Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Master of Agriculture and Food Sciences students at the University of Tasmania are invited to apply for a 2026 North-West Summer Studentship. This year, we're pleased to offer three scholarships in the fields of dairy and horticulture.
This is a unique opportunity to gain some hands-on experience and learn alongside researchers at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) and leaders in industry.
The details
- Available to a student who is enrolled in either the Bachelor of Agricultural Science or the Master of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Tasmania.
- Preference will be given to students in later years of the course; however, all students are welcome to apply.
- There are three North-West Summer Studentships available in 2026.
- The experience will run for five weeks from 16 November 2026 until 18 December 2026.
- Each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship.
- Accommodation is provided.
Dairy Studentships
In collaboration with Lactalis - Mainland Dairy, we are pleased to offer two Dairy Summer Studentships in 2026.
Mainland Dairy, formerly Fonterra’s Global Consumer and associated businesses, has integrated into the Lactalis Group, the world’s largest dairy company. Lactalis is a global dairy leader with a long-term ambition to grow trusted dairy brands, combining local market understanding with global scale, insight and innovation.
You will spend a couple of weeks with Lactalis - Mainland Dairy, working closely with their area managers who are specialists in finance, agronomy, human resources, milk quality, and animal welfare.
You will spend time visiting dairy farms from the far North West to the North East, as well as manufacturing sites at Wynyard and Spreyton.
You will spend the week with the farm team at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture's Dairy Research Facility (TDRF) at Elliott learning about the operations of a working dairy farm.
TIA’s Dairy Research facility is situated on 220 hectares and milks 350 cows in a modern 50 bay rotary dairy. This is the site of leading research into ways to boost the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Tasmania’s dairy industry.
You will spend time with TIA's research and development team (researchers, technical and extension staff), exploring current projects that support the promotion of Tasmania as a global leader in environmentally sustainable and ethical grass-fed production.
Horticulture Studentship
In collaboration with Botanical Resources Australia (BRA), we are pleased to offer one Horticulture Summer Studentship in 2026.
BRA is the largest producer of pyrethrins in the world and grows the majority of its crop in North West Tasmania. Its offices and processing facilities are based at Ulverstone.
The first two weeks of the studentship will be spent with the TIA Horticulture Centre team based at the West Park campus of the University of Tasmania in Burnie.
During this time you will be exposed to the breadth of research being undertaken in the horticultural space by TIA in North West Tasmania in both the laboratory facilities at West Park and the TIA Vegetable Research Facility at Forthside.
An emphasis during this time will be learning about the pyrethrum research projects that are being conducted.
You will spend this week with with the Botanical Resources Australia field team. These agronomists are specialists in pyrethrum production, managing and guiding growers in the application of irrigation, fertilisers and agrochemicals to maximise cropping yields.
You will spend the week with different members of the team visiting farms across the central and North West. This week will coincide with evaluations of field maturity as the crop approaches harvest.
Week four will be focused on the research activities undertaken by BRA, based out of their Ulverstone offices.
You will be embedded with the BRA research team as they undertake yield assessments of established research trials. This will give you exposure to specific research questions the industry is grappling with in a commercial sense.
The last week of the studentship will be spent back with the TIA horticulture team, allowing for further exploration of the issues observed during the time with BRA; especially how they are, or potentially can be, addressed by research and development in TIA.
How to apply
Selection will be based on the quality of written application and academic merit.
Please visit the University of Tasmania Scholarship website to apply.
Applications close on 31 July 2026.
Questions?
Please contact Associate Professor James Hills for more information.