Study plan

Your first year in the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture is composed of compulsory units of foundation science, with second year introducing the major disciplines within agricultural science. In third year, you will study four core and four elective units of study, leading to the final year specialisation. You have a wide choice of specialisations, including agricultural chemistry, agricultural economics, agricultural genetics, agronomy, entomology, environmetrics, farming systems, food science, horticulture, livestock production, plant pathology and soil science. You will complete a research project written up as a thesis in your fourth year, which is highly regarded by employers. Honours will be awarded at graduation on the basis of your academic performance in the second, third and fourth years. A standard full-time enrolment is 24 credit points (cp) per semester; less than 18cp per semester is considered to be part-time. A student may not enrol in more than 30cp in any one semester without permission and may not enrol in a unit of study before meeting any prerequisites and corequisites for that unit of study.

Course opportunities

All students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture are required to complete 40 days of approved professional experience, plus at least one faculty excursion as a field trip prior to graduation. This experience is undertaken during vacations and, for students who have commenced their candidature since March 2009, is a requirement of a compulsory 6 cp unit of study credited to their fourth year of study. A minimum of 15 days of the 40 day requirement must be completed as 'on-farm'/field experience for the course and students must undertake a minimum of two placements. The remainder is completed with organisations involved in agriculture, business, research and the resource industries and is known as a ‘graduate’ experience. The Faculty maintains a database in excess of 5000 providers for professional experience to assist students.
Professional experience is highly regarded by employers and provides an insight into the operations of organisations and often leads to offers of employment prior to graduation.

Graduate opportunities

Over 65 per cent of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture graduates are employed in the private sector, about 20 per cent in government and semi-government organisations, and 15 per cent pursue higher degrees. Graduates are trained to work in management, research, consulting and policy development. Graduates enjoy high employability in wide ranging occupations and high career satisfaction. For the past 15 years, 94 per cent of graduates have been employed within three months of completing their degree, with many graduates accepting offers well before completion. Career options include agribusiness, agronomy, biosecurity and biotechnology, commodity trading, and crop production and protection.

Course accreditation

Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society

Further study

The Faculty of Agriculture and Environment enjoys a prestigious international reputation for postgraduate study and research excellence at the University of Sydney. Our flagship postgraduate coursework program in the Master of Agriculture [link] offers the opportunity to undertake specialised study in the fields of agribusiness, agricultural economics, agricultural technologies, natural resource management, resource economics, or sustainable agriculture [links]. Our research nexus includes the Plant Breeding Institute [link], the Precision Agriculture Laboratory [link], the SUNFix Centre for Nitrogen Fixation [link], and the Institute for Sustainable Solutions [link]. The faculty invites outstanding and suitably qualified graduates to express their interest in joining our current research projects in the degrees of Master of Philosophy [link], and Doctor of Philosophy [link].

About honours

Honours in the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture is awarded on the basis of academic performance over second, third and fourth years. Dependent on academic merit, graduates may be awarded either Honours 1; Honours 2, Division 1; Honours 2 Division 2; or Pass.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements not available for Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics and Chemistry

Domestic students

How to apply

Applications for the University's undergraduate courses are made though the Universities Admission Centre (UAC). On-time applications for the March Semester close on the last working day of September.

International students

How to apply

Overseas applicants may apply (i) directly to the University's International Office, (ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent), or (iii) through the Universities Admissions Centre, for students applying on the basis of a current Australian Year 12 secondary school examination, or studying either an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3.

Domestic students

Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount

This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2012 your student contribution may differ.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

International students

Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students

This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.