisis.
Some of the popular MSc Horticulture entrance exams are provided below:
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BHU PET- The Banaras Hindu University conducts its Post graduate Entrance Test (PET) to fill seats in MA, MCom, MSc, MFA, MPA, MEd courses etc.. The exam will be held in computer-based mode, in 200 cities across India. The candidates who qualify this entrance exam will be called for counseling and seat is allocated on the basis of performance in the exam.
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DUET- Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET) is conducted by Delhi University in order to offer admission to aspirants in various UG, PG, MPhil and PhD programs. DUET exam is conducted in three shifts across 101 exam centers in 18 cities. The entrance exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of Delhi University. Also check DUET 2023 Practice Papers here.
| Entrance Exams | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| CUET PG | Check Here |
| BITSAT | Check Here |
| NEST | Check Here |
| IIT JAM | Check Here |
| DUET | Check Here |
| TISS NET | Check Here |
- MSc in Horticulture is focused on learning environment friendly sustainable methods of food production.
- Being one of the distinct courses, it is a unique blend of Science and Art of growing and cultivating plants.
- MSc Horticulture includes Medicinal, Ornamental Plants, Vegetables, Seaweed and Herbs,Mushroom and Non food crops like Grass.
- This field of Horticulture has its basic foundations in major technical areas i.e. Genetics, Physiology, Ecology, Biometrics, Crop Rotation etc.
- MSc in the field of Horticulture gets the opportunity to work as Managers, Counsellors, Research Scientist and Educators.
What is the Syllabus of MSc Horticulture?
The MSc Horticulture course includes various important subjects and topics. Here, we have given the semester-wise breakup of the syllabus for the MSc Horticulture course:
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 |
|---|---|
| Systematic Horticulture | Orchard Management |
| Plant Propagation and Nursery Husbandry | Tropical and Subtropical Fruits |
| Vegetable Crop | Spices Plantation |
| Statistical Method | Design of Experiments |
| SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 |
| Medicinal and Aromatic Plants | Breeding of Horticultural Crops |
| Temperate Fruits | Floriculture and Landscaping |
| Minor Fruits | Quality Control of Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers |
| Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops | Field Study and Thesis |
MSc in Horticulture Books to Follow
Important Books which can be followed while studying MSc in Horticulture course are-
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Principles of Horticulture | C R Adams |
| Textbook of Food Science & Technology | Avantina Sharma |
| Biopesticides Handbook | NPCS Board of Consultant and Engineer |
| Glaustas Horticulture | P Muthukumar and R Selvakumar |
| Basic Horticulture | Jitendra Singh and Kalyani Publishers |
| Handbook of Horticulture | Kusum Lata Chadha |
Which are the Top MSc Horticulture Colleges?
MSc Horticulture is taught in some of the best educational institutes in India. Here, we have mentioned a few popular MSc Horticulture Colleges of India:
| College Name | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| BHU, Varanasi | BHU PET | INR 6,262 |
| GBPUAT, Pantnagar | Entrance-Based | INR 49,108 |
| UAS, Dharwad | Merit-Based | INR 27,000 |
| AAU, Anand | Entrance-Based | INR 22,500 |
| JAU, Junagadh | Merit-Based | INR 29,190 |
| Sikkim University, Gangtok | Entrance-Based | INR 16,102 |
| CSKHPKV, Palampur | Merit-Based | INR 48,218 |
| AU, Chidambaram | Merit-Based | INR 37,050 |
| CUTM, Paralkhemundi | Merit-Based | INR 1,50,000 |
| BBAU, Lucknow | Entrance-Based | INR 11,150 |
MSc Horticulture College Comparison
The tabulation below depicts the comparison made among the three top MSc Horticulture colleges in India.
| Parameters | BHU, Varanasi | GBPUAT, Pantnagar |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | The Banaras Hindu University is a prestigious university which offers a large number of programs at the UG, PG and the research level. | The Govind Ballabh Pant University of Technology and Agriculture (GBPUAT), was established in 1960 in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. It currently offers 2 Undergraduate, 8 Postgraduate and 7 Ph.D courses. |
| NIRF Ranking 2020 | 10 | 60 |
| Average Fees | INR 6,262 | INR 49,108 |
| Eligibility Criteria | Hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. | Hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. |
| Admission Criteria | Entrance-Based | Entrance-Based |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 3,38,000 | INR 3,00,000 |
MSc Horticulture vs MSc Food Science and Technology
MSc Horticulture and MSc Food Science and Technology are somewhat related to each other, however, there is a minute difference between them. Also check top MSc Food Science and Technology Colleges in India.
