MSc Agriculture

With the advancements made in the field of Science and Technology, the Agriculture sector has observed tremendous growth. With its roots spread across various industries, scores of universities across the world now offer diverse and comprehensive Agriculture courses right from bachelor’s to doctorate levels. Though undergraduate programs build a strong conceptual knowledge, to advance in the field, pursuing a master’s course is a must. And one such course is MSc Agriculture. So, in this blog, we have collated all the quintessential information related to MSc Agriculture Abroad and in India, its scope, and the academic institutions which you can consider. 

Course Level	Postgraduate
Full-form	Master of Science in Agriculture
Duration	1.5- 2 years
Eligibility Criteria	Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or related fields like Horticulture or Forestry from a recognized institution along with the required entrance exam for India and Abroad
Job Positions	Research Scientist, Corporate Sales Manager, Breeder, Agronomist, Farm Manager, Lecturer/Professor and Field Officer
Top Recruiters	Monsanto India, Bayer Crop Science, Coromandel Fertilizers, Buhler India, etc
Average Salary	INR 2,00,000- 3,00,000 PA

What is MSc Agriculture?

Running for 1-2 years, MSc Agriculture is a post-graduate programme that keeps a learner abreast of agricultural development and related scientific innovations. Apart from imparting scientific knowledge related to the field of agriculture and farming, the course also emphasizes agricultural machinery, plant biology, plant management as well as biochemistry. Furthermore, to provide hands-on experience, the course curriculum also involves industry training/dissertation projects.

Popular Specialisations

From Animal Husbandry to Plant Pathology, Agriculture is a vast domain. Not only can you explore courses that can help you establish a career in Research but you can also specialize in modules dealing with management and marketing. Tabulated below are some of the popular specialisations MSc Agriculture offers: 

Agricultural Botany	Agricultural Microbiology	Agricultural Chemistry
AgriEconomics	Entomology	Extension Education
Natural Resources	Plant Breeding & Genetics	Food Innovation
Soil Science	Forestry	Food Science & Technology
Farming System Management	Horticulture Mycology	Tea Husbandry
Ecological Economics	Poultry Science	Wildlife Forensics
Global Food Security and Nutrition	Animal Welfare and Conservation	Equine Science
Organic Agriculture	Agriculture and Development	Rural Development
Forestry	Dairy Science	Fisheries Science

Why Study MSc Agriculture?

Students opt for MSc Agriculture for the following reasons:

• Students will learn about many modern farming methods. This will considerably help the agricultural industry grow.
• The primary topic of discussion is agriculture science. The yield quality will improve, and as a result, the production rate will increase. The course also provides a thorough understanding of economic and social elements in agricultural systems.
• Many well-known countries will make excellent job offers to the students. Among the most important job sectors are agriculture/dairy industries, fertiliser industries, and food processing units.

MSc Agriculture Syllabus

Stated below is the year-wise syllabus for MSc Agriculture-

Year 1	Year 2
Extension Education	Entomology
Plant Breeding & Genetics	Horticulture
Biotechnology	Agronomy
Plant Physiology	Agricultural Economics & Farm Management
Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry	Plant Pathology
Food Science & Technology	Forestry

Popular Subjects 

Being a vast field of study, there are scores of subjects that are taught throughout the journey of the course. While some subjects are compulsory, others are offered in the form of electives. Tabulated below are some of the major subjects included in the MSc Agriculture course curriculum. 

Agronomy	Agricultural Botany	Agricultural Economics
Extension Education	Animal Husbandry	Dairy Science
Crop Production	Agricultural Meteorology	Harvest Technology
Agricultural Entomology	Horticulture	Plant Pathology
Soil Science	Agriculture Chemistry	Food Sustainability
Gene Modification and Technology	Seed Technology	Marketing Management

Skills Required

Candidates can check the list of top skills required to pursue an MSc in Agriculture in the table below:

Observation skills	Critical Thinking skills
Numerical Skills	Interest in agriculture and farming
Analytical skills	Knowledge of plant biology
Problem-Solving Ability	Communication skills

Eligibility Criteria

Though the eligibility criteria will vary from one university to another, here are some of the general qualifications you need to have to pursue an MSc Agriculture course:

• Bachelor’s degree like BSc in Agriculture or its variant from a recognised college/university with minimum marks as stipulated by the concerned university.
• Valid English proficiency test scores like that of IELTS/TOEFL
• While some universities mandatorily require GRE scores, others don’t.
• Work experience may also be an entry requisite for pursuing MSc in Agriculture, however, not mandatory.
• Apart from this, SOP, LORs, transcripts, and updated CV/resume are also required.
• If you wish to pursue this degree in India, you may need the same requirements related to the UG degree along with a good score in entrance exams.

Top Universities for MSc Agriculture

Now that you are familiar with the basic details about the course, let’s take a glance at some of the popular universities offering MSc Agriculture abroad or its related specialisations.

