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Studies & Degrees in Applied Plant Science

Applied plant science uses plant biology to solve practical problems: growing more and better food, protecting crops from pests and diseases, breeding new varieties and managing land in a sustainable way. It differs from botany, which studies plants for their own sake, in that it starts from a use: a crop, a greenhouse, an orchard, a pasture or a city garden. Related names for the same area are crop science, agronomy, horticulture and plant protection.

Students combine laboratory science with field work. The University of British Columbia (UBC), for example, describes its Plant Science graduate programme as advanced study in applied plant biology, covering plant production, plant protection, plant biotechnology, plant physiology and biochemistry, and plant-environment interaction. Within these areas students can specialise in subjects such as plant breeding, vegetable culture, ornamental horticulture, post-harvest physiology, plant diseases, weed control or the biological control of pests.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. Usually three or four years, often under a broader name such as agriculture, applied biology, botany or plant biology. At UBC the four-year Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology has a Sustainable Agriculture and Environment programme in which students can focus on agricultural production, agro-ecosystem management, or plant or soil science.
  • Master's degree. Most programmes with "applied plant science" or "plant science" in the title are at this level and are built around a research thesis. UBC's M.Sc. in Plant Science requires a thesis of 12 or 18 credits plus coursework, for a total of 30 credits.
  • Doctorate. A PhD is the usual route into research and university teaching.
  • Short postgraduate courses. Some universities offer specialised diplomas. The University of Madras lists postgraduate diplomas in the taxonomy of algae and the taxonomy of fungi.

Credit systems differ between countries: the UBC credits above are Canadian credits, not ECTS. If you need the degree recognised at home, ask the university and the authority in your country before you enrol.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists three active schools for applied plant science, one each in Canada, India and the United States. Teaching is in English at UBC, and the Canadian programme asks international applicants for an English test.

University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver. Applicants to the M.Sc. in Plant Science normally hold a B.Sc. in plant science or a related area. The graduate school tells applicants to have a supervisor confirmed before applying, asks for three references and does not require the GRE. Applicants from universities where English is not the main language need a test such as IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5. For the September 2027 intake, applications open on 15 September 2026 and close on 1 February 2027. First-year tuition is listed as $5,738.52 for domestic students and $10,081.65 for international students (Canadian dollars, as published in October 2026). Research facilities include the UBC Farm, the UBC Botanical Garden, an on-campus field laboratory of 8.1 hectares and greenhouses.

University of Madras, Chennai. The Centre for Advanced Study in Botany began as the University Botany Laboratory in 1930 and was made a Centre for Advanced Studies by India's University Grants Commission in 1964, in recognition of its work in plant pathology and mycology. It names algology, mycology and plant pathology as its main areas and offers an M.Sc. in Botany, an M.Phil and a PhD. The M.Sc. asks for a B.Sc. in Botany or in Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology with at least second class (55 percent). The syllabus and fees were not on the department's page in October 2026; ask the university.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. The third school listed for this subject. Check its graduate programme pages for the current degree names, entry requirements and fees.

Careers

Graduates work as agronomists, plant breeders, crop protection advisers, greenhouse and nursery managers, seed and food company researchers, extension officers and government inspectors. Some titles are regulated: UBC notes that its applied biology graduates may go on to earn designations such as Professional Agrologist with the BC Institute of Agrologists.

For the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counts 19,900 soil and plant scientists in 2025 among 37,400 agricultural and food scientists, and projects overall employment in the group to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. According to the BLS, these scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree, and employers may prefer or require a master's or doctoral degree. Food manufacturing is the largest employer of the group, with 18 percent of jobs. Figures for other countries differ.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between botany and applied plant science?

Botany studies plants as organisms. Applied plant science uses that knowledge for crop production, plant protection, breeding and land management.

Do I need a bachelor's degree in plant science to start a master's?

A related science degree is usually accepted. UBC states that students admitted to its M.Sc. normally hold a B.Sc. in plant science or a related area; the University of Madras asks for a B.Sc. in Botany or in Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology.

Is a thesis required?

In research master's programmes, yes. At UBC the thesis counts for 12 or 18 of the 30 credits.

Do I need to find a supervisor before applying?

For thesis-based programmes this is common. UBC tells applicants to contact faculty members and have a supervisor confirmed before they apply.