Here, we have compared the two courses:
| Parameters | MSc in Horticulture | MSc in Food Science and Technology |
|---|---|---|
|
Name of the Course |
Master of Science in Horticulture |
Master of Science in Food Science and Technology |
|
Overview |
MSc in Horticulture is a 2 year programme designed to know about the science and art of development and use of high value and intensively cultivated organic foods. |
MSc in Food Science is a 2 year course focusing mainly on Nutrition, Quality Control, Manufacturing, Packaging and Processing. |
|
Admission procedure |
The admission is mainly done by score in the entrance examination which is conducted nationally like all other MSc courses or private entrance examination is conducted for some group of institutions like ICAR AIEEA, BHU PET. |
The admission is carried out by following the entrance examination or rounds of counselling or test privately conducted by the respective institution such as CET,GATE. |
|
Average Fees |
INR 5,000 – 80,000 |
INR 10,000 - 3,00,000 |
|
Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. |
Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. |
|
Job Profile |
Production Manager, Programme Analyst, Electronics Hardware Development Engineer, Product Line Engineer. |
Food Technologist, Production Manager, Biochemist,Quality Control ,Food Inspector. |
|
Average Annual Salary |
INR 4,00,000 - 7,00,000 |
INR 3,00,000 - 6,00,000 |
MSc Horticulture and MSc Food Science and Technology are somewhat related to each other, however, there is a minute difference between them. Also check top MSc Food Science and Technology Colleges in India.
Here, we have compared the two courses:
What are Job Prospects and Career Options after MSc Horticulture?
This course is so versatile and dynamic candidates can expect job offers for a variety of roles related to Horticulture.
- Students who are completing Masters in Horticulture can join any Food or Plant Manufacture Industry.
- Skilled Horticulturists are valued and even the pay package is really well.
- Even the Government Organization like the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and are a secured place to start the career after graduating.
- Soil Scientist, Seed Analyst, Floriculturist are the offset jobs that are also offered to fresh MSc graduates .
- A Masters graduate in Horticulture can work in Seed Technology, Biochemistry , Plant Breeding, Plant Cultivation, Plant Physiology.
- New avenues are opening everyday for Horticulture with the advent of new technologies which includes Biochemistry,Molecular Biology and Genetics.
We have Listed some of the popular job positions offered to successful graduates of the discipline along with the corresponding job descriptions and average annual salaries offered to the graduates of MSc Horticulture:
| Job Role | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Horticulturist | The main job of a Horticulturist is to work in production and cultivation of plants. They involve new breeds and yields. | INR 6,18,000 |
| Seed Analyst | They test and analyze seeds for purity, viability and germination rate. Follow standard procedure set by Government and Private Organization. | INR 4,58,000 |
| Floriculturist | They are responsible for cultivating flowering plants ,ornamental plants on a large scale. | INR 4,00,000 |
| Horticultural Education Supervisor | Work for the teaching, advising, mentoring and guiding aspiring plant enthusiasts. | INR 5,48,000 |
| Soil Scientist | They examine different quality of soil from different geographical locations.They evaluate and maintain a record of the quality of soil and their properties. | INR 5,96,000 |
| Scientific Administrative Assistant | They are responsible for preserving genetic material of rare medicinal and valuable plants. | INR 5,00,000 |
What are the Future Scope of MSc Horticulture?
Being a very popular discipline, MSc in Horticulture course has excellent future scope. The students are exposed to numerous ways in which they can build their career:
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PhD: If one wishes to continue in the same field of education, the first program of choice is a PhD Horticulture. It is a three to five year duration course and the eligibility criteria include having a MSc degree in Horticulture or other related disciplines. Check out the Top PhD Horticulture Colleges in India here.
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MPhil - Students can also opt for a MPhil degree in a relevant field on completion of this course.
MSc Horticulture FAQs
Some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to the MSc Horticulture program are as follows:
Ques: What are the top employment areas for MSc Horticulture degree holders?
Ques: What makes the course Horticulture still relevant and practical?
Ques: Is MSc in Horticulture a demanding course?
Ques: What is the duration of the course?
Ques: Name some entrance tests which are mandatory for admission to MSc in Horticulture course in Indian Colleges/ Universities. .
Ques: What are the common job profiles that one can opt for after completing this course?
Ques: What is the starting salary of a Horticulturist in an entry level job?
Ques: Does MSc and MTech in Horticultural Science have the same value?
Ques: What are the academic options available to students after completing MSc Horticulture course?
Ques: What are the other areas that can provide employment to a skilled Horticulturist?
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