Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The M.Sc. in Vegetable Science at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered under the Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences. It is one of three specialisations under the M.Sc. (Horticulture) programme at BHU, alongside Fruit Science and Floriculture and Landscaping. The course covers vegetable crop production, breeding, seed technology, post-harvest management, protected cultivation, and vegetable crop physiology, equipping students with advanced knowledge for careers in the vegetable production industry, research, and government horticulture services. The programme spans 4 semesters, with tuition fees of Rs. 12,500 per semester for regular seats and Rs. 42,500 per semester for paid seats. Admission is based on CUET PG scores, and the course is popular given India's position as the second-largest vegetable producer in the world and the growing demand for trained vegetable science professionals.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are currently in progress. CUET PG 2026 was conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) registration is expected to open in May 2026 at bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in. Based on the 2025 cycle, the last date for BHU PG registration was around June 15, 2025, and the batch typically commences in July-August.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the ICAR-affiliated Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ensuring curriculum alignment with national agricultural research standards.
Students gain expertise in vegetable breeding (both self-pollinated and cross-pollinated crops), hybrid seed production, protected cultivation (polyhouse/greenhouse), and post-harvest technology.
BHU's experimental farms and vegetable research plots on its 550-hectare campus provide excellent hands-on training opportunities.
India is the second-largest producer of vegetables globally, and the sector is growing rapidly with increasing demand for trained professionals in seed companies, agri-export firms, and government departments.
Graduates are eligible for ICAR-JRF/SRF fellowships and can pursue Ph.D. programmes in Horticulture at premier agricultural universities including IARI, IIHR, and BHU itself.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

BHU M.Sc. (Vegetable Science) Fees

The M.Sc. (Vegetable Science) at BHU is offered under two seat categories: regular seats (tuition fee Rs. 12,500 per semester) and paid seats (tuition fee Rs. 42,500 per semester). For regular seat students, the total tuition fee for the 2-year programme is Rs. 50,000. Including other university charges, the total cost for regular seat students is approximately Rs. 69,500 for the full programme. Hostel accommodation is optional and available at approximately Rs. 4,875 per semester. The programme is highly cost-effective compared to private agricultural universities offering similar specialisations.

Fee Structure

Seat Category	Tuition Fee per Semester
Regular Seats	Rs. 12,500
Paid Seats	Rs. 42,500
Total Tuition (Regular, 4 semesters)	Rs. 50,000
Total Cost (Regular, incl. other charges)	Rs. 69,500
Hostel (per semester)	Rs. 4,875

BHU M.Sc. (Vegetable Science) Admission 2026

Admission to M.Sc. (Vegetable Science) at BHU is based on CUET PG 2026 scores under paper code SCQP01. The process involves appearing in CUET PG conducted by NTA, followed by registration in BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026). The 2026-27 admission cycle is currently underway, with CUET PG 2026 having concluded in March 2026. BHU CAP-PG registration and seat allotment are expected to begin from May 2026 onwards. The total seat intake for M.Sc. Horticulture (all three specialisations combined) is 18, with Vegetable Science being one of the three specialisations.

Important Dates

Event	Date
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 6 to March 27, 2026
CUET PG Results	May 6, 2026
BHU CAP-PG Registration Opens	May 2026
Last Date for Registration (based on 2025)	June 15, 2026
Batch Commencement	July-August 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a 4-year B.Sc. (Agriculture) / B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture / B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture degree from a recognised university.
Minimum OGPA of 6.0/10 (or equivalent) for General/EWS/OBC candidates; 5.5/10 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
Candidates must not have secured more than one III-division or equivalent OGPA throughout their academic career.

Admission Process:

Register and appear for CUET PG 2026 (Paper Code: SCQP01) at exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg.
After CUET PG results, register for BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) at bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in.
Pay the non-refundable registration fee (Rs. 300 for UR/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Upload required documents including 10th, 12th, and UG marksheets, birth certificate, and category certificates (if applicable).
Participate in seat allotment rounds and confirm admission by paying the semester fee within the stipulated deadline.
Report to the department with original documents for verification and enrolment.

