M.Sc. genetics is a specialized postgraduate course for students who are seeking to get a postgraduate degree in genetics. Masters in genetics is about studies on living organisms down to their genetic level. Students get to study about the various techniques, procedures that are involved in performing a genetic level experiment or to study the genomic makeup of a particular organism.
The curriculum is made in such a way so that the students get to study all the latest techniques and procedures that are to be carried out in a high profile laboratory in order to perform any experiment. DNA isolation, DNA fingerprinting, DNA sequencing, details about genomic marker studies, etc. are some of the important technical knowledge that is incorporated in the course.
See Also: MSc Genetics Colleges in India
The average fee charged by colleges who offer these M.Sc. genetics ranges from INR 5000 to 2 Lacs per annum. It can vary depending upon the college the student has chosen. The fees vary from private to government colleges.
Those who don’t want to pursue any higher degree can apply for various public and private sector jobs. Job roles such as Professor, research scientists, Senior Scientific Officer – Molecular Genetics, Technical Assistant - Molecular Genetics, Associate Professor - Medical Genetics, National Sales Manager – Genetics, Sales & Marketing Executive, Principal Plant Breeder – Cotton, Partner Account Manager are some of the common career options. The average salary that one can expect after completing M.Sc. genetics ranges from INR 2 lacs to 8 lacs per annum depending on the job roles.
MSc Genetics Course Highlights
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Full-Form | Master of Science |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination type | Semester and annual |
| Eligibility | 50% - 55% marks in Graduation |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based |
| Course Fee | INR 5000 to 2 lacs |
| Average Salary | INR 2 lacs to 8 lacs |
| Job Positions | Senior Scientific Officer – Molecular Genetics, Technical Assistant - Molecular Genetics, Associate Professor - Medical Genetics, National Sales Manager – Genetics, Sales & Marketing Executive, Principal Plant Breeder – Cotton, Partner Account Manager |
What is M.Sc. Genetics all about?
M.Sc. genetics is a two-year post-graduation level course in which each year consists of two semesters, making it a total of four semesters in two years. For students who choose to pursue the course from distance, the duration may depend on the college.
Students who have successfully completed their undergraduate degree in microbiology, biotechnology, genetics, or any other life science subject from a recognized board of education are eligible for the postgraduate course of M.Sc. genetics. Most of the universities take admissions based on cut-offs, but some might ask for entrance exams.
Why Study MSc Genetics?
There are many benefits of pursuing an MSc in genetics. Some of them are:
- Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the genetic level work that is going on in the world and learn those techniques so that they can implement them in their own research.
- With the rise of more and more diseases, studying at the genetic level and finding a cure for that is also becoming important, hence this is quite a flourishing field.
- Placement is not like all other courses where companies come and recruit. Since this is a different field of study, the job roles of professors, research scientists, lab technicians, etc. are more common.
- Salary packages offered are with the average salary of INR 2 lacs to 8 lacs per annum.
- It will further open new doors to thriving career opportunities.
MSc Genetics Admission Process
Students get admission for the M.Sc. genetics course on the basis of their merit. Most of the colleges release a cut off percentage for the admission process. Students who are able to fulfill the cut off percentage in their graduation level score are most likely to get the admission.
Although some of the colleges prefer to give admission based on objective-based entrance exams. For that, the students need to qualify the entrance exam and have the required cut off percentage in their graduation level examination also. The application form will be available on the official website of the college or university, students can download it.
The step by step process for BSc Genetics Admission Process is mentioned below:
Step 1 - Apply for the entrance exam.
Students must apply for the entrance exam of the colleges where they wish to get admission. The notification for the application is generally released in the month of May-June.
Step 2 - Appear for the entrance exam.
Step 3 - Shortlisting Process.
The college will shortlist the candidates who are able to qualify the entrance exam and has the required marks in their graduation exam. They will have to then appear for the interview process.
Step 4 – The shortlisted students from the interview round will get admission.
MSc Genetics Eligibility
The eligibility for pursuing masters in gender studies is:
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Since this is a master’s degree course, the main eligibility for admission is based on the graduation score of the candidates. The student must complete their graduation in Botany, Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Molecular Biology, and Biomedical Sciences, etc. with a minimum of 55% from a UGC recognized University. Along with that, some colleges might ask for entrance exam tests as a part of eligibility.
- The students might have to sit for an interview round also after the entrance exam.
MSc Genetics Entrance Exams
There is some college-specific entrance exam for admission in MSc genetics. Students can get the details of those exams from the respective college websites. Some of the entrance exams are:
| Entrance Exams | Registration | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| CUET PG | December 27, 2023 | 11th March to 28th March, 2024 |
| BITSAT | Last week of January 2024 | Last week of May 2024 |
| NEST | February 2023 | June 2023 |
| IIT JAM | September 5, 2023 | February 11, 2024 |
| DUET | February 2024 | 15th – 31st May 2024 |
| TISS NET | February 2024 | 11th March to 28th March, 2024 |
How to Prepare for MSc Genetics Entrance Exams?
Students must have a clear idea about the syllabus and the pattern of the exam. The general syllabus includes:
- Quant Section, Logical Reasoning, English.
- Apart from this, there may be a technical section as well which will be having questions from the subject of interest.
- Students can prepare well for these exams if they follow a timetable and give at least 2-3 hours a day for the preparation.
- Before the exam try to solve as many mock tests and previous year papers as you can. This will help boost the confidence level before the exam.
- Since the exams are time- based, the more the students will practice giving mock tests based on time, the faster they will get before the exam.
- Some exams have negative markings, so students must be careful while attending the questions. They must attend only those questions which they are sure about.
How to get Admission in a Good MSc genetics College?
