Student Interest in Agriculture and Forestry University Increases as Entrance Exam Participation Rises

Chitwan, Sept. 20: The number of students seeking admission to undergraduate programmes at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) has increased this year, with more candidates appearing for the entrance examination compared to the previous academic session.

According to AFU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rishiram Kattel, a total of 1,687 students appeared for the entrance examination held today, compared to 1,508 candidates last year. The university conducted the examination simultaneously at six locations across the country.

In previous years, the entrance examination was held only in Kathmandu, Hetauda and Rampur, Chitwan. This year, 568 candidates appeared from Rampur, 706 from Kathmandu, 65 from Hetauda, 145 from Itahari, 91 from Janakpur and 112 from Nepalgunj. A total of 1,801 students had submitted application forms, while 114 applicants did not appear for the examination.

The university has a total capacity of 1,254 undergraduate students, including 854 seats across its central and constituent campuses and 400 seats at eight affiliated private colleges. The total intake also includes 12 foreign students, who are not required to sit for the entrance examination.

Vice-Chancellor Kattel said the rise in the number of applicants is expected to help fill seats at the university’s constituent and affiliated private campuses. Last year, five of the university’s eight constituent campuses could not enroll new students due to a shortage of applicants, while eight affiliated private colleges also remained closed after failing to attract sufficient students.

Kattel said the university plans to develop constituent campuses that do not receive enough students as centres for research, innovation and extension services. He added that if seats remain vacant, another entrance examination would be conducted within 21 days.

According to Kattel, the university conducted an extensive nationwide publicity campaign and expanded the entrance examination to six locations this year. He attributed the growing interest among students to improvements in academic quality following curriculum revisions.

Agriculture and Forestry University offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in agriculture, veterinary science and animal husbandry, fisheries science and forestry.

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Sundar Tiwari said applications had been received from five foreign students from India and Bangladesh. The university also expects additional international students to arrive through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A total of 12 foreign students are scheduled to enroll at the university in the current academic session, including five in agriculture, three in veterinary science, one in fisheries science and three in forestry.