Master of Science (M.Sc) in Botany, also called Plant Biology, is a postgraduate level Master degree course. It is generally of 2-years duration, but some universities offer 3 year courses and 5 year integrated MSc-PhD courses in Botany as well. It is a very popular postgraduate level course among the bio-science students.
Admission to MSc Botany courses in most of the top universities and Science colleges are taken through entrance exams. It is compulsory for a candidate to have a minimum 50% marks in their bachelor degree (preferably BSc with either Botany or biological sciences as honours subject.) to be eligible to apply for admission.
MSc Botany course is best suited for the students who have completed their graduation in botany or integrated biology (biological sciences), and are looking to pursue a course that will have an adequate mix of mainstream biology along with genetics and biotechnology. During this course, a candidate is given a complete idea about the entire plant kingdom and plant physiology, along with some additional topics related to genetics and biotechnology, cell biology, microbiology, and ecology.
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) provides the rankings of all the top universities in India which provides master degree courses. In the table given below, we have provided the list of top universities which provide MSc Botany courses according to NIRF 2020 rankings.
The average cost of pursuing this course ranges from INR 30,000 to INR 1 Lakh per annum. The average salary earned after completing the degree is up to INR 4.85 Lakhs per annum. Rest depends primarily on the skills and knowledge of the graduates.
If a student wants to go for further studies after completing MSc degree in Botany, then they can pursue a PhD degree or M.Phil degree. A PhD degree is more valued to those who want to pursue a career in research, and higher academics.
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Full-Form | Master of Science in Botany |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Eligibility | BSc Botany with minimum 50% marks. |
| Admission Process | Both Entrance Exams and Merit Based |
| Average Course Fee | INR 30,000- INR 1 Lakhs per annum |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 4.58 Lakhs |
| Job Opportunities | Teacher and professor, Medical Coder, Data Analyst, Incident Manager, and Corporate Communications Manager. |
MSc Botany: What is it About?
MSc Botany teaches a student every aspect of plant physiology, their origin and their impact on the environment. It is also called Plant Biology.
- The course covers every aspect of plant biology in great detail. It covers topics like plant physiology, plant kingdom, Taxonomy, microbiology, genetics and ecology.
- It is a 2 year long course which is generally divided into four semesters.
- It is generally a theoretical course along with some opportunities for academic research which is accompanied with laboratory work.
- The students completing this course generally go on to build a career in academics. Some students also go for research and higher studies.
- The students willing to take Higher studies pursue PhD courses in Botany. After completing PhD degree they can go for jobs like professorship and senior research fellow.
- Average salary earned by an MSc Botany graduate is around INR 4.58 Lakhs.
- Helps the aspirant to get both practical and theoretical hands on the subject.
Why study the MSc Botany course?
An MSc Botany course comes with some unique advantages which are discussed below:
- Huge diversity of jobs: An MSc Botany student can build a career in many paths. Starting from school teachers to microbiological and virological research, many different fields and job profiles are open for these candidates.
- In demand course for career in academics: This course is an in-demand course, specifically for the academic sector. Most of the schools prefer to appoint MSc Botany candidates as teachers.
- Increasing demand in research: With each passing day, the demand for MSc Botany candidates in the research field is increasing. The need to tackle problems like global warming, deforestation and increasing thirst for knowing about new plants and their importance has led to an ever-increasing demand for Botany based candidates in the field of research.
- After completing your postgraduate studies in Botany, you will be serving under the finest and reputed organizations.
- Offers the aspirant with an option to go for further studies or doctoral-level studies.
- It provides you with the opportunity to work in various departments of government institutions.
MSc Botany Admission Process
Admission to MSc Botany courses in most of the top colleges and universities is entrance based but there are some universities which grant merit based admission also. Admission to MSc Botany courses is usually a four step process which is described below:
- Application for the course:
- The candidate will need to apply through the website for the course.
