M.Sc in Botany Admission

M.Sc in Botany is a two-year postgraduate course that deals with the study of plants, their characteristics and various related aspects in detail. Candidates who want to make a career in Plant Biology or Genetics can take up MSc in Botany. Several universities and colleges offer full-time M.Sc in Botany courses. Some universities also offer a 5-year combined MSc-PhD program in Botany. The average course fee of M.Sc in Botany ranges from INR 25, 000 to INR 1,20,000.

Admission to M.Sc in Botany is provided on a merit or entrance based. Candidates should have graduated in BSc Botany or any Biological Science. The course is designed in such a manner that students can become Botanists, Mycologists, Phycologists, etc. M.Sc in Botany is best suited for candidates who have a graduation degree in Botany and a deep interest in plants and their life cycle. M.Sc in Botany comprises four semesters where students are imparted deep knowledge about the plant kingdom, Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Ecology. Botany also deals with various aspects of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Environmental Science.

Why study the M.Sc in Botany course?

An M.Sc in Botany course comes with some unique advantages which are discussed below:

Huge diversity of jobs: An M.Sc in 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 a career in academics: This course is an in-demand course, specifically for the academic sector. Most of the schools prefer to appoint M.Sc in Botany candidates as teachers.

Increasing demand in research: With each passing day, the demand for M.Sc in Botany candidates in the research field is increasing. The need to tackle problems like global warming, and deforestation and an increasing thirst for knowing about new plants and their importance has led to an ever-increasing demand for Botany candidates in the field of research.

After completing your postgraduate studies in Botany, you will be serving under the finest and most 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.

Eligibility Criteria for M.Sc in Botany

Eligibility criteria for admission to M.Sc in Botany courses are discussed below:

A candidate must have a BSc degree with Honours preferably in Botany, Biological sciences or Life sciences, however, Zoology honors students can also apply.

The candidates should complete graduation with a 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 M.Sc in Botany course. You need to score good numbers in entrance exams to secure admission in the college of your choice. The cutoff of these entrance exams varies from university to university.

Syllabus of M.Sc in Botany

M.Sc in Botany course curriculum is covered in 2 years. It is divided into four semesters. The semester-wise syllabus of M.Sc in Botany followed in most of the botany colleges in India is given below:

M.Sc in Botany Semester I Syllabus

• Algae and Bryophytes
• Fungi and plant viruses
• Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Paleobotany
• Microbiology
• Practicals

M.Sc in Botany Semester II Syllabus

• Angiosperms-I (Taxonomy and Biosystematics)
• Angiosperms-II (Morphology, Embryology and Anatomy)
• Genetics and Cytogenetics
• Soil Science and Phytogeography
• Practicals

M.Sc in Botany Semester III Syllabus

• Plant Biochemistry
• Plant Physiology
• Plant Ecology
• Elective subjects

M.Sc in Botany Semester VI Syllabus

• Molecular Genetics, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
• Plant resource Utilization and Conservation
• Biostatistics, Cytology and Plant Breeding
• Elective papers

Benefits of studying M.Sc in Botany

There are numerous benefits to pursuing a Master’s degree in Botany. A student, post-completion of the course can opt for further studies as well. Some of the advantages of studying M.Sc. Botany is listed below:

Having a Master’s degree attracts more employers and recruiters than a UG degree can attract.

A candidate with a PG degree gets paid a much higher salary than a candidate who has an undergraduate degree. Also, a postgraduate degree is a preference in most of the big and reputed MNCs and companies.

After completion of a Master’s degree, you can opt for higher education and get even better work opportunities.

A candidate with a PG gets work opportunities in India as well as abroad.

Career Options After Completing M.Sc. in Botany

Botanist - A botanist is responsible for researching and conducting a study of different types of plants. These individuals work in different industries including agriculture, forestry, pharmaceuticals, and more.

Plant scientist - A Plant Scientist is responsible for proposing ways that can improve crop yields. They work and find ways in order to improve the production of crops by controlling pests and weeds. They are also responsible for advising food producers on the techniques of achieving better produce.

Florist - A florist is responsible for designing, with the help of flowers, wreaths, bouquets, garlands, vases et cetera. They might also be required to design and decorate venues with the use of flowers.

Ecologist - Ecologists analyze the relationship between plants, animals, and the environment. They study different construction techniques and works and report on any possible threats that the construction might have on the environment.

Jobs Prospects of M.Sc in Botany

There are a number of jobs and career options available after this course. M.Sc in Botany opens you to a wider range of job opportunities and sectors which you can apply for. The opportunities for botany graduates are widespread in both the public and private sectors.

In the public sector, 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 sector, the opportunities are in the oil industry, food companies, seed companies, fruit growers, and biotechnology firms.

M.Sc in 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 researchers are continuously going on to learn about them. They are sure to grow in the future.

• Teacher
• Data Analyst
• Medical Coder
• Incident Manager
• Corporate Communications manager

Future Scope of M.Sc in Botany

M.Sc in 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 M.Sc in Botany candidates.

One can also go for advanced or higher education courses after completing an M.Sc in Botany degree. Few of them are discussed below for your reference: