Diploma of Agribusiness (Z1A)

Overview  2025

Entry Requirements

See entry requirements

Duration

Minimum 1 Year, up to a maximum of 3 years.

Duration

Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Online
Semester 1, Semester 2

Commonwealth Supported places available

This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students

The Diploma of Agribusiness is an industry-focused course designed to help you develop your agricultural knowledge and business acumen to meet the growing demand for professionals in this field. Whether you’re currently working in agriculture and aiming to move into leadership or management roles, or looking to enter the industry, this course provides the foundation you need.

The Diploma of Agribusiness will prepare you to become a dynamic, creative, and adaptable practitioner with skills in high-level planning, resource allocation, distribution strategies, and technological innovation. Sustainability is a key focus throughout the course, encouraging you to address challenges through a lens of sustainable solutions.

You’ll study a combination of business topics, including management, finance, marketing, and planning, alongside technical agricultural studies.

Developed in consultation with industry experts, the course benefits from their active involvement in its delivery. Delivered online, the course allows you to balance study with work and family commitments while becoming part of a supportive community. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with peers, bringing together life and work experiences to build valuable networks for the future.

The Diploma is available online for full-time and part-time study - note there are optional field  trips.

Completing our Diploma of Agribusiness will give you a pathway into a great career in agriculture. It will help you develop a strong commercial awareness of agribusiness industries with the capability to apply business concepts in a contemporary agricultural practice. Your career opportunities are enhanced through the skills you learn with the potential to transition into further study, leadership and management.

  • 1 Analyse knowledge, skills, behaviours and attributes required to develop and enhance career opportunities in agribusiness
  • 2 Describe the application of business concepts for contemporary agriculture
  • 3 Reflect and communicate practical management approaches for changing agribusiness environments
  • 4 Use cognitive, creative and technical skills to enable agribusiness to be agile and adaptable in digital and innovative landscapes
  • Real World Experience

    The Diploma in Agribusiness is distinct in its authentic learning approach, utilising applied, blended, and online interaction to develop your knowledge and skills in your chosen field of study. You’ll be introduced to learning through experiential education and work integrated learning approaches that exposes you to authentic experiences. These project and problem-based experiences develop skills and understandings related to industry, community or global needs. Examples are field work, case studies (local and international), design thinking, simulated environments, placements and more.

    These approaches ensure practical experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment and that you can develop work-related skills, knowledge and behaviours. The range of methods and approaches develop skills and knowledge in understanding problems and developing solutions through active enquiry.

    2 x half to full day workshops per semester and 2 optional Course-wide field trips are conducted in the core unit Agribusiness Fundamentals.

    Become a Student Ambassador

    Improve your communication, teamwork and leadership skills, meet new people, inspire and help others, and developing lasting friendships and networks as a student ambassador. Our ambassadors proudly represent the University throughout Tasmania in schools, at University and community events, and support a range of recruitment and engagement activities.

    Though the Student Ambassador Program you will have many opportunities for training and professional development, experience in real-world community engagement and outreach, networking, and public speaking. Plus, end up with a key point of distinction on your CV.

    Career outcomes

    Career Outcomes

    The Food and Agribusiness major sequence will provide you versatile skills and knowledge, hence employment opportunities beyond the farm management in roles such as agribusiness accountant, agribusiness banking officer, agricultural policy officer, agribusiness consultant, livestock officer, agribusiness analyst, international development officer, agripreneur and many more.

    Career opportunities exist both within the agriculture industry, and sectors and occupations that are connected through agribusiness. These include:

    • Upstream of the farm: suppliers of seed, fertiliser, chemicals, machinery, stockfeed, labour, finance, business advisory, transport, consultancy, and specialist services such as harvesting contractors.
    • Primary production: cropping, horticulture, animal based enterprises, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, wineries, farm-based tourism.
    • Downstream of the farm: processors and value-adders, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, transport and storage operations, logistics, consultants.

    Course structure

    The Diploma of Agribusiness includes four compulsory units (each at 12.5 credit points) as a core in agribusiness and 50 credit points of elective units.

    The effective and efficient operation of business is human resource intensive. Strategies used to attract, motivate, manage and retain the right people are essential skills for all business managers for business success. This unit introduces you to how Human Resource…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    In this unit you will explore the importance of agribusiness management plans, links with business strategy and how agribusiness managers can integrate the outputs of planning into business management and operations. Planning is an essential activity for agribusiness managers in…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    In this unit you will be introduced to value chains and how they are managed in primary production to improve business performance. Value chain management (VCM) is an important concept that integrates supply chain components and processes with performance management,…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    In this unit you will explore the risks and challenges of pests, weeds and diseases in primary production, in terms of the relative impact on productivity, profitability and market access. You will also investigate various on-farm control methods that are used within…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Choose 50 credit points from the Electives list

    We want your study experience with us to be as smooth as possible and we know that choosing from lists and lists of electives can sometimes be overwhelming!

    The guides and links below are presented to help you navigate all of these options and find the electives that are best for you.

    Find the answer to your question - ASK US

    What are electives?

    How do I enrol?

    My enrolment in the Student Portal

    Please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team at UConnect if you need any help.

    Your electives can be used to add breadth to your degree, by exploring a variety of different subject areas from across the University in areas such as Health, Business, Science and the Creative Arts. Alternatively, you can deepen your engagement with specific subject areas, for example, by completing additional units in the same discipline as your major or related fields. You can also use this space to complete an optional 2nd major which may be a 2nd major from your current course or a major from another course*. Please contact U.Connect@utas.edu.au if you need more information or if you want to add a 2nd major to your study plan. *Some exclusions apply. Not all majors can be taken by students in different courses.

    Entry requirements

    We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, the UTAS admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option. 

    Enquire online for advice on the application process and the available pathways to study at UTAS.

    Domestic applicants who recently completed secondary education (in the past two years)

    This course does not use ATAR as part of the admission process. To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have completed the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) or an equivalent qualification.

    Domestic applicants with higher education study

    To be eligible for an offer, you must have:

    • Partially completed an undergraduate course at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent). You must have completed at least one unit of study (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points), at 100 level or higher and which may include 100 level units completed in the UTAS Diploma of University Studies. If you have failed any units, your application may be subject to further review before an offer is made; OR
    • Completed the UTAS University Preparation Program (or an equivalent qualification offered by an Australian University).

    Domestic applicants with VET / TAFE study

    To be eligible for an offer, you must have completed a Certificate III or higher (or equivalent) in any discipline.

    Applications on the basis of work or life experience

    Applicants without senior secondary, tertiary or VET / TAFE study can complete a personal competency statement.

    Applicants may be eligible for an offer if they have relevant work and / or life experiences which demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this course.

    This course is not available to international students. Please enquire online for advice on alternative course options. 

    You may be eligible for advanced standing (ie. credit) of up to 50 credit points if you have completed a cognate Undergraduate Certificate or similar course at this university or other approved tertiary institution. Cognate Undergraduate Certificate courses for Z1A Diploma of Agribusiness are: Z0D Undergraduate Certificate in Agriculture, Z0L Undergraduate Certificate in Agribusiness, Z0M Undergraduate Certificate in Small Business, and Z0P Undergraduate Certificate in Fermentation.

    Students who have completed a cognate Undergraduate Certificate to Z1A Diploma of Agribusiness may articulate into Z1A Diploma of Agribusiness with up 50 credit points of advanced standing. Cognate Undergraduate Certificate courses for Z1A Diploma of Agribusiness are: Z0D Undergraduate Certificate in Agriculture, Z0L Undergraduate Certificate in Agribusiness, Z0M Undergraduate Certificate in Small Business, and Z0P Undergraduate Certificate in Fermentation.

    The following non-cognate Undergraduate Certificate may also be considered for articulation into the Diploma of Agribusiness with up to 50 credit points of advanced standing: 30C Undergraduate Certificate in Climate Accounting.

    Students who complete Z1A Diploma of Agribusiness may articulate into B3A Bachelor of Business or other Bachelor degrees with up to 100 credit points of advanced standing.

    Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.

    Fees & scholarships

    Domestic students

    Options for this course

    Cost shouldn’t get in the way of you studying.

    If you’re a domestic student, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place in this course. This means your fees will be subsidised by the Australian Government. You’ll only need to pay the student contribution amount for each unit you study within the course.

    You may also be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. If eligible, you’ll only have to pay your tuition fees once you start earning above a specific amount.

    Further information is available at Scholarships, fees and costs.

    Student contribution

    Student contribution amounts are charged for each unit of study. This means that how much you’ll pay will depend on which units you choose. Find out more about student contribution amounts.

    Further information

    Detailed fee information for domestic students is available at Scholarships, fees and costs, including additional information in relation to the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

    Scholarships

    Each year the University of Tasmania administers an estimated $7 million in scholarships to students from all walks of life, including those who have achieved high academic results; those from low socio-economic backgrounds; students with sporting ability; students undertaking overseas study; and students with a disability.

    For more information on scholarships and to view the full range of scholarships available to you, head to the Scholarships website.

    Additional costs

    In addition to course costs, students may be subject to other costs related to study at university including:

    How can we help?

    Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.

    Domestic
    13 8827 (13 UTAS)
    International
    +61 3 6226 6200
    Email
    Course.Info@utas.edu.au
    Online
    Online enquiries

    Next steps