Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) serves Bhubaneswar, Odisha, as the state's only university devoted to agriculture. This state university was founded on August 24, 1962, and began functioning on February 1, 1963. It has UGC recognition, accreditation from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and a NAAC A+ grade.

Agriculture is OUAT's main area of study, alongside veterinary science, fisheries, forestry, engineering and basic sciences. In the 2025 NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors rankings, it secured 19th place nationally with 56.61 points. Its Bhubaneswar campus covers 200 acres, while constituent colleges also operate at Bhawanipatna and Chiplima. Students have access to a library with 97,589 books and subscriptions to 155 national and international journals. Campus hostels have room for 3,030 students.

The five-year B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture degree costs INR 2,55,120 in total. Horticulture, Forestry, BFSc and B.Tech Agricultural Engineering each have total fees of INR 1,21,160, while three-year basic science B.Sc degrees cost INR 38,010. These fees place OUAT among the more affordable state agricultural universities in eastern India. NIRF 2025 figures show median annual placement salaries of INR 10.16 lakh for five-year UG graduates and INR 6 lakh for four-year UG graduates.

  • Agriculture: The flagship B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture degree takes 5 years and has ICAR accreditation.
  • Veterinary and Animal Husbandry: B.V.Sc. and A.H. includes full clinical training over 5.5 years.
  • Allied agricultural sciences: Students can choose B.Sc (Hons.) Horticulture, B.Sc (Hons.) Forestry, Bachelor of Fisheries Science (BFSc) or B.Tech Agricultural Engineering. Each lasts 4 years.
  • Basic Sciences: The 3-year B.Sc (Hons.) options cover Biotechnology, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Zoology and Community Science.
  • Postgraduate study: M.Sc degrees span more than 20 disciplines in agriculture, biology and related sciences. Other options are M.Tech Agricultural Engineering, M.V.Sc. and Master of Fisheries Science (MFSc).
  • Doctoral study: Ph.D programmes cover agriculture, veterinary science, forestry and basic sciences.
  • Diploma study: Agricultural Sciences, Animal Care, Fisheries Technology and Horticulture are the available diploma areas.

OUAT Important Dates

The tentative calendar for the 2027-28 admission cycle is listed below. The university usually issues its admission notification in February. Students should check the official OUAT admissions portal for admission notices and schedule updates.

EventDate
2027-28 application notification, tentativeFebruary 2027
2027-28 application deadline, tentativeApril 2027
OUAT Entrance Exam for 2027-28, tentativeJune 2027
2027-28 results and ranks, tentativeJuly 2027
2027-28 counselling, tentativeAugust 2027
Start of 2027-28 classes, tentativeSeptember 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

OUAT Courses, Eligibility and Fees

Students at OUAT can study agriculture, animal health, fisheries, forestry, agricultural engineering and basic sciences. Its government-regulated fees are among the more affordable options for professional agricultural education in India. The table separates total programme charges from the annual fee quoted for veterinary study. PCB means Physics, Chemistry and Biology; PCM means Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

CourseDurationEligibilityFee
B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture5 yearsClass 12 with PCB or PCM and 50%INR 2,55,120 total
B.V.Sc. and A.H.5.5 yearsClass 12 with PCB and 50%INR 1,07,350 per year
B.Sc (Hons.) Horticulture4 yearsClass 12 with PCB or PCM and 50%INR 1,21,160 total
B.Sc (Hons.) Forestry4 yearsClass 12 with PCB or PCM and 50%INR 1,21,160 total
Bachelor of Fisheries Science (BFSc)4 yearsClass 12 with PCB and 50%INR 1,21,160 total
B.Tech Agricultural Engineering4 yearsClass 12 with PCM and 50%INR 1,21,160 total
B.Sc (Hons.) Community Science3 yearsClass 12 in any stream with 50%INR 59,460 total
B.Sc (Hons.) Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Zoology and other basic science subjects3 yearsClass 12 Science with 45%INR 38,010 total
M.Sc Agronomy, Plant Pathology, Genetics, Soil Science and more than 15 other subjects2 yearsRelevant B.Sc degree with 55%INR 80,880 total
M.Tech Agricultural Engineering2 yearsB.Tech Agricultural Engineering with 55%INR 80,880 total
Diploma in Agricultural Sciences, Horticulture, Fisheries or Animal Care6 months to 1 yearClass 12 or an equivalent qualificationINR 9,750 total

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Boys and girls can apply for university hostel accommodation, which costs up to INR 34,150 a year. B.Sc Agriculture draws the most applicants, including students from Odisha and neighbouring states. Entry follows the merit system linked to the OUAT Entrance Exam.

