Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)

  The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) had its genesis from establishment of an Agricultural School at Saidapet, Madras, Tamil Nadu, as early as 1868 and it was later relocated at Coimbatore. In 1920 it was affiliated to Madras University with the introduction of a three-year degree program. TNAU assumed full responsibilities of Agricultural Education and Research and supported the State Agricultural Department by delivering research products. Till 1946, the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, was the only Institute for Agricultural Education for the whole of South India. In 1958, it was recognized as a Post-graduate Centre leading to Masters and Doctoral degrees. The Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai was established in 1965. These two colleges formed the nucleus of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University while it was established in 1971.  It was the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University which undertook all of the duties associated with Agricultural Education and Research. It also helped the department of agriculture of the state, by producing numerous products for research and development. It was in 1958 that the university gained recognition as a place for post-graduation. It also began to offer masters and doctoral diplomas to the students.

  In 1972, separate degree programmes of B.Sc. (Horticulture) and B.E.(Agriculture) were started. In 1979, a separate Faculty of Horticulture was established. In 1980, B.Sc.(Home Science) programme was started at Madurai campus. The third Agricultural College was started at Killikulam in 1984 and the fourth at Kumulur (Trichy) in 1989 and later shifted to Navalur Kuttappattu (Trichy) in 1992 which is named as Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute. During 1985, B.Sc.(Forestry) programme was started at Coimbatore. Presently the B.Sc.(Horticulture) degree programme is being offered at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam and B.Sc.(Forestry) degree programme at Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam. In line with technological changes the B.E.(Agriculture) hither to offered is offered as B.Tech.(Agricultural Engineering) from the Academic year 2002-2003 at Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Kumulur, Trichy. B.Sc.(Home Science) degree program is being offered at Home Science College and Research Institute, Agricultural College Campus, Madurai. The Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal, governed by Government of Pondichery, is an affiliated institute of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University where B.Sc.(Agriculture) course is being offered. Apart from these academic institutes, the University now has research programs at more than 32 stations, spread over in Tamil Nadu with more than 1200 scientists and teaching faculty.

  Today, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, located in 1350 acres of land in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, is designed to educate students in research and higher education in the field of agriculture. This university  is recognized by UGC and operates in accordance with Tamil Nadu Directorate of Education. 

  TNAU offers a total of 96 UG, PG, PG diploma and PhD courses in various fields of Science and Technology through its 15 constituent colleges and 29 affiliated colleges spread across Tamil Nadu. The University offers a four-year BTech and a four-year BSc in full-time mode at the UG level.  Admission to the UG courses is based on both Entrance and merit in the last qualifying exam. Moreover, it offers MTech, MSc and MBA and PhD at PG and doctoral levels.  As the university switched over to the e-learning from the academic year 2007, it was made compulsory for first-year students to procure personal laptops.  Apart from academic institutes, the university now has 36 Research Centers for Agrotechnology Development and 14 Farm Science Centers for outreach research programs. 

  The Global Technological developments has lead to introduction of new courses. Introduction of B.Tech.(Food Process Engineering) from the academic year 1998-99, B.Tech.(Agricultural Biotechnology) and B.Tech.(Horticulture) from the academic year 2002-2003 as self supporting program has created avenues for bugetary independence. A new degree program B.Tech.(Energy and Environmental Engineering) was started during 2004 and B.Tech. (Bioinformatics) during 2006. B.Tech.(Agricultural Information Technology) and B.S.(Agribusiness Management) were started in 2007.

  TNAU was ranked as 44 by NIRF in 2019 and Outlook placed the University at #45 the same year. Globally speaking, the University was ranked at 105 in the BRICS nations in the QS World University Rankings of 2018.  NIRF ranked the University 28 overall in India and 17 among Indian universities in India in 2017. Internationally, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was ranked 301–350 in Asia by the QS World University Rankings of 2023.  it was ranked 1501+ in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2023, 501+ in Asia in 2022 and the same among emerging economies.

  According to the NIRF report 2023, a total of 226 out of 1,553 UG and PG students were placed during Tamil Nadu Agricultural University placements 2022.   

