PhD Agriculture: Course Fees, Admission 2025, Syllabus, Top Colleges, Career Scope

A PhD in Agriculture or Doctor of Philosophy is a doctoral research degree and is normally the highest level of academic qualification one can achieve. A PhD in Agriculture degree holder can get a job in Agricultural sectors, fertilizer companies, educational institutes, and many more.

The course has a specialisation that deals with fuel and food production, plant genetics, plant physiology, soil sciences, and crop management.

A PhD in Agriculture is usually a three-year full-time programme but can take up to six years to complete. The course curriculum includes research, progress reports, thesis, etc.

Following are the steps of Ph.D. Agriculture admission through the entrances:

Step 1: Fill out the application form

Even if your college conducts an entrance test, you are required to fill up the application forms for the entrance test so that you can sit for the test.

Step 2: Appear for the entrance test

The dates for the entrance test are released by the university shortly after the application deadline. The candidate needs to prepare well for the entrance test to get a good rank.

Step 3: Appear for an interview (optional)

The interview process is completely optional. Only a few colleges conduct interviews for the students who have cleared the entrance test. It may either be a personal interview or a technical one.

Step 4: Admission to the college

The students who have cleared all the previous stages of the admission process will be allowed to take the admission.

Here are some tips to effectively prepare for PhD Agriculture entrance exams:

• Knowing the examination format will keep you ahead of the others. The pattern may differ from university to university. In most cases, the question paper is divided into two parts: one part contains subjective questions while the other part contains objective questions.
• Give more importance to the sections which are important from the examination's point of view. For that, you need to make a list of all the topics that are important from the examination point of view and give special attention to those sections.
• The key to acquiring a really good score in the examination is revision. The more you revise, the better will you be able to score in the examinations. You must start your revision at least 2 months before the date of the examination.

The GATE 2026 registration started on August 28 (revised). The registration link is available and is activated on the GOAPS 2026 portal. The GATE 2026 official website is launched. The GATE 2026 official notification and information brochure has been released. 

Here are some major documents that will be required for GATE 2026 registration process -

• Recent passport-sized photographs
• Scanned signature (as per the specifications)
• Updated valid ID, such as Aadhar card, PAN Card, Driving License, voter ID, etc.
• Category certificate (if applicable).

Application Form may be submitted in three simple steps:
Step 1 Apply for Online Registration using unique Email ID and Mobile No.
Step 2 Fill in the Online Application Form and note down the system generated Application No. Upload scanned images of Candidate’s Photograph (file size: 10 kb - 200 kb) Candidate’s Signature (file size: 4kb – 30kb)and candidate’s thumb
impression(between 3 kb to 30 kb) in JPG format.
Step 3 Pay fee using SBI/ICICI Bank Payment Gateway through Debit Card/ Credit Card/ NetBanking/UPI(Annexure-V) and keep proof of fee paid. In case the Confirmation Page is not generated after payment of fee then the transaction is cancelled, and amount will be refunded to the candidate’s account. However, the candidate has to make another transaction, in case the Confirmation Page is not generated.

Yes, there is a negative marking of 25 per cent in the CSIR NET exam for each wrong answer (33 per cent in Part C of Earth Sciences paper). Marking Scheme in CSIR NET 2025 exam varies with different stages of exam. Part A comprises 20 questions, and each question carries 1 mark. Therefore, the total marks allotted for Part A is 20. Part B and Part C comprise subject-specific questions, and each question carries 2 or 4 marks. Part B comprises 40 questions, and the total marks allotted for this section is 80. Part C comprises 60 questions, and the total marks allotted for this section is 120. It's important to note that the negative marking can significantly affect the final score, and the candidates should attempt the questions carefully and only answer those questions for which they are confident about the correct answer. Guesswork should be avoided as it may lead to negative marking and a reduction in the overall score.

The entrance exams for Agriculture admission are essential for individuals aspiring to pursue a career in the field of Agriculture. Candidates can look at the pointers below that provide candidates with essential tips and guidelines to help them prepare effectively for agricultural entrance exams.

• Begin preparation by thoroughly understanding the exam syllabus
• Devise a study schedule that suits one's routine and allows one to allocate sufficient time for each subject. 
• Solving previous years' question papers is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and gain an understanding of the types of questions asked. 
• Analyze your mistakes and weaknesses after each mock test, and focus on improving those areas in subsequent practice sessions.
• Allocate sufficient time for regular revision of the topics you have covered. 
• Maintain a positive mindset throughout your preparation journey. Believe in your abilities and stay confident.

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering has come a long way since its inception. The entrance test was first introduced in 1983 and was conducted offline (in pen and paper format) only for engineering and science streams. However, over the years, the pattern of the GATE examination has changed in several factors, such as the following -

• Giving more emphasis on numerical ability and reasoning questions.

• More case-based questions are included to understand the candidate’s ability and approach towards practical knowledge.

• Changing the exam mode from offline to a computer-based test for faster evaluation, improved accuracy, and a more secure examination process.

• Introducing more elaborated syllabi and disciplines to align with the industry demands and technological advancements. 

Overall, the GATE has grown beyond being a gateway for postgraduate studies. It is now a recognised criterion for recruitment in over 50 PSUs, such as ONGC, IOCL, and NTPC. Candidate can check GATE exam pattern here: GATE 2025 Exam Pattern. 

Here are some recommended books for PhD in Agriculture students, you may find useful:

Note: The information is sourced from external sources and may vary.

Here are some core subjects covered under PhD in Agriculture:

• Advanced Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis
• Agricultural Meteorology
• Agricultural Chemistry
• Environmental Economics
• Agricultural Physics
• Advanced Host Plant Resistance
• Food and Nutrition
• Insect Behavior

Here are some best college option in Uttar Pradesh for PhD Agriculture:

Note: The information is sourced from the official body and may vary.

India has around 37 PhD Agriculture colleges including private and government institutions. Among them, VIT Vellore, Amity University, Lovely Professional University, Shoolini University, GB Pant University, etc., are some top options. The average course fee of these colleges is around INR 1 - 4 Lakh. 

These colleges offer PhD Agriculture courses under various specializations including Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Agri-business Management, and Food Science and Technology.

Yes, a limited number of colleges offer Agriculture courses on distance mode. Here are some of them:

Note: The information is sourced from the official body and may vary.

The future of PhD Agriculture students in India is always bright. They need not have to worry about jobs. Given below are a few prospects for these students:

• The candidates may conduct research in different fields related to Agriculture. They may either work at various agricultural labs or conduct their research. They may invest their time in discovering new techniques of agriculture and new ways to improve crop production.
• The PhD Agriculture students may also opt for an academic career path. They may teach at various prestigious educational institutes in the country. They are responsible for imparting agriculture-based knowledge to the students.

Being a PhD Agriculture Scholar, you can opt for many industries in India and abroad such as Government Agriculture Departments, Forest Departments, Food Production, Educational Institutions, Research Centers, Market Research Companies, and more.

As the agricultural field is improving with time, the demand for trained professionals in the field of agriculture is surging. Educated and qualified professionals are required in the field to spread awareness about the technologies that have been developed for the agricultural sciences and the changing patterns of variations of the crops.

Agricultural Science offers job opportunities in a huge number of fields along with the option of self-employment. Pursuing a BSc in Agriculture opens a plethora of opportunities for the individual. From studying the field in detail by pursuing MSc. in Agriculture or doing doctoral studies and research, to moving abroad for a better career, the possibilities are endless.

There are many complex and soft skills that PhD Agriculture scholars need to possess to succeed in their careers. These are not necessarily skills that students can get in a classroom setting. Instead, these are skills that are learned through experience.

Therefore, students should always put in the effort to go out of their comfort zone and gain as much experience as possible. Some of these skills include:

Note: The information is sourced from external sources and may vary.

Actual meanings of both:-

Agriculture: ‘Agri' means land and ‘culture' means cultivation. Hence agriculture is the process of cultivation of land.

Agronomy: ‘Agron' means management of soil/field and ‘nomous' is study. Hence, Agronomy is the study of the management of land.

Agronomy is one of the disciplines that is comprised in Agricultural studies. The agricultural study is divided into different divisions which together complete the process of cultivation such as Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agronomy, Agricultural economics, etc.. Agronomy is a part of the overall process of agriculture, there's no difference between the two.

While Agronomy is limited to the management of land which includes water use efficiency, watershed management, Irrigation methods, etc. Agriculture involves many other processes like soil testing, soil management, Insect pest management etc., besides agronomy.

The importance of Agricultural Science is increasing as people are looking for new ways to increase their yield to meet the requirements of the increasing population across the world. Various useful upcoming trends in the field of agriculture promise to bring about a productivity revolution in the agricultural field. Some of these trends are:

• Internet of Things
• Agricultural Robotics
• Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning

There are several well-known government competitive exams to be eligible for government employment. Students who wish to secure job positions with the federal or state governments can apply for these exams after completion of the BSc Agriculture.

• UGC-NET Exam
• IBPS SO Exam
• NABARD Grade-A Exam
• State Forest Exam
• UPSC-IFSC (Indian Forest Services) Exam