TNAU B.Sc {Hons.} Forestry: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) offers a 4-year full-time B.Sc. (Hons.) Forestry programme exclusively at its constituent Forest College and Research Institute (FC&RI), Mettupalayam, situated in the sylvan surroundings of the Jakanari Reserved Forest at the foothills of the Nilgiris. The programme, accredited by both ICAR and ICFRE, covers plantation technology, forest management, agroforestry, wood science, wildlife management, and value addition processes, with a total sanctioned intake of 79 seats (general quota) and 126 seats including supernumerary quotas. The total course fee for the 4-year programme is approximately ₹1,94,825 (for TNHSC candidates), making it one of the most affordable professional forestry degrees in India. Admission is based on Class 12 marks (no entrance exam for Tamil Nadu students), with ICAR-NTS being the primary national-level scholarship exam. The programme is highly popular due to its unique location inside a reserved forest, strong alumni record in the Indian Forest Service (IFS), and excellent career prospects in government forest departments, research organisations, and forest-based industries.

Admissions for 2026-27 are upcoming. Based on the 2025-26 cycle, the online application portal typically opens in May and closes in June. The rank list is published in mid-June, followed by online counselling in July-August 2026 (tentative). Candidates are advised to monitor the official TNAU admission portal at tnau.ucanapply.com for exact dates.

Key Points

• The programme is offered exclusively at FC&RI, Mettupalayam, a campus spread over 200 hectares of reserved forest, providing unparalleled practical exposure to real forest ecosystems.
• The curriculum is revised every four years in line with ICAR and ICFRE recommendations, incorporating the latest advances in forest science, remote sensing, GIS, and forest policy.
• Students undergo Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE), jungle survival training, study tours, internships with wood-based industries, and farm forestry attachments as part of the programme.
• The college has a distinguished alumni record: 114 alumni have cleared the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam conducted by UPSC since 1994, and over 245 graduates serve as Forest Range Officers in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
• 20% of sanctioned seats are allotted to ICAR through the National Talent Scholarship (NTS) entrance examination for supernumerary admissions.
• The medium of instruction is English; the evaluation follows a Semester Course Credit System (8 semesters over 4 years), and students must achieve a minimum OGPA of 6.50 out of 10.00 to earn the degree.

TNAU B.Sc. (Hons.) Forestry Fees

Component-wise Fee Structure (B.Sc. (Hons.) Forestry - Science Programme, Constituent College)

Fee Structure Per Semester and Total

One-time Payment Components

Total Fees

• Tuition Fee of Rs. ₹4,500 per semester is waived for SC/SCA/ST candidates and First Graduate in a family (not applicable for Technology courses).
• Caution Money Deposit of Rs. ₹5,000 is refundable upon completion or withdrawal before first semester registration.
• An advance admission fee of Rs. ₹20,000 is collected at the time of seat allotment, which is adjusted against the first semester fee. This amount is refundable if the candidate has not registered for the first semester.
• Students discontinuing after first semester registration are eligible for refund of caution money deposit only.
• A discontinuation fee of Rs. ₹2,00,000 is applicable if a student discontinues after 105 working days of the first-year first-semester examinations.
• NRI Quota students pay US Dollar ($) 3,300 per semester.
• Hostel fees are separate and not included in the above total. Hostel accommodation is available at FC&RI, Mettupalayam (200 boys + 300 girls capacity). Hostel is not mandatory; students may opt to be day scholars with the Dean's permission.

Hostel Fees (Separate, Not Included in Total Above):

Hostel fees at FC&RI, Mettupalayam are approximately Rs. ₹34,000-36,000 per year (including mess charges on a dividing system basis). Hostel accommodation is available but not mandatory.

TNAU B.Sc. (Hons.) Forestry Admission 2026

TNAU UG Admission Dates

Note: Exact dates for 2026-27 will be announced on the official TNAU admission portal: tnau.ucanapply.com. The above dates are based on the 2025-26 admission schedule.

ICAR NTS Exam Dates

Note: ICAR NTS (National Talent Scholarship) is the entrance exam for the 20% supernumerary ICAR quota seats at FC&RI, Mettupalayam. Tamil Nadu students applying under the general quota do NOT need to appear for any entrance exam; admission is based solely on Class 12 marks.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must have passed Class 12 (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Group II) OR Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Group I) OR Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology (Group II-A) from a recognised board.
• Minimum aggregate marks required: 55% for Open Competition (OC), 50% for BC/BCM, 45% for MBC/DNC, and a pass for SC/SCA/ST candidates.
• Age limit: Candidates must not have completed 21 years of age as of July 1 of the admission year (no age limit for SC/SCA/ST; 5-year relaxation for differently abled candidates).

Admission Process

• Submit online application at tnau.ucanapply.com within the stipulated deadline; printed applications are not accepted.
• Pay the online application fee of Rs. ₹600 (Rs. ₹300 for SC/ST candidates).
• Rank list is prepared based on Class 12 aggregate marks (no entrance exam for Tamil Nadu students under general quota).
• Shortlisted candidates pay a non-refundable counselling fee of Rs. ₹3,000 (Rs. ₹1,500 for SC/SCA/ST) and participate in online counselling.
• Fill in college and course preferences in order of priority during the online counselling window.
• Pay the advance admission fee of Rs. ₹20,000 online after seat allotment and download the allotment letter.
• Appear for in-person certificate verification at the designated TNAU Facilitation Centre (TFC) with all original documents.
• Report to FC&RI, Mettupalayam on the stipulated date to complete admission formalities and pay the balance semester fee.

TNAU B.Sc. (Hons.) Forestry Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Details

• BC/MBC scholarships are disbursed by the Tamil Nadu government through the BC, MBC & Minorities Welfare Department.
• SC/ST Post-Matric Scholarship applications are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
• ICAR NTS scholarship is disbursed directly by ICAR, New Delhi, to students admitted under the ICAR quota.
• Periyar Endowment and CM Award scholarships are disbursed through the college; students must apply at the beginning of each academic year.
• Application deadlines for most scholarships fall within the first month of each academic year; students are advised to check with the FC&RI scholarship cell for exact dates.