  Set in a spacious campus, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore offers a wide range of facilities to the students, faculty and staff. TNAU Coimbatore facilities include accommodation facilities, sports facilities, gym, cafeteria, auditorium, laboratories, Health centre catering to all medical needs of students and staff, gym,and many other facilities. The university provides separate hostels for boys and girls with amenities like modern kitchen, xeroxing facility, store and desalinization plant etc. The library of the university stocked with 200,000 books, monographs, 25,000 text, 8000 theses and dissertations,   2200 national and international journals and subscribed with online access for the journals provides students with various academic resources. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore facilities also include many sports infrastructure and a gymnasium. The auditorium is used for organising events and functions. The latest audio-visual equipment is available in the auditorium. Smart classrooms are present in the university. A modern IT infrastructure is also part of TNAU Coimbatore campus facilities. Transport facilities are also provided by the university.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
  (TNAU) had its genesis from establishment of an Agricultural School at Saidapet, Madras, Tamil Nadu, as early as 1868 and it was later relocated at Coimbatore.
Vision
  The vision of TNAU is to promote science based agriculture and allied processes in the State of Tamil Nadu to help the farmers and agri-based industries to compete successfully in the national and international markets through its education, research and out-reach programmes.
Mission
  Agricultural education through quality research, training and transfer of technology for ensuring food security, commercialization of agriculture and to improve standard of living of farming community.
Goal
  To contribute; for reducing poverty and ushering-in an Era of prosperity in the rural areas through agricultural education, research and extension programme.

  TNAU offers UG, PG and Doctoral level programs in various disciplines of Agriculture. For admissions, candidates can apply to TNAU programs through Online mode. TNAU Admission typically begins in the month of April and continues till August. Admission to UG programs are based on the merit of the qualifying exam followed by a counseling process.

   Admission to TNAU PG programs are based on scores of the Entrance exam conducted by the University. However, TNAU PhD program admissions are based on the entrance exam and Personal Interview conducted by the University. The admission criteria for TNAU courses have been discussed in detail in the following articles.

TNAU UG Admission 

TNAU PG Admission 

  TNAU offers 32 Master’s Degree Courses in disciplines Agriculture. Admission to TNAU PG programs are based on the score of the entrance examination conducted by the University. The Eligibility and Selection Criteria of TNAU PG course has been tabulated below: 

TNAU PhD Admission 

TNAU offers PhD programs in 28 disciplines. The eligibility and selection criteria for TNAU Admission to PhD programs is tabulated below:

Key Points:

  Entrance examinations for Master’s and doctoral programs will be conducted by ONLINE Mode. It is the responsibility of the candidate to prepare themselves for appearing through online mode. Candidates  have to login in on the specified date and time for the entrance exam on their own expenses. Requests for change in the date/time will not be entertained. 

  The entrance test will be conducted with remote video proctoring. Any Candidates indulging in any mode of malpractices will be expelled. 

  The decision of the University to expel a candidate from the online exam cannot be challenged. If impersonation in the Entrance Test is detected at any point of time, the candidature will be canceled, and appropriate legal action will be taken.

TNAU Application Process

For UG courses:

  Registration to any of the courses are done online. Candidates needs to follow these steps to apply for TNAU Admission:

Visit the official website of the University.

Click on “Undergraduate” and then “UG Admission”

Click on “New Registration” and the application form will be opened.

Fill all the important details correctly.

It will generate a user ID and password on your registered email and mobile phone.

Click on the “Proceed to Application” button.

Pay the Application fee

You can login again with your user ID and password to download and print Joint Declaration Form and Appendices / Checklist.

For PG and Doctoral courses:

Click on the official website.

Click on Postgraduate and then “PG Admission”

Click on “New Registration and application form will be opened.

Fill out the Application form carefully.

Pay the Application fee through online mode.

Submit the Application.

Take the printout of Application and keep it for future reference.

Documents Required :

Class 10th Scorecard

Class 12th Scorecard

Graduation mark sheet (for PG courses)

Post Graduation Marksheets (for PhD courses)

Passport size photograph

Transfer Certificate

Character Certificate

Migration Certificate

SC / ST/ OBC/ Certificate (in the name of the candidate)

TNAU Application Fee

PG programs

Doctoral Programs

TNAU Reservation Criteria

TNAU reservations will be followed as per the orders of the Government of Tamil Nadu in vogue at the time of TNAU admission. 

