TNAU Ph.D Fruit Science: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. TNAU conducts a single Common PG Entrance Examination for all its doctoral programmes, held physically at the Coimbatore campus. The exam is 100 marks in total: 75 marks from the respective subject (Fruit Science/Horticulture), 15 marks from General Agriculture, and 10 marks from Aptitude. There is no separate subject-wise exam. Candidates from other states who have qualified the ICAR-AICE JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) exam and secured a seat through ICAR counselling are admitted separately and do not need to appear for the TNAU entrance exam.

Ans. No. TNAU strictly requires that both the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees must be from a State Agricultural University (SAU), ICAR Institute, Central Agricultural University, or Government Aided Agricultural College. Degrees from general universities, deemed universities, or private universities not recognized under this category are not accepted. This is a critical eligibility condition and is verified during document scrutiny before the hall ticket is issued.

Ans. The research in Ph.D. (Fruit Science) at TNAU covers a wide range of areas including evaluation and improvement of mango, banana, guava, sapota, and other tropical and subtropical fruit crops; molecular breeding and genetic characterization; post-harvest management and value addition; biotic and abiotic stress management in fruit crops; and crop production technologies. Past thesis topics have included evaluation of open-pollinated mango seedling progenies for quantitative and qualitative characters, and research on molecular markers for fruit crop improvement. Students are assigned a faculty Chairman who guides the research, and the thesis work begins after the first year of coursework.

Ans. The ICAR JRF/SRF fellowship is disbursed through the Comptroller to the Dean (SPGS), who then processes payments to the students. To avail the fellowship, students must submit the ICAR fellowship award letter, monthly attendance certificate, semester report card, bank account details, and bills for contingency expenditure (duly signed by the student, PG Coordinator, and Head of Department). The fellowship amount is ₹31,000/month for the first two years (JRF) and ₹35,000/month for the third year (SRF), along with ₹10,000/year as contingency. Students receiving ICAR fellowship cannot simultaneously receive any other scholarship or fellowship from TNAU or other sources.

Ans. Hostel accommodation at TNAU is not guaranteed and is subject to availability. The university has separate hostels for boys and girls with Wi-Fi, reading rooms, and dining facilities. Students who are allotted hostel accommodation are required to join the mess. Mess charges range from ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per month depending on the menu and usage. The hostel infrastructure charge of ₹1,815 per semester is included in the academic fee structure. Students who are not allotted hostel accommodation need to arrange private accommodation near the campus in Coimbatore.

Ans. Ph.D. (Fruit Science) graduates from TNAU have secured positions across diverse sectors. Alumni have been placed as Assistant Director of Horticulture in state government departments, Assistant Professors in agricultural universities and private institutions, and Agricultural Officers in state cooperative banks. Other career avenues include research scientist positions at ICAR institutes (such as NRC for Banana, NRC for Grapes, IIHR), faculty positions at SAUs, and roles in agri-input companies, export-oriented horticulture firms, and international agricultural research organizations. The strong research training and ICAR-accredited curriculum at TNAU significantly enhances employability in both public and private sectors.