- Most of the universities provide a joint application form for both the entrance exam and the course application.
- Entrance Exam:
- Entrance exams are compulsory for most of the top universities. A candidate willing to take admission for the MSc Botany course will have to qualify the entrance exam.
- Two of the top entrance exams are BHU PET, DU Entrance Exam, CUCET, AUCET, and many more.
- Preparation of merit list for counselling:
- The universities will release a list of successful candidates who will be called for interview and document verification.
- A candidate must check the university website regularly for any updates in this issue.
- Interview, Document verification and enrollment:
- This is the final step for the admission process where the selected candidates are called for an interview. The interviewer may or may not ask subject based questions to the candidates, depending on the policies of the institution.
- During document verification, the candidate is required to present all the original transcripts and other documents essential to establish his eligibility.
- After the eligibility is proved, he/she is granted admission to the course.
MSc Botany Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility criteria for admission to MSc Botany courses are discussed below:
- A candidate must have a BSc degree with Honours preferably in Botany, Biological sciences or Life sciences, however, Zoology honours students can also apply.
- The candidates should complete graduation with minimum 50% marks, but some very good universities also demand for 55% marks.
- A candidate should come to the course after a minimum of 10+2+3 years of continuous study, with bio-science in 10+2 level.
The other eligibility criteria like age limit and caste-based eligibility criteria vary from University to University. Most of the top universities do not have age limit criteria.
Most of the universities also conduct university and national level entrance tests for offering admission to this MSc Botany course. You need to score good numbers in entrance exams for securing admission in the college of your choice. Cutoff of these entrance exams varies from university to university.
MSc Botany Entrance Exams
Usually the admissions in MSc Botany course are based on entrance exams. There are a number of colleges and universities offering admissions on the basis of entrance exams score. Few of those entrance exams are discussed below:
Details for some of the most important MSc Botany entrance exams are given below:
- BHU-PET:
BHU-PET is a university-level entrance exam conducted by Banaras Hindu University for offering admissions in postgraduate courses. It is an offline exam for 2 hours. Important Dates of this entrance exam are discussed below:
- DU Entrance Test (DUET):
This entrance examination is conducted by Delhi University for admission to master degree courses both in the DU campus and in the colleges under Delhi University which provide master degree courses.
- CUCET:
CUCET is a central university common entrance examination that is only conducted once in a year. It is an offline examination that offers admission to various UG, PG, and research programmes. It is a 2 hour MCQ test consisting of 2 sections only.
- LPU NEST:
Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test (LPU NEST) is conducted twice in a year. It is an online examination offering admission to various B.Tech and UG courses.
- TUEE:
TUEE is a state level examination offering admissions to various UG, and PG courses. To appear for this entrance examination, you must have secured 50% in graduation from a recognised board or university.
How to Prepare for MSc Botany Entrance Exams?
Entrance exams for MSc Botany courses generally have MCQ questions. The number of questions varies from 25 to 50 and the time allotted is around 3 hours.
But, the questions asked are generally not straight questions and a great understanding of Botany needs to be applied to solve them. This demands for practice.
Here are some tips for preparing better for these examinations.
- Increase your hold on topics like genetics and physiology: Botany is believed to be a very hectic subject where there is both logic and theory. To excel in this subject, you need to be equally good in your understanding of concepts and memorizing capability. And there are some topics like Genetics and physiology where both logic and memory are equally important. And consequently, these topics are the most important topics of the subject. So it is advised to go through these topics very carefully and cover as much as you can.
- Revise the plant kingdom again and again: There are many topics in botany, especially in subtopics like plant kingdom, morphology, which needs to be revised on a daily basis otherwise there is a chance that you will forget them eventually. So to avoid such types of accidents, it is better to revise those topics again and again.
- Read the question twice before you start solving: This is one of the most important points which a candidate needs to keep in mind. The questions asked in entrance exams are generally tricky questions so you cannot solve it just by reading it once. You need to read twice or thrice, and think about the concepts which you can apply. Only then you should start solving the question.