OUAT Admission Procedure

OUAT uses a central admission system for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral study. Selection involves entrance examinations and counselling based on merit, with ICAR guidelines applying to agriculture and related professional degrees. The university's entrance examination tests agriculture, science and general aptitude. Postgraduate and doctoral selection runs separately from the undergraduate admission calendar.

Entrance Routes by Programme

The required test and selection method depend on the course group.

Programme GroupEntrance RouteTest or Selection Method
B.Sc Agriculture, B.Sc Horticulture, B.Sc Forestry, BFSc and B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, lasting 4 to 5 yearsOUAT Entrance ExamComputer-based examination in Bhubaneswar
B.V.Sc. and A.H.Veterinary stream of the OUAT Entrance ExamComputer-based examination
Three-year B.Sc Basic SciencesOUAT Entrance Exam or meritCounselling based on merit
M.Sc, M.Tech, MFSc and M.V.Sc.OUAT PG Entrance Test or ICAR-JRFUniversity counselling
Ph.DOUAT Ph.D Entrance Test or ICAR-SRF/JRFUniversity selection committee

Undergraduate Professional Degrees

Applicants for the four-year and five-year UG courses must have passed Class 12 with Physics and Chemistry, together with Biology or Mathematics as core subjects. General Category students need an aggregate of at least 50%; the requirement for SC/ST students is 45%. These courses include B.Sc Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, BFSc, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering and B.V.Sc. Applicants must take the annual OUAT Entrance Exam, usually held in June at centres across Odisha and selected other states.

Admission proceeds through these stages:

  • Complete the online application through the OUAT portal, ouat.nic.in.
  • Download the admit card and take the OUAT Entrance Exam.
  • Check the declared result and rank, which reflect entrance performance and merit.
  • Register for online counselling and enter course and college preferences.
  • After seat allotment, report to the assigned college.
  • Present the required documents for verification and confirm admission.

Three-Year Basic Science Degrees

The College of Basic Science and Humanities admits students to its three-year B.Sc (Hons.) courses through merit-based selection. Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Zoology, Microbiology, Biotechnology and Computer Science are available. A Class 12 Science qualification with at least 45% aggregate marks is required.

Postgraduate and Doctoral Degrees

For postgraduate entry, students need a relevant B.Sc degree with at least 55% marks. OUAT holds a separate PG Entrance Test and allocates seats through merit counselling. Students who qualify for ICAR-JRF or ICAR-SRF receive weightage in selection.

Ph.D applicants must hold a postgraduate degree with 55% marks. They must also qualify in the OUAT Research Entrance Test or have a valid ICAR fellowship score.

OUAT Placement Figures and Careers

Career options after OUAT include agricultural businesses, food processing, veterinary work, government service and research. Its links with ICAR and Odisha's agricultural development programmes support these routes. The NIRF 2025 placement figures below give the median salary, or the middle salary when offers are arranged by value. LPA means lakh rupees per year.

Programme CategoryMedian Annual Salary, NIRF 2025Career Options
Five-year UG group: B.Sc Agriculture and B.V.Sc.INR 10.16 LPAGovernment agricultural services, multinational agricultural businesses, ICAR research and private practice
Four-year UG group: B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, BFSc, B.Sc Horticulture and ForestryINR 6 LPAFood processing, fisheries, forestry services and irrigation engineering
Three-year UG group: B.Sc Basic SciencesINR 4.80 LPATeaching, competitive examinations and further study through M.Sc or research

Major employment destinations include Odisha government agricultural departments, ICAR institutes, agricultural input businesses, food processing companies and banks offering agricultural credit. Further study is another common route for B.Sc Agriculture graduates. Students pursue M.Sc or Ph.D degrees at institutions such as ICAR-IARI, ICAR-IIHR and IARI New Delhi, or take the ICAR-JRF examination.

OUAT National Rankings

NIRF has regularly recognised OUAT in Agriculture and Allied Sectors, placing it among eastern India's leading state agricultural universities. Its 2025 position was its best ranking up to that year.

Ranking OrganisationField2025 Position and Score
NIRFAgriculture and Allied SectorsRank 19; score 56.61

With its 19th rank, OUAT falls within the top 50% of agricultural institutions ranked by NIRF. It also holds the highest position among Odisha's state agricultural universities.

OUAT Campus Facilities

The 200-acre Bhubaneswar campus brings together the College of Agriculture, the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, and the College of Basic Science and Humanities. OUAT's other constituent colleges include those at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi and Chiplima in Sambalpur.

The central library's collection includes 97,589 books. Its 155 journal subscriptions comprise 45 foreign and 110 Indian journals. Practical learning facilities include crop research stations, fisheries research units, animal science facilities and veterinary clinics. Students also use soil science and biotechnology laboratories and equipment for post-harvest technology. Field farms and experimental plots form part of B.Sc Agriculture training, allowing students to practise crop management.

