Cuttack: Around 15,800 applications have been received for 1,324 seats in various postgraduate courses in Ravenshaw University this year.

The university offers postgraduate courses in around 30 subjects.

Coordinator of the university's admission committee Dharmabrata Mohapatra said: "About 30 applicants are jostling for each seat in the postgraduate courses in commerce, physics, chemistry, zoology and botany."

The university authorities are conducting entrance examinations for admission to all the postgraduate courses. The entrance examinations started on Tuesday and will continue till May 28.

"The entrance test results will be published during first week of June," the admission committee co-ordinator said.

The varsity has introduced postgraduate courses in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, business economics, yoga, clinical biochemistry and medical biotechnology from this year. It has also introduced courses in subjects, such as public health ethics, social history of medicine and tribal rights and policy ethics.

"Almost all the new programmes have attracted satisfactory number of applications," Mohapatra said.

There are 16 self-financing postgraduate seats each in analytical chemistry and biochemistry with an annual fee of Rs 40,000 each, 32 seats in yoga with annual fee of Rs 30,000 and 20 seats in clinical biochemistry and medical biotechnology with an annual fee of Rs 50,000.

While announcing the new courses, vice-chancellor Ishan Patro had said that the courses were selected as part of the university's objective to introduce innovative courses aimed at ensuring that the graduates go back and earn their livelihood on their own without having to depend on employers.

The university plans to hire yoga experts and leading yoga trainers for students pursuing the yoga course. The campus has a state-of-the-art sports complex and a yoga centre.