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Sikkim University's Ph.D. (Horticulture) is a full-time research programme offered under the School of Life Sciences, designed to advance scientific knowledge in horticultural sciences with a focus on the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with an annual seat intake of 13 seats (UR-4, OBC-4, SC-2, ST-1, EWS-2). The total fees for the programme amount to approximately Rs. 36,432 for the entire course duration. Admission is based on UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/ICAR-NET or equivalent scores combined with a departmental interview, making it a competitive and research-oriented programme popular among students interested in organic farming, crop improvement, and biodiversity conservation in the Himalayan region.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are yet to be announced. Based on the 2026-27 cycle, the admission notice is typically published in May, with online registration open from late May to mid-June. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed, with the second cycle selection list published in February 2027. Prospective students should watch the official website (cus.ac.in) for the 2026-27 notification, expected around May 2026.

Key Points

The Department of Horticulture was established in 2009 and is one of the pioneering departments of Sikkim University, with a strong focus on organic farming, climate change-resilient horticulture, and value-added product development of local crops.
Research specializations include Vegetable Science, Fruit Science, Floriculture, and Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.
The department has an active research farm (Sikkim University Horticulture Farm) where students get hands-on training in field experiments.
As of 2021, the department has awarded 9 Ph.D. degrees, has 18 registered Ph.D. scholars, and has completed or is running 10 research projects with 70+ publications.
The department has developed two microbial consortia (biofertilizer and pest/disease management) and established community seed banks in 10 villages.
UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/ICAR-NET or equivalent qualification is mandatory for applying to the Ph.D. programme.
The university provides a Non-NET Fellowship for full-time Ph.D. students not availing any other fellowship.

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Scholarships
FAQs

Sikkim Univ Ph.D. Horticulture Fees

The Ph.D. (Horticulture) programme at Sikkim University is offered at a very affordable fee structure, as it is a centrally funded university. The one-time charges payable at the time of admission (including the first semester tuition fee) amount to Rs. 17,832. The tuition fee for each subsequent semester is Rs. 3,720, and for the minimum duration of 3 years (6 semesters), the total course fee works out to Rs. 36,432. SC/ST students receive 100% relaxation on hostel seat rent, and differently-abled students receive 100% tuition fee waiver.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Admission Fee	1,860
Registration Fee	248
Examination Fee	372
Development Fee	9,920
Sports Fee	620
Library Fee	372
Student Welfare Fee	248
Medical Fee	124
NSS Fee	100
Identity Card Fee	248
Tuition Fee (per semester)	3,720
Hostel Admission Fee (optional)	620
Hostel Seat Rent per semester - 3-bedded (optional)	750
Hostel Caution Deposit - Refundable (optional)	3,000
Total Course Fees (6 semesters, excluding hostel)	36,432

Fee Notes

The one-time charges (Admission Fee, Registration, Development, Sports, Library, Student Welfare, Medical, NSS, Identity Card) are paid only at the time of admission.
Tuition fee for the 2nd semester onwards must be paid within 15 days of commencement of each semester. A late fee of Rs. 25 per day is charged after the 15th day.
Hostel fees are optional and not included in the total course fees above. Hostel accommodation is subject to availability and merit.
Hostel Caution Deposit of Rs. 3,000 is refundable at the time of exit from the hostel.
Tuition fee is relaxed by 50% for SU employees, wards of SU employees, and Yangang villagers. 100% relaxation is given to Differently Abled students, people of Yangang who sold their land for the campus, and those belonging to the Primitive Tribe of Sikkim.
Hostel Seat Rent is relaxed by 100% for SC/ST students.
All fees are collected through online mode only.
Application fee: Rs. 1,000 (General), Rs. 750 (OBC/EWS), Rs. 500 (SC/ST/PWD/DA).

Sikkim Univ Ph.D. Horticulture Admission 2026

Admission to Ph.D. (Horticulture) at Sikkim University is based on UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/ICAR-NET or equivalent scores (70% weightage) and a departmental interview (30% weightage). The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed. For the upcoming 2026-27 session, the notification is expected around May 2026 based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates must apply online through the university's admission portal.

Important Dates

Event	Date (2026-27 Cycle)
Publication of Admission Notice	20th May 2026
Online Registration Opens	21st May 2026
Last Date for Online Application	15th June 2026
Scrutiny and Document Verification	19th - 24th June 2026
Interview of Shortlisted Candidates	25th - 26th June 2026
Declaration of 1st Selection List	1st July 2026
Admission Fee Payment (1st List)	2nd - 3rd July 2026
Declaration of 2nd Selection List	8th July 2026
Fee Payment (2nd List)	9th - 10th July 2026
Physical Reporting and Document Verification	21st - 25th July 2026
Commencement of Odd Semester	1st August 2026
Second Cycle Admission Notice	October 2026
Second Cycle Selection List (1st Merit)	February 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Exam Dates	Remarks
ICAR-NET (ASRB NET) 2026 - Preliminary	2nd - 4th September 2026	Primary exam for Horticulture Ph.D. admission
ICAR-NET (ASRB NET) 2026 - Mains	1st March 2027 (revised)	Mains for ARS/SMS/STO
GATE 2027	7th, 8th, 14th, 15th February 2027	Accepted as equivalent to NET for Ph.D. admission
UGC-NET June 2027	Expected June 2027	Notification expected last week of April 2027

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

A candidate must have qualified UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/ICAR-NET/GATE/ICMR-NET/DBT-NET or equivalent examination (Category A/B/C).
Must hold a two-year (4-semester) Master's programme in Horticulture or a relevant/allied subject with at least 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NC/DA/EWS).
Alternatively, candidates with a four-year Bachelor's Degree with Research with a minimum CGPA of 7.5 (75%) are also eligible.