How to get admission in a good MSc Botany college?
To get into top MSc colleges a candidate should keep in mind the following points.
- Every University has a minimum percentage requirement of a minimum of 50% and some universities go even higher upto 60-65%. So, it is important to score good marks in graduation.
- The entrance exams for this course contain some tricky questions, and some questions are purely memory based as well. All the basic concepts of a candidate must be crystal clear. So before starting to prepare for these entrance exams, go through the entire syllabus and brush all the concepts properly.
- Solve previous years question paper for at least five years, as you will get a proper idea about the question pattern and the difficulty level of the question paper.
MSc Botany Subjects
The course incorporates core courses, electives, and practical. The delivery methods for M.Sc. Botany courses involve theoretical classes, lab work, hands-on practical training, workshops, etc. The course syllabus comprises all the subjects related to microbes, plants, genetics, cells, and other related topics.
Syllabus for this course may vary with the institute to institute but it generally covers the same topics. You can find below the MSc Botany syllabus semester-wise, to keep a track of the topics covered in this course during each semester.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Microbiology | Paleobotany and Palynology |
| Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, and Gymnosperms | Taxonomy of Angiosperms |
| Phycology | Mycology and Plant Pathology |
| Cell Biology and Biomolecules | Genetics and Genomics |
| Plant Anatomy and Developmental Biology | - |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Microbial Biotechnology | Computer Applications and Bioinformatics |
| Plant Physiology and Pharmacognosy | - |
| Plant Molecular Biotechnology and Biology | - |
| Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | - |
There are a number of optional papers also available in this course. You can opt for the specialized subject or topic of your choice. You will get these options for papers in the last two semesters of the course study. The optional papers list is enlisted below for your reference:
| Optional Paper-I | Optional Paper-II |
|---|---|
| Applied Virology | Microbial Biotechnology |
| Molecular and Applied Phycology | Plant Protection |
| Molecular and Applied Mycology | Green Nanotechnology |
| Molecular Plant Physiology | Plant Molecular Genetics |
| Advanced Cell Biology | Plant Molecular Biology |
| Advanced Paleobotany and Palynology | Immunology |
| Advanced Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy | Molecular Stress Biology |
| Taxonomy and Biosystematics | Instrumentation and Biostatistics |
Read More Detailed MSc Botany Subjects
MSc Botany Colleges
There are numerous colleges and universities offering this MSc Botany course on their campus. Few of those colleges and universities are listed below with their admission process in MSc in Botany course.
| College name | Admission Process | Average Annual Fee Charged (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Miranda House, Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 32,340 |
| Hindu College, Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 30,182 |
| Hansraj College, Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 33,108 |
| Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 26, 382 |
| Osmania University, Telangana | Merit-Based | INR 71,120 |
| Fergusson College, Maharashtra | Merit-Based | INR 92,225 |
| Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala | Merit-Based | INR 29,600 |
| Bethune College, Kolkata | Merit-Based | INR 8,481 |
| Sacred Heart College, Kerala | Merit-Based | INR 20,400 |
| St. Teresa’s College, Kerala | Merit-Based | INR 14,000 |
Quick Look into more Top MSc Botany Colleges
MSc Botany College Comparison
Below given are the key differences between top MSc Botany colleges of India in terms of ranking, orientation, fees, salary offered, and other parameters. This comparison will help you to choose the college wisely by keeping in mind several parameters.
