Bachelor of Science in Horticulture Science, also known as BSc Horticulture, is a 3 to 4 years long undergraduate degree course which deals with the science of breeding (both Conventional and Hybrid) vegetables, cereals, fruits, orchids and other plants. It also deals with subjects like product marketing, farming management, pest control, and many other related topics in detail.
The candidates must complete 10+2 in Science background with Biology as a compulsory subject to be eligible for the BSc Horticulture Science course. The minimum required percentage varies from college to college, but the candidates must score above 50% aggregate marks in class 12 boards to be eligible for this course.
The admission to BSc Horticulture course is either merit-based or entrance based. Some universities grant admission through state level or university-level entrance exams. There is no such national-level entrance exam for this course. The other colleges admit students on the basis of marks obtained in the 10+2 exam.
Read more: BSc Admission Process
There are many specialized Agricultural and Horticultural universities that mainly offer the BSc Horticulture Science Course. Many technical colleges and other universities also offer this course. Some of the most popular colleges for BSc Horticulture Science are tabulated below.
Know More: BSc Courses in India
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Course Details
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Full-Form | Bachelor of Science in Horticulture Science |
| Level of Study | Undergraduate |
| Course Duration | 3 to 4 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in Science Stream with PCB / PCMB |
| Admission Process | Both Merit and Entrance Based |
| Examination type | Semester |
| Average Annual Fee | INR 15,000 to 50,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 to 4,00,000 |
| Job Options | Plant Breeders, Marketing Managers, Gardeners, Agricultural Researchers, among others. |
| Areas of Employment | Agrochemicals, Agriculture Research Laboratories, Orchids, etc. |
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Admission Process
The admission to BSc Horticulture Course is either merit based or entrance based. The two processes have been discussed below in detail.
Merit Based Admission
The general steps involved in merit based admission to the BSc Horticulture Science course are discussed below.
- Step 1: Application: The students need to fill out the application form to apply to the university through the official university website. The application forms are generally released in the month of April - May.
- Step 2: Generation of Merit List: A merit list of shortlisted candidates will be prepared on the basis of marks obtained in class 12 board exam.
- Step 3: Counselling and Document Verification: The shortlisted candidates will be called for Counselling and document verification. The candidates will have to show the relevant documents to prove their eligibility.
- Step 4: Enrollment: The candidates found eligible will be granted admission to the course.
Entrance Based Admission
Many top universities like GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, etc grant admission to BSc Horticulture Science Course on the basis of entrance exam scores. The stepwise admission process is discussed below.
- Step 1: Application: The candidates will have to apply for both college and entrance exams.
- Step 2: Entrance Exam: The exam will be conducted either online or offline mode, though most exams are conducted online. Admit cards are generally issued 10-20 days prior to the exam.
- Step 3: Results and Cutoffs: Along with the results of the exam, a cutoff list will also be released. The candidates qualifying for the cutoff will be shortlisted for the next round.
- Step 4: Document Verification: The shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification. The candidates will have to present their mark sheets and other documents to prove their eligibility.
- Step 5: Enrollment: The candidates found eligible will be granted admission to the course.
The important documents which need to be presented during document verification generally include the following:
- Marksheet and Pass Certificate of class XII
- Admit Card and Marksheet of class X
- Birth Certificate
- Migration Certificate
- Original Photo ID
- Passport Size Photographs
Read More: Bsc Entrance Exams In India
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Eligibility Criteria
The candidates who wish to study BSc Horticulture Science must fulfill the following basic eligibility criteria.
- The candidates must complete 10+2 in the Science stream with Biology as one of the compulsory subjects.
- The candidates must score above 50% aggregate marks in class 12. However, this may vary from university to university.
- The candidates must study English as one of the compulsory subjects.
- The candidates must have good communication skills.
- The candidates must be above 27 years of age. The maximum age limit varies from college to college and ranges between 21 to 24 years.
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Entrance Exams
There are few state level and university level entrance exams that are followed for admission to BSc Horticulture Science course. Some of these exams are discussed in detail below.
- HORTICET: The HORTICET exam is conducted by YSR Horticultural University for admission to all the Horticultural courses offered by the University and its affiliated colleges. The exam is primarily conducted in Telugu language. The duration of the exam is 2 hours and consists of MCQ questions.
- CG PAT: Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board conducts CGPAT for admission to Undergraduate Agricultural and Horticultural courses. It is a 3 year long exam and consists of MCQ questions on PCMB.
