Are you the type of person who enjoys spending time in nature? Do the various biodiversity of plants intrigue your interest, and can you spend long hours researching and understanding different components of our environment? Then you can turn your interest in botany into a career.
Learn how to become a botanist, what subjects to study, which colleges to attend, and much more by reading the blog.
Who is a Botanist?
Botanists are scientists who study the biology of plants, fungi, and other organisms like lichens and algae. Botanists can record the effects of human activity on the environment through the study of plants, as well as the way plants breed and grow, as well as the structure and genetic make-up of various species.
Learn more: Career as a Botanist
How to become a Botanist [Step by Step]
Step 1: Stream Selection
To become a botanist, you should pursue a science degree that includes physics, chemistry, and biology after your 10th grade
Step 2: Educational Qualification
To become a botanist, you can pursue courses at the undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral levels. Botany courses of interest include BSc Botany, MSc Botany, and PhD Botany. Botany courses are admitted based on a merit list or an entrance examination.
(I) How to become a Botanist after 10th
To pursue botany as a career, you must complete your 10 + 2 in the science stream with biology. After completing your bachelor’s degree in botany, you can pursue one-year diploma courses.
- Top Colleges for Diploma in Botany
COLLEGE | LOCATION |
MSU | Baroda |
Lovely Professional University | Jalandhar |
Christ University | Banglore |
Jamia Hamdard | New Delhi |
University of Delhi | Delhi |
Aligarh Muslim University | UP |
Ravenshaw University | Cuttack |
(II) How to become a Botanist after 12th
After completing class 10+2, one must pass an entrance examination and complete a three-year undergraduate course.
To become a Botanist, you must first complete a BSc Botany or BSc Botany (Hons) undergraduate course, and then pursue a postgraduate or doctoral degree to gain expertise before embarking on a career as a Botanist.
- Top Undergraduate college for Botany in India
COLLEGE | LOCATION |
Hindu College | New Delhi |
Miranda House | New Delhi |
Madras Christain College | Chennai |
Hansraj College | New Delhi |
Presidency College | Chennai |
Fergusson College | Pune |
St. Xaviers College | Mumbai |
PSG College of Arts and Science | Coimbatore |
Christ University | Banglore |
How to become a Botanist Abroad
You can pursue a Bsc in Botany or a Botany Hons. degree from a well-known university that offers the same course for 3 to 4 years depending on the university you wish to enroll in.
The exact course structure and content of plant science programs will vary depending on the university you attend.
Admission is based on the college’s entrance exams as well as other basic standard tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, and so on.
- Top University for Botany abroad
COLLEGE | LOCATION |
Uppsala University | Sweden |
Hillsdale College | USA |
University of California | USA |
University of Salford | UK |
University of Vienna | Austria |
University of Sydney | Australia |
University of Queensland | Australia |
Miami University | USA |
Also read: How to become a Meteorologist
Step 3: Certification Courses
Certification courses help you gain a thorough understanding of the subject and provide you with an advantage and experience over others.
Check out the below certification courses you can pursue in Botany
COURSE | DURATION |
Understanding Plants | 1-3 months |
Basic Light Microscopy | 2 months |
Plant Identification | 3 months |
Introduction to plant cell and tissue culture | 2-3 months |
Step 4: Job Prep required
- Internships are a common way for students to gain valuable work experience. Internships can help you learn more about the field in which you want to work.
- Create a new résumé or revise an old one. Include information about your work history, extracurricular activities, and volunteer experiences.
- Prepare for your interview so you can feel comfortable throughout. Learn more about the company and conduct research on common interview questions to assist you in preparing your own responses.
- Investigate the field’s duties and responsibilities based on your skill set and preference for a specific area of expertise.
Skills required to become a Botanist
- Research and analytical skills.
- Critical evaluation skills.
- Communication skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Logical thinking.
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Top recruiters of Botanist in India
- Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH.
- Wildlife Institute of India.
- Forest Research Institute.
- Union Public Service Commission.
- GBPIHED Recruitment For Research Associate (Botany)
- Bombay Natural History Society.
Types of Botany Jobs
Botany is such a broad subject that there are numerous job fields to choose from if you want to pursue a career in it. Some of the most popular job and career opportunities for Botany graduates are as follows:
- Naturalist
- Biotechnologist
- Molecular Biologist
- Computational Biologist
- Nursery Manager
- Plant Geneticist
- Field Botanist
- Scientific Assistant
- Researcher
- Professor
- Plant Pathologist
- Ecologist
- Plant Biochemist
Salary of Botanist in different countries
An entry-level Botanist with less than 1-year of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of ₹508,682. An early career Botanist with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of ₹500,000
We hope you have gained a valuable understanding of how to become a botanist. That is all we have for now; please come back for more similar content.
FAQs about how to become a Botanist
Which botanist job role has the highest pay?
Botanists with high-paying jobs include plant geneticists and plant physiologists.
Which undergraduate degree would a candidate prefer if they wanted to be a botanist?
Students should be advised to take entrance exams administered by top universities/colleges in order to gain admission to the BSc botany course, which is most popular among candidates aspiring to be botanists.
What is the average salary of an Indian botanist?
The average annual salary of a botanist in India is between 3-6 lakh rupees.
What are the entrance tests available after 10+2 for taking admission in BSc Botany?
Some of the popular entrance exams conducted by the various universities are:
BIT-SAT
MHT-CET
WB-JEE
What subjects must you study to become a botanist?
Students in 10th grade must study Physics, Chemistry, Biology (with or without math), and Undergraduate Botany books, which cover topics such as genetic engineering, plant anatomy, angiosperm anatomy, and so on.