Admission Process:

Apply online at https://cusadmission.samarth.edu.in/ within the stipulated dates.
Upload required documents including NET/GATE scorecard, qualifying degree marksheets, and category certificates.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a departmental interview based on NET score and qualifying marks.
Final merit list is prepared with 70% weightage to NET score and 30% to interview performance.
Selected candidates must pay the admission fee online within the notified dates to confirm admission.
Physical reporting and document verification is mandatory; failure to report results in cancellation of admission.

Sikkim Univ Ph.D. Horticulture Scholarships 2026

Sikkim University Ph.D. students in Horticulture can avail a range of fellowships and scholarships from UGC, ICAR, and the university itself. The most prominent is the UGC Non-NET Fellowship provided by the university to full-time Ph.D. scholars not receiving any other fellowship. Additionally, students who qualify ICAR-NET/JRF or UGC-NET/JRF are eligible for JRF fellowships from the respective funding agencies.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility
UGC-NET JRF Fellowship	Rs. 37,000/month (1st & 2nd year); Rs. 42,000/month (3rd year onwards)	UGC-NET qualified with JRF
ICAR-JRF (ASRB NET)	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF); Rs. 35,000/month (SRF)	ICAR-NET qualified with JRF
CSIR-NET JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	CSIR-NET qualified with JRF
DBT-JRF	Rs. 37,000/month	DBT-NET qualified
Sikkim University Non-NET Fellowship	As per UGC norms	Full-time Ph.D. scholars not availing any other fellowship
National Fellowship for SC Students (NFSC)	As per UGC norms	SC category students
National Fellowship for ST Students (NFST)	As per UGC norms	ST category students
National Fellowship for OBC Students (NFOBC)	As per UGC norms	OBC category students
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	As per UGC norms	Minority students

Scholarship Notes

Students must apply for UGC/ICAR/CSIR fellowships through the respective national portals (NTA, ASRB, CSIR).
The Non-NET Fellowship from Sikkim University is available for students not receiving any external fellowship; students must contact the Academic Section for linking/verification.
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.
Candidates selected for scholarships must contact the Academic Section of Sikkim University for linking or verification of applications and uploading of relevant documents in the UGC portal.

Sikkim Univ Ph.D. Horticulture FAQs

Ques. Is ICAR-NET mandatory for Ph.D. (Horticulture) admission at Sikkim University, or can I apply with UGC-NET?

Ans. Since Horticulture is not a subject covered under UGC-NET, ICAR-NET (ASRB NET) is the primary qualifying exam for Ph.D. (Horticulture) at Sikkim University. However, GATE (in relevant subjects like Agricultural Engineering or Life Sciences) and other equivalent national-level exams are also accepted. Candidates should verify the accepted exams with the department before applying.

Ques. What is the seat intake for Ph.D. (Horticulture) at Sikkim University, and how competitive is the admission?

Ans. The total seat intake for Ph.D. (Horticulture) is 13 seats per year (UR-4, OBC-4, SC-2, ST-1, EWS-2). Admission is competitive, based on ICAR-NET/equivalent scores (70%) and a departmental interview (30%). Given the limited seats and the university's strong research focus, candidates with a good NET score and clear research interest in areas like organic farming, crop improvement, or Himalayan biodiversity have a better chance.

Ques. Does Sikkim University provide a fellowship for Ph.D. students who have not qualified NET/JRF?

Ans. Yes, Sikkim University provides a Non-NET Fellowship to full-time Ph.D. scholars who are not availing any fellowship from other sources. The amount is as per UGC norms. Students must contact the Academic Section for details and application procedures.

Ques. What are the research facilities available for Ph.D. (Horticulture) students at Sikkim University?

Ans. The Department of Horticulture has a dedicated Horticulture Farm where students get hands-on training in field experiments. The department focuses on organic farming, climate change-resilient horticulture, and value-added product development. The university also has a well-equipped Central Library with access to over 7,390 e-journals, 14 e-databases, and 9,878 e-books, along with DST-FIST funded labs in allied departments.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. (Horticulture) at Sikkim University on a part-time basis while working?

Ans. Sikkim University's Ph.D. programme is primarily full-time. However, one supernumerary seat per department is provided annually to NET-qualified regular faculty members and staff of Sikkim University and affiliated colleges. Such candidates must produce a leave sanction order for the full period of coursework. Part-time Ph.D. for external candidates is not a standard offering; interested candidates should check with the department directly.

Ques. What is the duration of the Ph.D. (Horticulture) programme, and what does the coursework involve?

Ans. The minimum duration of the Ph.D. programme at Sikkim University is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years, as per UGC norms. Ph.D. scholars must complete a coursework of one or two semesters (12 or 20 credits). The coursework is evaluated through two Formative Assessments (25% each) and one Summative Assessment (50%), with a minimum 75% attendance requirement.