Course details

Summary

What is it Like?

Studying the Bachelor of AgriScience (Agriculture) degree gives you an understanding of agribusiness and modern farming practices within the wider context of the economy and society.

Take on the contemporary farming issues

As a BAgriScience student you will develop a broad overview of the issues confronting New Zealand farmers and agribusiness. Introductory courses in pastures, animals, soils, economics, and business will give you a sound basis for more advanced study later in the programme.

Sought-after by employers

In the final year, there is scope for you to focus on specific subjects. You’ll emerge a well-rounded agriculture graduate, sought-after by employers.

Further studies

You are also able to enter honours, postgraduate diploma, or master’s programmes to further your learning after completing the major. The agriculture major is structured to ensure that you develop professional skills in written and spoken presentation, computing, and working with professional colleagues and clients.

Careers

The agriculture major in the Bachelor of AgriScience will prepare you for a career in New Zealand's largest industry.

Excellent career opportunities

Agriculture is a dynamic industry, constantly evolving in response to changes in the marketplace, technology, and social attitudes. It encompasses farming, agricultural service industries, consultancy services, research and development, and sales and marketing. There are excellent career opportunities in all of these sectors.

Employment prospects in agriculture in New Zealand and overseas are very good. The diversity within agriculture results in a wide range of employment opportunities. The agriculture major in the BAgriScience degree is a broad-based qualification enabling you as a graduate to undertake careers such as:

• Farmers
• Farm managers
• Herd managers
• Operations managers
• Business managers
• Rural banking managers
• Farm consultants
• Scientists
• Technical officers
• Agricultural sales representatives
• Policy analysts

You may find employment in a wide range of organisations, including:

• Corporate farms
• Food processing companies
• Banks
• Agricultural chemical, fertiliser, machinery and seed and grain companies
• Local and central government

You may also seek careers in non-agricultural professions, such as teaching, or pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in New Zealand and overseas.

Structure

At Massey a credit system is used for our degrees. To complete a Bachelor of AgriScience the following is required.

• Total of 360 credits completed. That’s 24 courses of 15 credits each
• Up to 150 credits (10 courses) may be completed at 100-level
• At least 210 credits (14 courses) completed above first year. Of these 75 credits or more must be from 300-level courses
• 26 weeks of relevant practical work and two associated reports.

Entry criteria

There are no special requirements beyond those that qualify you to study at University. However, it is preferable that you have credit for NCEA Level 3 Biology or Science, Chemistry, Modelling and Statistics, plus English and Maths. These subjects will help ensure that your transition to University study is as smooth as possible.

Students must have successful completion of a qualification equivalent to the New Zealand Year 13 - NCEA Level 3 University Entrance.

English Language Requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5)
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall (min 19 in Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 50 Overall (min 42 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 170