- UPCATET: Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture Technology Kanpur conducts UPCATET which regulates the admission to all the Agricultural and Horticultural courses offered by almost all the colleges in Uttar Pradesh.
Some of the important dates related to these entrance exams are tabulated below.
| Name of the Exams | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| NPAT | March 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025 |
| CUET | May 15 to 31, 2025 (Tentative) |
| CUCET |
Phase I (Ongoing) – Oct 2024 - May 2025 Phase II – June 2025 - August 2025 |
| SET |
Test 01 – May 05, 2025 Test 02 – May 11, 2025 |
How to Prepare For BSc Horticulture Science Entrance Exams?
Some of the important points that the candidates must keep in mind while preparing for these entrance exams are as follows.
- The candidates will have to solve one question in less than 1 minute. So, they should practice solving questions rapidly.
- They should solve as many tricky questions as possible. Most of the questions asked in these exams involve tricky solutions.
- The candidates should properly cover NCERT textbooks of 10+2 PCM. They should go through the theory of these books and practice numerals multiple times.
- They should also have adequate knowledge of the basic agricultural practices which will help them crack agriculture-related questions.
- They should master the art of fast and accurate calculations. Candidates will not be able to carry calculators inside the exam hall.
- Try to focus on the previous 10 years' question papers, and practice them in a time-bound manner.
- Make sure that you cover every chapter of the 10+2 syllabus so that you can attempt as many questions as possible.
B.Sc Horticulture Science: How to get admission in a good B.Sc Horticulture Science college?
If you want to get admission to top BSc Horticulture Science colleges, the higher you score in the 10+2 examination, the better will be your chances. The following points should be kept in mind.
- The cutoff for top colleges taking merit based admission to BSc Horticulture Science courses generally ranges between 80-90%.
- The competition for BSc Horticulture seats are comparatively lesser than the other courses. But if you want a seat in the top 10 colleges, you will have to score at least 80% or more in 10+2 to be on the safer side.
- Be sure that you fill in all the correct details in the application forms. Any mistake will be fatal.
- Appear confident in front of the college authorities, and don't get nervous if they ask you any questions.
- Keep a good understanding of all the major farming and Horticultural techniques. These may prove useful during counseling.
- The candidates must present all the documents properly during document verification. Any negligence may result in severe problems.
B.Sc Horticulture Science: What is it About?
The BSc Horticulture Science course deals with topics related to the breeding of plants, plant nutrition, fertilizers, pesticides, and all the other aspects that are required to grow good crop plants.
- The stream concentrates mainly on crop plants, vegetables, fruits, cereals, and medicinal plants.
- It individually discusses various types of crops like fruit crops, vegetable crops, garden crops, plantation crops, and many other types.
- The course discusses important topics related to the breeding of plants like the Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops, Seed Production of vegetables, Tuber and Spice Crops, among others.
- The course also discusses soil quality, the type of soil required for different types of plants and how to grow different crops in different conditions.
- This course will prepare the students to breed, grow, evolve and do business with any kind of crop plant.
- Not only this, the course will also teach how to do marketing of Agro Products, how to manage orchids and farms, and many other important management-related topics which will help the students to manage and run any agricultural farm successfully.
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Why this particular course?
You could consider studying BSc Horticulture Science because it offers the following advantages it has:
- The candidates willing to join the farming sector will find this course as hugely beneficial. This course will train them to farm various types of crop plants.
- The candidates who complete this course will have enough knowledge to pursue any kind of agricultural research in the future. They can develop better seeds, research on breeding conditions and do many more different types of research.
- The candidates can work to develop their own farms and Horticulture gardens. They can start their own agricultural businesses.
- This course offers a vast opportunity for government jobs. Many government departments and banks offer jobs to BSc Horticulture Science candidates.
- Since farming will always be an important sector, candidates with a degree in Horticulture will always be in demand in the job market.
See Also:
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Top Colleges with Fees
The BSc Horticulture Science Course is mainly offered by the various Agriculture and Horticulture Universities in India. Some of the major colleges offering this course are tabulated below.
