Food & Agribusiness Management
BAgrSc (Hons) (NFQ Level 8)
Course Video
Curricular information is subject to change.
Open AllDuring the Food & Agribusiness Management degree, you’ll learn how the principles of economics and business management apply to farming, food production and marketing. You’ll gain an understanding of how the Irish and international food systems deliver food products and services that people want, and how farmers and food manufacturers can produce profitably, while also taking care of the natural environment. The four-year degree provides a unique opportunity to understand both business and science, focusing on the agri-food sector – Ireland’s largest indigenous industry. You will learn skills that can be used across a wide range of jobs both within and outside the agri-food sector.
KEY FACT
Graduates of this degree have reached senior positions as chief executives, business owners, plant managers, marketing managers and media editors.
You will study core science subjects in first year, and then develop your agribusiness knowledge with specialist modules.
First Year
- Animal Biology & Evolution
- Introductory Chemistry
- Mathematics for Agriculture
- Physics for Agricultural Science
- Agricultural Economics & Business
- Land Use & the Environment
- Information Skills
- Optional Modules
Second Year
- Management
- Business Law
- Economics
- Options in Animal, Crop, Food & Environmental Sciences
- Biostatistics
Third Year
- Financial Planning & Control
- Food Chain Integrity
- Econometrics
- Spreadsheets
- Professional Work Experience (PWE)
Fourth Year
- Enterprise Development & Strategy
- Agricultural Policy
- Farm Business Management
- Communications & Marketing
- Research Project
- Agri-Taxation
Students spend an average of 40 hours a week attending lectures and tutorials, participating in laboratory-based practical classes and undertaking independent study.
A combination of end-of-trimester written examinations and continuous assessment is used. In your final year, you’ll also prepare a project on a specific agribusiness research topic of your choice.
For detailed information on subject content click here.
You may be interested in the following blog post: Reasons to study Agricultural Science in UCD (student perspective)
A 28-week period of structured PWE takes place in third year where you will spend the second trimester working in the food and agribusiness industry in Ireland or abroad. This helps you apply the knowledge you have gained, and can lead directly to employment following graduation.
There are also opportunities to take a trimester abroad in third year. Possibilities include:
- Cornell University, USA
- University of California, USA
- Kansas State University, USA
- University of Queensland, Australia
- Purdue University, USA
- Lincoln University, New Zealand
Our graduates have an excellent record of finding employment in various sectors, including:
- Food processing
- Food distribution and marketing
- Financial services
- Consultancy services
- Agri-food media
- Farm management
Popular graduate study programmes include: PhD by research; MSc in Marketing; MAgrSc in Agricultural Extension and Innovation and MSc in Food Business Strategy.
“When choosing a college course, agricultural science was suggested as I’m from a farming background and I wasn’t sure exactly what it was I wanted to do. Opting for a course that incorporated two valuable elements, science and business, gave me the necessary time and experience to discover what I would truly enjoy as a future career. However, I never could have anticipated the impact studying agricultural science at UCD would have on me and just how passionate I would grow to be about the industry and its people. The Food and Agribusiness Management course offers exposure to a variety of industries and all aspects of business. There is truly something for everyone. I have had the opportunity to learn from exceptionally knowledgeable lecturers, as well as students, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds.”
Kate Toner, Student
Dr David Stead
e. david.stead@ucd.ie
UCD Agriculture & Food Science School Office
Agriculture & Food Science Centre
Belfield, Dublin 4
