Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) is a university for the study of agriculture and is located at Thrissur, Kerala in India. Formed in 1971, KAU is accredited by the University Grants Commission and boasts of an NAAC ‘A’ grade. According to the NIRF rankings of 2023, KAU stood at the 36th position among the agricultural universities in INDIA. KAU is a premier university of agriculture and its related fields encompassing education, research and extension. With more than 300 faculty members spread across seven campuses, KAU has brought revolutionary changes in various segments including spice research, rice technology, and coconut yields.
KAU has the following schools that provide both undergraduate and postgraduate programs The school of Agriculture The school of Forestry The school of Agricultural Engineering The school of Food Science and Agriculture The school of Home Science and Textiles among others. In the academic calendar year 2024, admission to the school will start from May 2024. Depending on the specialization chosen, the students are required to write the state or national examination, if any. Application forms will be available at the university website starting early March 2024. Some of the exams are planned to take place in June next year, 2024. Selected candidates then have to attend counselling sessions for admission for the relevant course/program. Seating subject to the government reservation rules and regulations.
The placements at KAU in particular have been reporting a rising growth rate in the recent past. It was observed that more than 80 companies have visited the campus for placement process in 2022 in which maximum salary offer made was Rs 32,00,000 per annum. Some key companies which recruit candidates include Rallis India, UPL Chemicals Ltd, ICICI Bank, Federal Bank Ltd, NABARD, NAFED and various state government departments. This is because more than seventy-five percent of the eligible students secured placements in reputed firms. The salary offered to the students was moderate to low with the average salary package varying between 5-7 lakhs per annum. The institute also has a training and placement cell; the faculty conducts training sessions for the development of employability skills. The university has created vast network of linkages with industries and opening years has set a target for 100% placements in the coming years.
Kerala Agricultural University Highlights 2024
| Feature |
Detail |
| University Short Name |
KAU |
| Institute Type |
State University |
| Established |
1971 |
| Accepted Entrance Exams |
CEE (UG), Individual university exams (PG) |
| Approved By |
ICAR |
| NAAC Grade |
YES, A+ |
| Last Year NIRF Ranking (Overall) |
151 |
| Complete Address |
Kerala Agricultural University, P.O. Mannuthy, Thrissur - 680 651, Kerala, India |
| Nearest Bus Stand |
Mannuthy Bus Stand |
| Nearest Railway Station |
Thrissur Railway Station (Thrissur Pooram) |
| Nearest Airport |
Cochin International Airport (Nedumbassery) |
| Campus Area Size |
340 acres |
| Library Books |
Over 2 lakh volumes |
| Total Faculty Size |
Around 500 |
| Total Student Size |
Around 3,000 |
Kerala Agricultural University Eligibility Criteria 2024 (by Departments)
| Program Category |
Eligibility Criteria |
| Undergraduate (B.Sc. Hons.) (4 years) |
1. Pass Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry & Biology (min. 50% marks) OR NSQF Agri Stream (min. 50% marks in PCB & Ag) |
|
2. Secure qualifying marks in NEET UG conducted by NTA. |
|
3. Apply online through KEAM (Commissioner for Entrance Examinations). |
| Master's (M.Sc.) (2 years) |
1. Bachelor's degree in relevant Agriculture/Science field (min. marks vary). |
|
2. Minimum OGPA requirement for KAU graduates (varies by program & category). |
|
3. Graduates from other universities may need entrance exam conducted by KAU. |
|
4. 15% UG seats reserved for ICAR candidates (filled through ICAR AIEEA). |
| Diploma (1- 3 years) |
1. Pass Class 10th with minimum marks (varies by program). |
|
2. Selection through entrance exam conducted by KAU. |
| Ph.D. |
1. Master's degree in relevant field with minimum qualifying marks. |
|
2. Fulfill research eligibility criteria set by department. |
|
3. Qualify in KAU conducted entrance exam (if applicable). |
| PG Diploma (1-2 years) |
1. Bachelor's degree in relevant field with minimum marks (varies by program). |
|
2. Selection through entrance exam conducted by KAU. |
Kerala Agricultural University Courses Details 2024
Kerala Agricultural University, a varieties of courses related to agricultural sciences are available at UG, PG and Ph.D. Level. Degree, diploma and certificate courses are carried out by colleges of agriculture, agricultural engineering, forestry, horticulture, veterinary and animal sciences and colleges of cooperatives.
This level offers BSc in specializations such as Agriculture, Food Technology, Forestry, Cooperation and Banking and Diploma and Certificates. Postgraduate work focuses on MSc and MTech degrees, which take 2 years and offer specializations in Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, and Soil Science. Apart from class work, PG programmes have a research component. There are also post graduate programs like the Doctor of Philosophy or the PhD for those interested in higher research.
| Course |
Duration |
Fees (in INR) |
| Bachelor of Science in Agriculture |
4 years |
25000 |
| Agricultural Science and Engineering B. Tech |
4 years |
50,000 |
| Postgraduate degree – MSc Horticulture |
2years |
30,000 |
| Master of Science in Animal Husbandry |
2 years |
25000 |
| Agricultural Economics |
3 years |
40,000 |
Kerala Agricultural University Placements 2024
Kerala Agricultural University follows a tradition of placement process and many national and multinational companies get attracted to it. Eighty plus organizations across the domains of agribusiness, information technology, microbiology and others actively engage in placements. According to the placement statistics of the institute, out of the 1,812 students who underwent campus placements in 2020 and had registered for placements, 90% secured the job offer. Tata group offered the maximum number of candidates of total offered candidates while Reliance industries limited was second in offering the candidates. This was contingent on the average package of ?6 lakh per annum. The highest package being ?29 lakh per annum for students was offered by the Adani Group. As many as 25 percent of the students said the amount they get is more than ?10 lakh per annum in the form of packages. The qualified candidates and the variety of opportunities are the reasons why recruiters consider Kerala Agricultural University as the primary choice.
Kerala Agricultural University Placements by Category
| Course Category |
Highest Salary Package |
Average Salary Package |
| B.Tech Agricultural Engineering |
?12,00,000 |
?6,00,000 |
| M.Tech Agricultural Engineering |
?15,00,000 |
?7,50,000 |
| MBA Agribusiness |
?12,00,000 |
?6,50,000 |