  Campus Interviews are regularly conducted in relation to employers’ indent.

  About 60 companies and other organizations participate annually in Campus Interviews.

  About 450-500 graduates get placed every year.

  Selection process includes written test, Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

  Job Fair benefits 300-350 students to get placed at once.

  Job Fair is conducted in March / April coinciding with closure of academic programmes.

  Job seekers are introduced to plethora of industries.

  Some of the top recruiters of the institute included : Zifo Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Dow Agro, ITC Ltd., Rasi   Seeds, Sathyam Bio, Green Earth Fresh, Sinochem, Associate Decor, Syngenta.

TNAU Scholarships

  The college provides various scholarship schemes for meritorious and reserved categories to support them financially.

  Fee Waiver Scheme: The State Government has started a fee waiver scheme to help the economically poor but meritorious students.

  Education Loans: Education loans are available to the needy and deserving students from the Nationalized Banks at reasonable rates of interest. Thesis loans are repayable after the completion of the degree/ diploma.

  Financial Help: Relaxation in tuition fee is given to merit position holders in the qualifying examinations/ competitive examinations and position holders in the University examinations.

Scholarship Cell

  The central and state governments focus in providing a hustle-free platform for scholarships through variety of schemes to students for their higher education. The Scholarship Cell functioning in the Office of the Dean (Agricultural College and Research Institute), TNAU, Coimbatore in order to strengthen the bridge between the government providing scholarship schemes and students. The scholarship cell coordinates with all the constituent and affiliated colleges of TNAU with the undergraduate, Diploma and post graduate scholarships & fellowship governed activities.

Mission of Scholarship Cell

  To conduct orientation on various community scholarships of State and Union Government to the Institute Nodal Officers (INOs), administrative staff and all UG, Diploma & PG students in the commencement of each academic year.
  To ensure that all admitted eligible students are enrolled for the post matric scholarships in National scholarship portal (NSP)
  To instruct the Institute Nodal Officers (INO) and administrative staff of all the institutes in monitoring timely submission, verification & processing of fresh & renewal scholarship applications.
  To assist students of all communities in improving their academic performance and receiving government benefits
  The cell also focuses on ensuring that the reservation policy is strictly followed according to UGC norms

Role of an Institute Nodal Officer (INO)

  Bridge the gap between the scholarship providers and students
  Encouraging all eligible students to apply
  Ensure timely submission of application in portal
  Documentation of scholarship holder’s database
  Verification of online applications in the NSP as Institute Nodal Officer

Minimize Duplication of application

Various Scholarships/Fellowships for under graduate students

Post Matric Scholarships

Community Scholarships (BC,MBC & DNC, SC & ST)
SC & ST Higher Education Scholarship
National Scholarship (Minority scholarships)
Chief Minister public Relief Fund
Moovalur Ramamiratham Ammaiyar Higher education Assurance scheme
(Pudumaipenn)
National Talent Scholarship-ICAR
Student Ready RAWE (Rural Agricultural Work Experience)- ICAR

Endowment scholarships/other fellowships

TNAU Facilities

Following facilities are offered to the students:

  Sports - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University recognizes physical activity and sports as integral parts of curriculum for first and second year UG Students to increase awareness among students about the significant benefits of physical activity and the practice of sports.

  Hostels – The institute has 14 Hostels for around 2052 UG, PG and PhD students for both boys and girls. There is a Hostel Management Committee and Hostel Administration effective and efficient functioning of hostels.

  Library - The TNAU Library System comprises of a University Library and 10 constitutional college libraries that collectively support the teaching, research and extension programmes of the University. The University Library houses a total collection of over Two lakh documents comprising of books, theses, journals, and compact discs in the fields of Agricultural science. All in-house operations in the library are fully computerized using the Koha software it provides web-based access to the online catalogue of Library. The benefit of consortia-based subscription to electronic resources is confined to its core members and also extended to all Constitutional Colleges, Research stations &KVKs through Remote access.

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