Bhubaneswar, June 10: There is a huge demand for physics and commerce courses among students in Utkal University.

“A subject such as physics is pure science and usually the best students are drawn towards it. Students prefer Utkal University for its quality of teaching, experienced faculty and advanced laboratories. Our students are now across the world in the field of research and have earned a name for the varsity. So it is not a surprise that the number of applicants are increasing,” said postgraduate council chairman G.K. Panda.

After physics, commerce is the most sought after course. University placement officer Sarit Panda said that the record number of placements in this department had been the reason behind the rush.

“Students are offered jobs even before they complete their course. Banking, insurance and other financial sectors visit our campus and are quite keen to take our students. In the past, companies such as the Capital IQ, Aditya Birla, Axis Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, ACC Cement and Asian paints have recruited students from the varsity,” said Panda.

There are 30 seats in physics and 48 seats in commerce.

“In order to keep pace with other universities, the department keeps upgrading its syllabus from time to time. Besides, we have better libraries where students can access latest works,” said senior faculty of the commerce department Samson Moharana.

Apart from physics and commerce, there is also a demand for chemistry, economics and personnel management and industrial relations.

Authorities said that improvements in the e-admission system had been made this year.

“The payment system has been made online. Unlike last year when students were required to make two drafts each, this year provisions have been made for online payments. This has helped the students. The varsity, too, saves a lot of time and effort,” said the chairman.

Chandrashekhar Biswal, a former students of the varsity, who is handling the e-admission, said: “We studied the queries made by students on the e-admission help line during the previous years and incorporated the required changes in the system. The queries this time have considerably dropped,” he said.

Admissions into 27 postgraduate, sponsored and MPhil courses began from June 5 and will continue till June 28. The entrance tests for various courses have been scheduled from July 9 to July 19.