Agriculture

What to expect

Getting a degree in agriculture

What to expect

Agriculture students are a small but varied group. All agriculture courses are concerned with animal and plant products and related industries. However, the focus of different courses could vary from practical, technical, scientific or managerial.

This is essentially a vocational field so most specialisations (see below) will prepare you for work in relevant jobs and industries.

Getting a degree in agriculture

Visit the University Ratings section for agriculture course ratings.

Courses and Specialisations

The range of specialisations in agriculture courses is as broad as the resultant career paths. While subjects like winemaking, horticulture, or forestry and fisheries may be self-explanatory, others such as arboriculture (the cultivation of trees and shrubs) or agronomy (the applied study of soil science and plant sciences) may be less clear. We recommend careful research into all available courses, specialisations and agriculture careers so that you find the best fit for you.

Which course is for you?

A typical study path in agriculture may focus on:

• a particular occupational area in agriculture, such as animal husbandry, timber harvesting or winemaking
• a broader or more scientific approach, such as plant genetics, animal or soil science
• a management perspective on a particular agricultural sub-sector, such as forestry management, or on the commercial aspects generally, such as agribusiness or rural marketing.

All agriculture courses cover, at least to some degree, the practical side of the agricultural industries. Some courses are more suitable if you’re good at science, while others may be better for business-minded students.

The variation in focus makes course choice very important. Look at the title of the course but also the course outline to make sure you get what you want. The best of them will usually balance a focus on the basic science or business with the ‘nitty gritty’ of industry production, process and technology.

If your course or specialisation aims to prepare you for a particular occupation (e.g. arboriculture) make sure it offers plenty of practical work.

Getting in

Depending on the level of study undertaken (some universities offer both VET and university qualifications in agriculture), there may be no formal prerequisites, but bachelor entry might require subjects like English, maths and various science disciplines.

On average, agriculture courses are easy to get into. However, entry difficulty is likely to vary between courses, institutions and even campuses.

Where to study

Courses in agriculture are scattered widely across the country; many are at regional universities, or at rural campuses of metropolitan universities. Some institutions are in small, isolated areas where almost everyone lives on campus.

Regardless of their size or location, all institutions make good use of their surrounding area for agriculture education, giving students the chance to work on institution-owned farms and other local spots to build their practical skills.

In addition to off-campus practical learning, many institutions have some great facilities that simulate the industry environment or projects: expect to find anything from indoor riding arenas, abattoirs, swamps, farms and vineyards. Pay particular attention to the facilities relevant to your desired specialisation and make sure they compare well with those offered through alternative courses. Note that some specialisations will be better suited to study in particular parts of the country (e.g. tropical agriculture in the north).

Careers for agriculture degree graduates

The range of agriculture roles (and specialisations) is wide, but whether they are in a ‘hands on’ production role, an advisory or management role, or research and consultancy role, the purpose and outcome of agriculturalists’ work is typically centred around primary industries such as forestry, dairy, cattle, any type of livestock and crop management industries, or other niche industries such as horticulture or wine.

Graduates of this field can work in policy and advice, in research or in hands-on occupations ranging from quarantine officer, vineyard/farm manager and animal nutritionist to marketing officer, plant breeder and food processor. At university level, these small, specialised courses tend to attract enthusiasts who are generally satisfied with the teaching, the skills they gain and the overall experience according to the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey. Women are no longer in the minority, and now make up just over half of the student body. Employment prospects were above average in 2009, with only 21 per cent of graduates still seeking full-time employment several months after completing their studies. The average starting salary for graduates is below average compared with other fields, sitting at $44,576 in 2009.

For more information

For more information check out the National Farmers’ Federation website .

Other fields of study likely to appeal to someone interested in agriculture include environmental studies , science , and business and management .

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