Agricultural Science

Agricultural Science is a future-focused degree that equips you to address some of the world’s biggest challenges and opportunities.

Explore our courses

Taught by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), a specialist research and teaching institute at the University of Tasmania, your education is at the cutting-edge of agriculture, applying food systems concepts and ideas from around the world.

Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours

Over $250,000 worth of scholarships

Exclusively offered each year to Agricultural Science students.

Learn beyond the classroom

Engage with Tasmania's thriving agriculture industry.

Gain career-ready experience

From our work placement units.

Study options in this degree

A major is an area of focus in your degree. During your studies, you’ll choose an area that interests you, and then study a group of units related to that area. Find out more at What is a Major?

With a strong focus on crop production and protection, you’ll learn how to apply this knowledge to increase productivity and sustainability in diverse production settings. You’ll also study a broad range of topics including plant physiology, agronomy, horticultural science, entomology, plant pathology, chemistry, botany, microbiology and farm business economics.

With a focuses on agricultural sustainability and animal production systems, at both a biophysical and landscape level, you will gain an understanding of the factors impacting our diverse agriculture industries and the practical and scientific skills to achieve sustainable practices. This major includes the study of chemistry, spatial sciences, ecology, microbiology, farm business economics, pasture science, soil science and the animal sciences.

There is an embedded honours year, where you will complete a core program of study plus either a Research or Professional stream of study.

Honours in research enables students to develop independent research skills, project planning and management skills, high level verbal and written communication skills and subject specific knowledge in their chosen area of specialism.

The professional stream contains a series of case studies, selected from different areas of agriculture, for example, horticulture, animal production, post-harvest processing, vegetable cropping, dairy, water policy.

Further study options

The Bachelor of Agriculture with Honours provides an entry point to an honours degree for those who have completed science-based degrees other than the BAgrSc.

For postgraduate course information, please visit the Master of Agriculture and Food Sciences (Specialisation)

Find out more about what you'll study, entry requirements, fees and scholarships - and to apply.

Visit the course page

Career opportunities

There is a growing demand for skilled Agricultural Science graduates. The knowledge you will gain can see you working all over the globe, in both government and private sectors, indoors, outdoors, in the lab and the field.

You can choose specialist studies that can focus on your career path, including:

Agronomist

Sustainable farming relies on primary producers receiving the most up-to-date information. As an agronomist, you would be working with industry to ensure farming systems remain economically and environmentally sustainable for future generations.

Agricultural Scientist

Feeding more people with fewer resources is a global challenge. A career in any area of the agricultural research sector – including soils, pest and disease management, plant and animal genetics, and much more – will place you on the front line.

Food Safety Consultant

It has been estimated that we waste approximately one third of the food we create. Much of this waste is from bacteria or inappropriate storage. A career in the food safety sector will give you the skills to reduce food waste and the impact of pathogens.

10.3%

Agricultural Technicians

National Skills Commission - Predicted job growth 2020 to 2025

Strong

Agricultural Scientist:
Future Demand

National Skills Commission - Skills Priority List (June 2021)

Strong

Agricultural Consultant:
Future Demand

National Skills Commission - Skills Priority List (June 2021)

Career outcome

In agriculture there is no such thing as a “typical day” in the office

"I have learnt a lot on the job, especially about vegetable seed production, but my degree gave me a good grasp on key concepts and a great head-start.”

Sally Stone-Schack, Agricultural Science graduate

Sally's story