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology | INR 41,736 |
| Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya | INR 14,710 |
| Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya | INR 4,000 |
| Shivaji University | INR 7,500 |
| Bihar Agricultural University | INR 13,000 |
| Horticultural College and Research Institute | INR 57,150 |
| Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology | INR 47,000 |
| University of Horticultural Science | INR 39,385 |
| University of Agricultural and Horticultural Science | INR 22,000 |
B.Sc Horticulture Science: College Comparison
The top colleges offering BSc Horticulture Science have been compared in the table given below.
| Parameters | GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology | Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya | Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology was one of the oldest agricultural universities established in India. This prestigious institution is famous for providing practical and technical based courses in the field of Agriculture, Home Science, and Engineering. | Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya is a government autonomous University that offers research-based UG, PG and Ph.D. courses in Agriculture and Horticulture. The college focuses on genetic research, improving crop variety, developing Eco-friendly farming techniques to develop green farming methods. | Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya offers quality courses in Agriculture and Horticulture to all the regional people. The college has a preference policy for the students of WBCHSE board. The college offers UG, PG and PhD level courses. |
| Location | Pantnagar | Raipur | Cooch Bihar |
| Admission Process | Entrance Based | Through CGPAT | Merit Based |
| Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 in Science Stream with minimum 60% aggregate in PCB / PCMB | 10+2 in Science Stream with minimum 50% aggregate in PCB / PCMB | 10+2 in Science Stream with minimum 50% aggregate in PCB / PCMB |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 41,736 | INR 14,710 | INR 4,000 |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 6,50,000 | INR 3,80,000 | INR 3,00,000 |
| Top Recruiters | Sungro Seeds, N-Lite Nutrition and Health Consultancy, TUVSUD, etc. | Amul, VNR Seeds, Central Bank of India, Ankur Seeds, etc. | IFFCO, Krishi Rasayan, Tata Rallis, etc. |
What is the B.Sc Horticulture Science Syllabus?
The BSc Horticulture Science Course is divided into 6 to 8 semesters, depending on the duration of the course. The semester wise breakup of the subjects taught in BSc Horticulture Science Course are tabulated below.
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Elementary Statistics and Mathematics | Tropical and Subtropical Vegetables |
| Fundamentals of Soil Science | Fundamentals of Plant Breeding |
| Fundamentals of Economics and Marketing | Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management |
| Plant Propagation and Nursery Management | Fundamentals of Entomology |
| Introductory Crop Physiology | Fundamentals of Extension Education |
| Fundamentals of Horticulture | Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry |
| Principles of Landscape Architecture | Orchard and Estate Management |
| Principles of Genetics and Cytogenetics | Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops |
| Communication Skills and Personality Development | Introductory Microbiology |
| Human Values and Ethics | Dryland Horticulture |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | Soil, Water and Plant Analysis |
| Spices and Condiments | Weed Management of Horticultural Crops |
| Organic Farming | Tropical and Subtropical Fruits |
| Nematode Pests of Horticultural Crops and their Management | Ornamental Horticulture |
| Principles of Plant Biotechnology | Plantation Crops |
| Temperate Fruit Crops | Farm Machinery and Power |
| Commercial Floriculture | Diseases of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops |
| Environmental Studies and Disaster Management | Insect Pests of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops |
| Agri- Informatics and Computer Application | Introductory Agro-meteorology & Climate Change |
| Semester V | Semester VI |
| Temperate Vegetable Crops | Insect Pests of Vegetable, Ornamental and Spice Crops |
| Introduction to Major Field Crops | Apiculture, Sericulture and Lac culture |
| Medicinal and Aromatic crops | Precision Farming and Protected Cultivation |
| Seed Production of Vegetable, Tuber and Spice Crops | Introductory Agroforestry |
| Breeding of Vegetable, Tuber and Spice Crops | Breeding and Seed Production of Flower and Ornamental Plants |
| Diseases of Vegetables, Ornamentals and Spice Crops | Water Management in Horticultural Crops |
| Postharvest Management of Horticultural Crops | Horti-Business Management |
| Entrepreneurship Development and Business Management | Potato and Tuber Crops |
| Processing of Horticultural Crops | Breeding of Fruit and Plantation Crops |
| Semester VII | Semester VIII |
| Student Project | Student Project |
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Course Comparison
Though both these courses belong to the same domain, there are certain basic differences between the BSc Horticulture and BSc Agriculture courses, some of which are discussed in the table below.
