Kerala Agriculture University
In this article, we are discussing about the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), covering its campus, departments, faculties, courses, admission criteria, student intake, rankings, and innovation initiatives:
Overview of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU)
- Established: 1971
- Location: Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala
- Type: State University
- Approvals: UGC, ICAR, AICTE
- NIRF Ranking:
- 15th in Agriculture and Allied Sectors
- 51–100 band among State Public Universities
- 151–200 band in the overall university category
Campus and Infrastructure
KAU’s main campus in Thrissur is well-equipped with:
- Hostels for boys and girls
- Central library with digital access
- Laboratories and research centres
- Sports complex and gym
- Auditorium with advanced acoustics
- Cafeteria and medical facilities
Departments and Faculties
KAU comprises multiple faculties:
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Forestry
- Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology
It operates:
- 7 colleges
- 15 research stations
- 16 research & extension units
- Academy for Climate Change Adaptation
- Institute of Agricultural Technology
Courses Offered
KAU offers a wide range of programs:
Undergraduate (UG)
- B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Climate Change, Co-operation & Banking.
- B.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering, Food Technology.
- Integrated B.Sc.-M.Sc. in Biology, Microbiology, and Biotechnology.
Postgraduate (PG)
- M.Sc. in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Environmental Science, Climate Science, Co-operation & Banking.
- M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering, Food Processing, Soil & Water Conservation.
- MBA in Agribusiness Management.
Diplomas & PG Diplomas
- Agricultural Mechanisation, Organic Agriculture, Soil Fertility, Solid Waste Management, Bioinformatics, Horticultural Therapy, etc.
Doctoral (Ph.D.)
- Specialisations across Agriculture, Forestry, Agricultural Engineering, Community Science, and more.
Admission Criteria & Deadlines
UG Admissions
- Based on the KEAM (Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical) entrance exam.
- Conducted by CEE Kerala
- Eligibility: 10+2 with 50% in PCM/B subjects.
PG Admissions
- Based on KAU’s own entrance test + Personal Interview.
- Eligibility: Relevant UG degree with a minimum 55%.
MBA Admissions
- Entrance exams accepted: KMAT, CAT, CMAT, MAT.
- Followed by GD & PI.
Ph.D. Admissions
- Based on qualifying degree performance + PI.
- National-level exams like ICAR-NET or GATE may be required.
Application Mode: Online
Application Fee: ₹1000
Deadlines: Vary by program; UG typically in July, PG in August.
Student Intake
- UG Intake: ~3080 students
- PG Intake: ~560 students
- B.Tech Agricultural Engineering: 40 seats
- B.Tech Food Technology: 30 seats
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Climate Change & Environmental Sciences: 30 seats.
Placements & Career Support
- Placement cell organises seminars, industrial visits, and campus drives
- Recruiters include: Amazon, TCS, Infosys, Cognizant, Canara Bank, HDFC, SBI, and ICICI.
- Median PG salary: ₹5.37 LPA.
- Placement rate: ~66.67% for PG programs.
Startups & Innovations
KAU actively promotes:
- Entrepreneurship training for students and local communities
- Technology transfer through research stations
- Innovation in climate-resilient agriculture, organic farming, and post-harvest technologies
- Collaborations with national and international institutions for R&D.