Separate hostels for boys and girls provide space for 3,030 students. Rooms accommodate one, two, three or four students, and annual hostel charges reach up to INR 34,150. Other campus facilities include a central cafeteria, an auditorium, sports facilities and a health centre.

OUAT Scholarships and Fellowships

Financial support at OUAT includes merit scholarships, category-based assistance and research fellowships. Several schemes specifically support students studying agriculture, veterinary science and related subjects.

Scholarship or FellowshipWho Can ApplySupport Available
ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)Postgraduate students who qualify in the ICAR-JRF examinationINR 25,000 per month, plus contingency support for research expenses
Odisha State Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC studentsSC, ST and OBC students who meet the qualifying-examination marks requirementFee reimbursement and a maintenance allowance under Odisha government rules
NSP Post-Matric ScholarshipsMinority, SC/ST and OBC students meeting the 50% marks requirement and income limitINR 10,000 to INR 82,000 a year, depending on the course and category
OUAT University Merit ScholarshipStudents with top results in the OUAT Entrance Exam or annual university examinationsFull or partial tuition fee waiver under university rules

Research students supported through ICAR-SRF, DBT-JRF or CSIR-JRF can receive additional research fellowships. Enrolled students and faculty also have free access to digital agricultural research literature through the ICAR e-Granth portal.

Comparing OUAT, KAU and Birsa Agricultural University

Students from eastern India considering an agricultural degree often look at OUAT alongside Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) and Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Ranchi. Their course lengths, locations and research areas offer useful points of comparison.

Comparison PointOUAT, BhubaneswarKerala Agricultural UniversityBirsa Agricultural University, Ranchi
Year founded196219711981
StateOdishaKeralaJharkhand
NIRF Agriculture position, 202519RankedRanked
NAAC statusA+AccreditedAccredited
Main degreeB.Sc Agriculture, 5 yearsB.Sc Agriculture, 4 yearsB.Sc Agriculture, 4 years
B.Sc Agriculture feeINR 2,55,120 for 5 yearsSet under state regulationsSet under state regulations
Research strengthsRice research, geographical indication (GI) protection work and ICAR linksSpices, plantation crops and research focused on the Western GhatsTribal farming in eastern India and forestry

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Rice variety development and agricultural technology suited to eastern India's climate and growing conditions are major areas of OUAT's work. KAU concentrates on Kerala's needs through research in spices, coconut and plantation crops. At BAU, the focus includes dryland farming and the agricultural practices of tribal communities in Jharkhand and nearby states. For students in Odisha and neighbouring areas, OUAT is commonly the first choice for a professional agriculture degree.

OUAT Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. Where did OUAT stand nationally in the 2025 agriculture rankings?

Ans. A score of 56.61 placed OUAT 19th in NIRF's 2025 Agriculture and Allied Sectors category. Among state agricultural universities in Odisha, it held the highest rank.

Ques. Which steps must a student complete to enter OUAT's B.Sc Agriculture course?

Ans. Students first need Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and either Biology or Mathematics, with at least 50% marks. They must then take the OUAT Entrance Exam, held each year in June. Counselling follows in August, and seats are allocated using entrance ranks and the applicable category reservations.

Ques. How much should a General Category B.Sc Agriculture student budget for the degree and hostel?

Ans. The five-year B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture degree has a total General Category fee of INR 2,55,120. Hostel charges can reach INR 34,150 per year. Odisha government fee concessions and NSP scholarship assistance are available to eligible SC/ST and OBC students.

Ques. What salaries and employment routes are recorded for OUAT's professional UG graduates?

Ans. NIRF 2025 records a median annual salary of INR 10.16 LPA for the five-year UG group covering B.Sc Agriculture and B.V.Sc. The four-year group, comprising B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, BFSc, B.Sc Horticulture and Forestry, had a median of INR 6 LPA. Graduates work in Odisha government agricultural services, agricultural input companies, food processing businesses, ICAR institutes and banking.

Ques. What can students study at OUAT beyond an agriculture degree?

Ans. Veterinary study is available through the 5.5-year B.V.Sc. and A.H. degree. Other professional options lasting 4 years are B.Sc Horticulture, B.Sc Forestry, BFSc and B.Tech Agricultural Engineering. The 3-year basic science B.Sc courses cover Botany, Chemistry, Zoology, Mathematics, Physics, Microbiology, Biotechnology and Computer Science. At postgraduate level, M.Sc study spans more than 20 agricultural and science disciplines.

Ques. Which OUAT facilities and achievements support students interested in research?

Ans. ICAR accreditation and active research stations across Odisha support the university's research work. OUAT has developed several crop varieties, including Kalinga rice and ginger cultivars with geographical indication (GI) recognition. After earning their degree, graduates can qualify through ICAR-JRF for funded research fellowships at OUAT or leading ICAR institutes.