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Master of Science (MSc) Horticulture Eligibility, Top Colleges, Distance Learning, Admission Process, Entrance Exams, Syllabus, Scope, Salary 2023

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Sounak Banerjee

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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

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.

Admission

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.
  • 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:

  • 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.

  • 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
What Is it

  • 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

 Top MSc Horticulture Colleges Comparison

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

Comparison

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

Comparison

 

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

Job Profiles

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:

  • 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. 

  • 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?  

Ans: The top employment areas for MSc Horticulture postgraduates are Agricultural Research Institute, Self Organic Farm, Food Manufacturing Companies, Genbank, Forest Department.

Ques: What makes the course Horticulture still relevant and practical?  

Ans: MSc Horticulture degree holders can cater to the present lifestyle of sustainability and minimalism.

Ques: Is MSc in Horticulture a demanding course?  

Ans: Demand for skilled qualified horticulturists is rising to develop more horticulture plants for health benefits, aesthetics and producing pure, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Ques: What is the duration of the course?  

Ans: The duration of MSc In Horticulture course is two years .

Ques: Name some entrance tests which are mandatory for admission to MSc in Horticulture course in Indian Colleges/ Universities. .  

Ans: Some of the entrance examinations for MSc Horticulture course are ICAR AIEEA, BHU PET etc.

Ques: What are the common job profiles that one can opt for after completing this course?  

Ans: Some of the most common job profiles that one can opt for after completing MSc Horticulture course includes Horticulturist, Floriculturist, Pomologist, Seed Analyst are some of the common job profiles for MSc Horticulture graduate.

Ques: What is the starting salary of a Horticulturist in an entry level job?  

Ans: The salary for an entry level job for a Horticulturist is around INR 30,000 per month.

Ques: Does MSc and MTech in Horticultural Science have the same value? 

Ans: MTech has a more practical implication while MSc in Horticulture focuses more on the technical insight on a topic.

Ques: What are the academic options available to students after completing MSc Horticulture course?  

Ans: Candidates may opt for PhD in Horticulture or MPhil in related disciplines.

Ques: What are the other areas that can provide employment to a skilled Horticulturist?  

Ans: CAgricultural Economics, Agricultural Statistics, Food Inspection, Agronomy are the other areas that can provide employment to a Horticulturist.

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