Students aspiring to a career in the tea industry can now join an undergraduate course on tea science from this academic session, authorities of the North Bengal University (NBU) said on Thursday.

“For the first time in north Bengal, we are introducing tea science in the undergraduate level. Those who take admission will get a BSc degree in tea science and the three-year course will be taught on varsity campus itself. This is the first time any varsity in India, other than some agricultural universities, is offering such a course,” said Nupur Das, secretary of the undergraduate council of the NBU.

A student who has cleared Class XII with science subjects is eligible to apply. As of now, there will be 20 seats at the undergraduate level with five faculty members.

Pranab Ghosh, an advisory committee member of the course at the NBU, said students could learn “scientific aspects of tea cultivation and processing to the management of tea gardens”.

Students can also take up postgraduate course on the subject too. “In fact, we are offering a diploma on tea science at NBU,” Das added.