| Parameters | BSc Horticulture Science | BSc Agriculture |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Bachelor of Science in Horticulture Science | Bachelor of Science in Agriculture |
| Overview | BSc Horticulture mainly focuses on the breeding of different crop plants, vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, etc. These generally do not include plants which do not have any food, medicinal or ornamental benefits. | BSc Agriculture is a vast course which includes all kinds of plants and trees, the different farming techniques, how to produce better Agro products, and many more related topics. It also concentrates on the crop plants as well. |
| Duration | 3 to 4 years | 3 to 4 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in Science Stream with PCB / PCMB | 10+2 in Science Stream with PCB / PCMB |
| Admission Process | Both Merit and Entrance Based | Both Merit and Entrance Based |
| Examination Type | Semester | Semester |
| Top Colleges | GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, etc. | Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, etc. |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 15,000 to 50,000 | INR 30,000 to 75,000 |
| Job Profiles | Plant Breeders, Marketing Managers, Gardeners, Agricultural Researchers, among others. | Agricultural Scientist, Crop Scientist, Gardeners, Agricultural Researchers, among others. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 3,00,000 to 4,00,000 | INR 4,00,000 to 6,00,000 |
| Areas of Employment | Agrochemicals, Agriculture Research Laboratories, Orchids, etc. | Fertiliser Manufacturing and Pesticide Manufacturing, Agrochemicals, Agriculture Research Laboratories, etc. |
Read more: BSc Agriculture Top colleges
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Job Profiles
The BSc Agriculture candidates can work in government organisations, research labs, plantations, and even schools. The following job profiles and Salary Trends are available for BSc Horticulture Science candidates.
| Job Profiles | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Breeder | Plant Breeders breed, take care and grow various types of plants, mainly crop plants, vegetables and fruits. | INR 3,50,000 |
| Product Marketing Manager | Product Marketing Manager plans the marketing strategies for various Agro products. | INR 5,00,000 |
| Gardener | Gardeners look after the plants present in various orchids and gardens. | INR 2,80,000 |
| Agricultural Researcher | Agricultural researchers research over various agricultural technologies, irrigation techniques, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. | INR 4,50,000 |
| Teacher | Teacher teaches farming and biology topics to school students. | INR 3,00,000 |
| Farming Educators | Farming Educators workforce government organisations and NGOs and teach correct farming techniques to farmers. | INR 4,00,000 |
B.Sc Horticulture Science: Future Scope
After completing BSc Horticulture Science Course, the candidates will have the following future scope options available.
- The candidates can join the higher courses like Master degree courses such as MSc Horticulture, MSc Agriculture, and other relevant courses. These will help them join the research based higher courses in future.
- The admission to MSc courses are usually granted on the basis of entrance exams. However, some universities also conduct entrance exams for admission to MSc courses.
- The candidates can also do relevant management courses like MBA Product Management, MBA Marketing Management, MBA Farm Management, among others. These courses will help them in getting better jobs in future.
- For admission to MBA courses, the candidates will have to qualify in various MBA Entrance Exams like CAT, MAT, CMAT, among others.
- The candidates can also prepare for various government service exams like Railways, UPSC, CTET, etc.
- The candidates can also start their own horticulture farms and set up their own Agro business.
Read more: MSc Horticulture Science
B.Sc Horticulture Science: FAQs
Ques. Are Government Jobs available after completing BSc Horticulture course?
Ans. Yes, many government departments, mainly the agriculture department, offer a variety of jobs to BSc Horticulture and BSc Agriculture candidates. In addition to these, the various public sector banks also offer jobs to these candidates.
Ques. Do BSc Horticulture Science candidates get good salary packages?
Ans. The salary package for BSc Horticulture candidates ranges between INR 3,50,000 to 6,00,000. The candidates with good skills may get better salaries.
Ques. Which are the best colleges for studying BSc Horticulture in India?
Ans. Currently, GBPUAT and Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya are considered among the best colleges for studying BSc Horticulture courses in India. There are a number of top ranked colleges candidates wishing to pursue this course can choose from.
Ques. What kind of additional advantages will I get if I get an MBA degree after completing BSc Horticulture Science Course?
Ans. If you do MBA after completing BSc Horticulture Science, you will easily get managerial jobs in Marketing and Product Management sectors. The salaries for these positions are considerably higher than the Horticulture jobs.
Ques. Should I open my own farm business after completing BSc Horticulture Science?
Ans. You should consider starting your own Farm business after completing BSc Horticulture course if you have adequate skills in product marketing and farm management alongside Horticulture skills.
Ques. Why should I choose BSc Horticulture over BSc Agriculture?
Ans. You should consider BSc Horticulture over BSc Agriculture if you are highly interested in crop farming. Horticulture Science concentrates on crop farming and covers all the necessary topics required in crop farming.
Ques. Which one is better: 3 year long BSc Horticulture or 4 year long BSc Horticulture?
Ans. You should go for a 4 year long BSc Horticulture course because these courses are more research oriented and involve a lot of practical learning including projects and Internships. Moreover, a 4 year long BSc Horticulture has more academic value than 3 year long BSc Horticulture.
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