Bhubanesswar, June 11: The Sambalpur University has opened six postgraduate courses from this academic session.

The courses are - MSc in microbiology, MSc in medical physics, MSc in nano science, MTech in nanotechnology, MBA in agri business and MA in Sanskrit.

"These courses have been opened because of their demand. Each course has around 20 to 25 seats. The courses will be provided on self-financing basis," said vice-chancellor in charge of the varsity Biswajit Satpathy.

"A higher number of students are now interested to pursue higher education in core subjects. These new courses will provide good job opportunities to the students of our region," said Satpathy.

The vice-chancellor in-charge said he hoped that the new courses would get good response. While the postgraduate course in microbiology will run in the department of life science, that on medical physics will run in the department of physics.

The varsity's MBA department offers the postgraduate course in agri business. MSc in nano science and MTech in nanotechnology courses are run from the Nano Research Centre.

Satpathy also said the varsity planned to open integrated BEd and MEd from this academic session. "A team of the National Council for Teachers Education had visited the university recently to inspect the institution. They have submitted their report to the council," he said, hoping that the education body would approve the courses from this academic session.

Students, parents and teachers have welcomed the decision to open the new courses. "The university caters to the west Odisha districts. Thousands of students depend on the institution for higher studies. The launch of the courses will benefit the students of our region," said Prakash Dang, a student.

The Sambalpur University, spread over 628 acres, was established in 1967. Its present student strength is 1,800.