Abroad

• University of Hull
• University of British Columbia 
• The University of Queensland
• University of Glasgow 
• University of Nottingham
• The University of Western Australia
• Lincoln University
• University of Canterbury 
• The University of Adelaide 
• Macquarie University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Curtin University
• The University of Otago 
• Australian National University

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India

• University of Calcutta
• Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana
• Anand Agriculture University
• Cochin University of Science and Technology
• Junagadh Agriculture University
• Chandigarh University
• Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University, Guntur
• Shivaji University
• Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University
• University of Madras
• Christ University
• Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Must Read: Agriculture Colleges in India

Admission Process

It varies from university to university to get admission to the master of science in agriculture. One fortunate availability is the presence of help from Leverage Edu. You can avail of our services, and we can guide you, step by step, to enrol in a university of your choice. 

Abroad

Here’s an easy 5-step process to complete your application process for pursuing MSc Agriculture Abroad:

1. Call our experts on 1800 572 000 to shortlist your favourite universities and courses. Start your application to multiple universities through our one-dashboard platform
2. Compile all your documents like SOPs, essays, certificates, and LORs and exam scores like ELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, etc
3. Meet all the application deadlines and start the application process for accommodation, student visas, and scholarships/student loans
4. Accept the offer letter and meet your teachers, college mates, and roommates virtually
5. Get your visa approved and fly to your dream university.

India

The MSc agricultural admissions procedure in India is as follows:

1. Candidates interested in pursuing an MSc in agriculture must first determine whether they match the eligibility requirements.
2. Candidates that qualify for admission must go to the university’s website and fill out an application form.
3. Personal information, academic information, and other details are included in the application form.
4. Candidates seeking entrance-based admission must register for the entrance examination and pass it with the required cutoff, but students seeking merit-based admission are not obliged to take the entrance examination.
5. After the university receives all application forms and entrance examination scores, a profile assessment is performed, and students are admitted based on the merit list.

Entrance Exams

Here is a list of entrance exams that you may need to qualify for pursuing an MSc in Agriculture in India-

Entrance Exams	Registration	Exam Dates
CUET PG	April 2023	June 1 – 10, 2023
BITSAT	February 2023	June 2023
NEST	February 2023	June 2023
IIT JAM	September 07 – October 11, 2023	February 12, 2023
DUET	April 2023	July 2023
TISS NET	December 14 – January 15, 2023	January 28 – February 28, 2023

Cost of Studying

Tuition for the MSc Agriculture abroad varies based on the nation and university. Tuition fees might vary even between universities in the same nation. Similarly, the cost of living is affected by your university’s location. Some countries are less expensive than others. As a result, tuition and living expenses become critical considerations when deciding to study abroad. We present an approximate tuition fee as well as the cost of living Abroad below:

Tuition: The tuition expense for an MSc Agriculture Abroad programme ranges between $14,000 and $65,000 per year.
The cost of living is determined by your lifestyle. However, you should budget between $15,000 and $35,000 each year for living expenditures.

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Career Scope  

Being a vast field of study, there are innumerable career opportunities for you to explore after completing the MSc Agriculture abroad or even from India. Enlisted are some of the major work areas and profiles you can work in: 

Employment Areas

• Fruit Orchards
• Agricultural Production Centres
• Cotton, Jute, Tobacco Companies
• Educational Institutes
• Coffee and Rubber Plantations
• Fertilizer Companies
• National Seed Companies
• FMCG Companies
• Agriculture & Rural Development National Banks
• Pesticide Control Centres
• Research and Development Centres
• Tea Gardens

Job Profiles

• Corporate Sales Manager
• Research Scientist
• Field Officer
• Breeder
• Agronomist
• Farm Manager
• Senior Research Associate
• Agriculturist
• Business Development Executive
• Agriculture Scientist
• Marketing Executive
• Rice Breeder
• Senior Agriculture Specialist
• Agriculture Technician
• Seed Technologist

Salary

The Master of Sciences degree is intended to broaden your options, whether you are an experienced agricultural worker or are just beginning your new career. Agriculture transcends national boundaries. Based on your educational and employment history, as well as what you study in the Masters of Agriculture, you can pursue a career in a variety of disciplines. In the United States, an agricultural scientist’s income ranges from $59,000 to $90,000 per year. The wage range varies according to education, education, and skills. Meanwhile, the average annual pay for an agricultural scientist in the United States is $74,000.

The average salary that you can expect to earn after completing MSc in Agriculture is around INR 2,00,000- 3,00,000 PA. On the other hand, those who wish to set up a business of their own may earn varied amounts.

Relevant Read: Jobs After BSc Agriculture

Future Scope

• MSc Agriculture graduates can pursue a teaching career at a variety of educational institutions. He or she may also pursue a PhD in a field of interest.
• Students may also pursue employment in the public and private sectors. Numerous organisations offer high-paying opportunities to MSc in Agriculture students.
• Students who want to work in government will have to take a variety of entrance exams. They will also take the UPSC exam.
• Government banks are also looking for MSc in Agriculture students for employment that involve providing agricultural loans to farmers.

FAQs

Looking forward to pursuing MSc in Agriculture from a university abroad? Not sure about the admission requirements? Then what are you waiting for? Get in touch with our experts at Leverage Edu through an E-meeting and get assistance in completing application formalities, writing a personal essay, visa application, and much more!