BHU M.Sc. (Vegetable Science) Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options to students of M.Sc. (Vegetable Science), covering merit-based, need-based, and category-specific support. The university's low fee structure itself acts as a significant financial benefit, and students can additionally avail government scholarships such as the UP Scholarship (for UP domicile students) and the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) schemes. BHU's institutional scholarships are modest but meaningful, particularly for rank holders and economically weaker students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Type	Details
BHU Institutional	Merit-based, need-based, category-specific
UP Scholarship	For UP domicile students
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)	Government schemes

BHU institutional scholarships cannot be combined with other scholarships. Students already receiving any other scholarship are not eligible for BHU's institutional scholarships.
Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to remain eligible for BHU scholarships.
UP Scholarship applications are typically accepted online through the UP Scholarship portal (scholarship.up.gov.in) in August-October each year.
ICAR-JRF is a separate competitive exam relevant for students wishing to pursue research after M.Sc.

BHU M.Sc Vegetable Science Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#5 out of 53 in India 2025

#2nd in Uttar Pradesh

NIRF Ranking

#4 out of 40 in India 2025

#1st in Uttar Pradesh

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BHU M.Sc. (Vegetable Science) FAQs

Ques. What is the scope of M.Sc. Vegetable Science from BHU - is it a niche course?

Ans. Not at all. India is the second-largest producer of vegetables in the world, and the sector is growing rapidly with increasing demand for hybrid seeds, protected cultivation, and export-quality produce. Graduates can work as vegetable production specialists, seed technologists, quality control officers in agri-export companies, horticulture officers in state departments, or researchers at ICAR institutes like IIVR (Indian Institute of Vegetable Research), Varanasi, which is located very close to BHU.

Ques. Is M.Sc. Vegetable Science the same as M.Sc. Horticulture at BHU?

Ans. M.Sc. Vegetable Science is a specialisation within the M.Sc. (Horticulture) programme at BHU. The Department of Horticulture offers three specialisations: Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, and Floriculture and Landscaping. All three share the same CUET PG paper code (SCQP01) and eligibility criteria. The specialisation is allotted during the BHU CAP-PG seat allotment process based on merit and preference.

Ques. What is the seat intake for M.Sc. Vegetable Science at BHU?

Ans. The total seat intake for M.Sc. (Horticulture) across all three specialisations is 18 seats. As per the BHU PG Bulletin 2026, the Vegetable Science specialisation has seats distributed across categories including UR-BHU (1), SC-BHU (0), OBC-BHU (0), UR-Non-BHU (2), SC-Non-BHU (1), ST-Non-BHU (0), EWS-Non-BHU (1), OBC-Non-BHU (1), Ward (1), with no paid seats listed. BHU students get institutional preference in up to 25% of open category seats.

Ques. Is there any advantage of studying M.Sc. Vegetable Science at BHU given the proximity to IIVR Varanasi?

Ans. Yes, this is a significant advantage. The Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), an ICAR institute, is located in Varanasi, very close to BHU. Students often benefit from collaborative research opportunities, access to IIVR's germplasm collections, and networking with IIVR scientists. This proximity also opens doors for internships and post-M.Sc. research positions at IIVR.

Ques. What subjects are covered in M.Sc. Vegetable Science at BHU?

Ans. The ICAR-prescribed curriculum for M.Sc. (Horticulture) in Vegetable Science covers vegetable crop production and management, vegetable breeding (self-pollinated and cross-pollinated crops), hybrid seed production, post-harvest technology, protected cultivation (polyhouse/greenhouse), vegetable crop physiology, biotechnology applications in vegetables, and research methodology. Students also undertake a dissertation project in their final semester.

Ques. Can I apply for government jobs like Horticulture Development Officer after M.Sc. Vegetable Science from BHU?

Ans. Yes. M.Sc. (Horticulture) in Vegetable Science from BHU qualifies you for various government positions including Horticulture Development Officer, Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Scientist positions at ICAR institutes (after qualifying ICAR-JRF/NET), and teaching positions at agricultural colleges (after qualifying UGC-NET/ICAR-NET). State Public Service Commission exams for agricultural/horticultural officers also accept this qualification.