| College/University Name | Miranda College | Hindu College | Fergusson College |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Miranda College is top-ranked college by NIRF in terms of education and facilities provided. It was established in 1984. It is an all women's college in New Delhi. It offers a plethora of UG and PG courses with good placement opportunities. The college also has a scholarship system. | Hindu College is one of the premier and academic institutions. It is the top 3rd ranked college by NIRF in the college’s category. It is affiliated to the University of Delhi. It was founded in 1899 offering courses of almost every stream. The university campus is also spread over an area of 25 acres of land. | This university was established in 1885 by the Deccan Education Society. This college is affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University. The admissions can be secured in this course through merit lists. It also offers many UG, PG, Ph.D., and certification courses. |
| NIRF Rank | 1 | 2 | 27 |
| Courses Offered | MA, BA, BSc, MSc, BA (Hons), and BSc (Hons) | MA, BA, BSc, MSc, BA (Hons), certification courses and BSc (Hons) | BA, BSc, MA, MSc, B.Voc, Ph.D., and other certification courses |
| Total Fee of MSc Botany | INR 32,340 | INR 30,182 | INR 92,225 |
| Average Salary Offered | INR 4.25 Lakhs per annum | INR 4 Lakhs per annum | INR 4.5 Lakhs per annum |
| Facilities Available | Hostel Facilities, Dining Hall, Laundry System, Medical Support Unit, Sports Courts, Libraries, and many more. | Hostel Facilities, Library, Sports team, and scholarship facilities. | Scholarship Facilities, Library, Medical Rooms, Sports Facilities, and High equipment laboratories. |
| Top Recruiters | Boston, TCS, AT Kearney, S&P, Microsoft, American Express, NGOs, and many others | Boston, TCS, AT Kearney, S&P, Microsoft, American Express, NGOs, Kelloggs, Make My Trip, and many others | Bosch, American Express, Convergys, HP, Dell, many pharmaceutical companies, and many more |
Source: College’s Official Websites
Course comparison
MSc Botany Vs MSc Zoology Vs MSc Microbiology
Courses like MSc Botany, MSc Zoology, and MSc Microbiology are almost similar courses except for a few things. The below-given comparison shows the differences between these 3 courses in terms of orientation, impact, and other parameters.
| Parameters | MSc Botany | MSc Zoology | MSc Microbiology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Form | Master of Science in Botany. | Master of Science in Zoology. | Master of Science in Microbiology. |
| Objective | It involves a detailed study of all topics of plant biology. | It involves a detailed study of all topics of animal biology. | It involves a detailed study of all the topics of microbiology (topics related to microbes) |
| Eligibility | 50% in undergraduate BSc degree | 50% in undergraduate courses from a recognized university Entrance Exams | 50% in undergraduate courses from a recognized university Entrance Exams |
| Duration | 2-Years | 2-Years | 2-Years |
| Admission Criteria | Merit-Based + Entrance Exams | Entrance Exams | Merit-Based + Entrance Exams |
| Average Fee | INR 30,000- INR 1 Lakh per annum | INR 21,000 to INR 1.5 Lakhs | INR 50,000 to INR 3 Lakhs |
| Average Salary | INR 4.58 Lakhs | INR 90,000- INR 2 Lakhs | INR 2-3 Lakhs |
| Career Opportunities | Secondary School Teacher, Incident Manager, HR Manager, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Research Scientist, Instructional Designer. | Zookeeper, Wildlife Rehabilitator, Zoology Teacher, Wildlife Educator, Research Associate, etc | Research Assistant, Microbiologist, Pharmacologist, Biomedical Scientist |
Source: College and Universities Surveys
MSc Botany Jobs Prospects
There are a number of jobs and career options available after this course. MSc Botany opens you to a wider range of job opportunities and sectors where you can apply for. The opportunities for botany graduates are widespread over both the public and private sectors.
In the public sector, the opportunities await in areas like public health service, national park services, department of agriculture, forest service, departments of conservation, and land management. In the private sectors, the opportunities are in the oil industry, food companies, seed companies, fruit growers, and biotechnology firms.
- MSc Botany candidates with a good hold of genetics and biotechnology can pursue a career in biotechnological research on various species of bacteria, algae, and fungi, which are quite popular nowadays.