The requirements and tips required for getting admission in a good MSc Genetics College are mentioned below:
- Since most of the top MSc genetics colleges have a requirement based on the graduation level marks, so the students must focus and prepare well for the exam so that they are able to score good marks and clear the eligibility.
- Although most of the colleges have kept the graduation marks as eligibility, still some colleges might ask for further entrance exams and interviews. So students must prepare accordingly.
- Students must keep a track of all the important dates of the entrance exams, counseling, and other admission related procedure dates so that they don’t miss any opportunities.
- Students must look out for the reputation of the college that they want to study in. Details about the faculties, infrastructure, and placement record should be well checked before applying.
- The placement record determines the standard of the college. So it is a must to choose colleges having a good placement record.
MSc Genetics Syllabus
The course is of two years. These two years are divided into 4 semesters.
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Concepts of Genetics | Gene Expression and Regulation |
| Chromosomes, Genes, and Genomes | Human Genetics |
| Biostatistics and Population Genetics | Molecular Plant Breeding |
| Concepts in Cell and Molecular Biology | Introduction to Bioinformatics |
| Practical including continuous assessment | Practical including continuous assessment |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Students’ seminar | Developmental Biology |
| Recombinant DNA Technology | Drosophila Genetics |
| Plant Genetic Engineering | Genetics of Bacteria and Their Viruses |
| Elective Courses (any three) | Fungal Genetics |
| Practical including continuous assessment | Practical including continuous assessment |
MSc Genetics Top Colleges
Top colleges that provide MSc Genetics along with the location and average annual fees are:
College Comparison
Comparing some of the best colleges that provide MSc Genetics are mentioned in the table below along with rankings, fees and salary:
| College Name | Indian Agricultural Research Institute | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) | Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | The institute is located in Delhi and is funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It has six departments where subjects related to agriculture are taught. It has various national and international collaborations. | The institute is located in Coimbatore, it is a UGC recognized university and was established in 1971. It has 14 colleges under it offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. | This university is considered as one of the best institutes for postgraduate research. It offers UG, PG, and doctorate courses. |
| NIRF Ranking | NA | NA | 8 |
| Location | New Delhi | Tamil Nadu | New Delhi |
| Average Fees | INR 7,275 | INR 16,700 | INR 364 |
| Average Placement | INR 2 lacs to 8 lacs | ||
MSc Genetics Course Comparisons
The comparisons between MSc genetics vs MSc Biotechnology on the basis of various parameters are mentioned in the table below:
| Parameters | MSc genetics | MSc Biotechnology |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Master of Science | Master of Science |
| Course Overview | A specialized course which deals with the studies of a living organism at their genetic level. | MSc in Biotechnology is a course that allows you to refine the skills and knowledge in subjects like cell biology, Immunology, and alike. |
| Course Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Graduates | Science Graduate | Science Graduate |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 5000 to 2 lacs | Up to INR 2 Lakhs per annum |
| Average Salary | INR 2 lacs to 8 lacs | Up to INR 9 Lakhs per annum |
| Colleges | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), SRI Ramachandra University, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER) | Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, University of Hyderabad. |
MSc Genetics Jobs
After completing MSc genetics, students will get a good number of opportunities in various job sectors. Various job profiles such as- Senior Scientific Officer – Molecular Genetics, Technical Assistant - Molecular Genetics, Associate Professor - Medical Genetics, National Sales Manager – Genetics, Sales & Marketing Executive, Principal Plant Breeder – Cotton, Partner Account Manager, System Software Sales Specialist, System Administrator, Channel Enablement Specialist, Purchase Executive, Data Specialist - Advanced Analytics, Technical Team Leader, Package Solution Consultant, Technical Solution Manager, etc. are available for the MSc genetics to apply for.
Apart from jobs students can go for higher studies and pursue a Ph.D. in genetics or another related field in order to carry out more research etc.
The jobs available after studying MSc Genetics along with job position, job description and salary:
| JOB POSITION | JOB DESCRIPTION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | Professors are responsible for researching, teaching, and keeping up with existing research works in their areas of expertise. | 7,00,000 |
| Epidemiologist | An epidemiologist is responsible to investigate diseases including the collection and analyses of health information by field research, questionnaires, observation, and studies. | 5,50,000 |
| Biophysicist | Biophysicists are responsible to determine the effects of drugs, food, hormones, serums, and other substances on tissues and the important processes of living organisms. | 2,00,000 |
| Geneticists | Geneticists are responsible to utilize their knowledge to treat and guide patients with hereditary ailment or disorders. | 5,00,000 |
| Genomics | Genomics is in charge of examining samples of patients' DNA and RNA to identify genomic and genetic alterations that can be responsible for inherited and acquired ailment or conditions, such as cancer or cystic fibrosis. | 5,00,000 |
MSc Genetics Scope
After completing MSc genetics, the students have options to either go for higher studies or apply for a suitable job position.
- The option for pursuing higher studies will benefit the student in the long run as it would add more value and add knowledge to their career. Since this course or field of study is more research-oriented, so it is better to opt for higher studies as it will benefit in the future.
- After completing the MSc genetics students can expect a job with an average salary ranging from 2-8 lakhs per annum.
MSc Genetics FAQ
Ques: Can the MSc genetics course be pursued in distance?
Ques: What are the job opportunities that a student can get with an MSc genetics?
Ques: Is there any entrance exam for admission in colleges?
Ques: What is the average course fee required for this course?
Ques: What is the duration of the MSc genetics course?
Ques: What is the basic eligibility for this course?
Ques: In which job sector will the students get recruited after this course is done?
Ques: What are the common subjects that are taught in the course?
Ques: Is the exam semester type or annual type?
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