- There is no end in the findings of new plants. A bulk majority of plant species are still unknown and researches are continuously going on to know about them. They are sure to grow in the future.
| Job Profile | Job Role | Average Salary Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Teaching science to students. Their role is to teach botany to students in higher secondary classes. Every school has a different biology or botany teacher for tier students. Their responsibility is to manage the time table and course curriculum of the respective subject. | INR 5.66 Lakhs |
| Data Analyst | Analyzing the data available from various scientific projects, and providing suitable solutions based on that. The Data Analyst role is to gather a large pool of data and interpret that data in an efficient way. | INR 3.56 Lakhs |
| Medical Coder | To analyze medical reports and make codes. Medical coders need to have an in-depth grasp of the content of the health records with which they work so they can find the necessary information to properly code the records. | INR 3.03 Lakhs |
| Incident Manager | Providing the first response to an incident and managing it. Incident managers are responsible for identifying emerging incidents and ensuring their prompt resolution. Their primary responsibilities are to address and solve service failures as quickly and effectively as possible. | INR 6.36 Lakhs |
| Corporate Communications manager | Managing communications at a corporate house. Corporate communications managers are in charge of managing their company's communications efforts, they are responsible for reviewing and approving company statements, as well as participating in drafting corporate communications. | INR 8 Lakhs |
Source: Payscale
MSc Botany Scope
MSc Botany course provides you with career options in many different kinds of fields. Also, it has a huge scope in the future too.
Today, most of the problems our world is facing are related to the field of Botany. The problems related to forests, climate change, desertification, etc, can be easily solved with a better understanding of Botany. So, most of the nations are moving towards solving these problems, which is creating huge job opportunities for MSc Botany candidates.
One can also go for advanced or higher education courses after completing an MSc Botany degree. Few of them are discussed below for your reference:
- M.Phil Botany: M.Phil Botany is a 2-year pre-doctoral degree in Botany. To pursue this course one must have a master’s degree in Botany subject with a minimum score of 50% in aggregate. To pursue this program you need to spend an average cost of around INR 2 Lakhs for the whole span of course. An M.Phil Botany graduate can expect an average earning of INR 6 Lakhs per annum. You need to appear for respective entrance exams for securing admissions to this course.
- Ph.D. Botany: This is a 3-year doctoral degree that focuses on the study of plants and tier survival techniques and skills. To pursue this study you need to secure a minimum score of 55% in aggregates in your master’s degree (5% relaxation for special categories). Ph.D. Botany focuses on research work more, it includes lecture-based sessions, field research, lab sessions, and many more. The average cost charged for this course ranges from INR 2,000 to INR 8 Lakhs per annum for a span of 3 years. After completing this course you can opt for various government and private job positions.
View More MSc Botany Jobs and Scope
MSc Botany FAQs
Ques. What are the best career options after MSc Botany?
Ans. Most of the candidates completing MSc Botany prefer a career in either academics or research.
Ques. How can I get previous year question papers for the MSc Botany BHU admission test?
Ans. These question papers can be downloaded from the university website.
Ques. If I want to become a lecturer in the future, should I go for MSc Botany or MSc Biosciences?
Ans. For becoming a lecturer, core courses like MSc Botany will be more helpful.
Ques. Can an MSc Botany candidate apply for ICAR NET for economy botany?
Ans. Yes, but you should have an economy botany as a compulsory subject in your MSc to be eligible.
Ques. Which course is better - MSc in Botany or Zoology?
Ans. Botany deals with plants while zoology deals with animals. Both are relevant because both are very different courses.
Ques. Can an aspirant pursue MSc Botany from IGNOU?
Ans. No, IGNOU is not offering an MSc Botany course.
Ques. Is Jawaharlal Nehru University offering an MSc Botany course?
Ans. No, you cannot pursue MSc Botany from JNU.
Ques. Can one pursue MSc Botany from Distance Learning?
Ans. So far, no university is offering this course from distance learning.
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