Study agriculture abroad

The study of agriculture is about more than just farming: it can cover a huge number of areas and topics, from forestry and animal science, to conservation and food production. It’s a subject of vital global importance, as it tackles meeting the increasing food demands of the world.

Studying agriculture abroad means you’ll see first hand how a different country tackles farming issues, and be able to experience different growing environments. This can give a wider appreciation for the problems facing global agriculture and give you a competitive edge in the job market.

If you enjoy science and learning about plants and animals, and want to help solve some of the big issues facing the world, a degree in agriculture could be right for you.

Agriculture is a diverse subject that can cover a number of different fields. Therefore, the exact content and structure of each program will differ depending on the university and country to study in.

Some programs may only include some of these areas, so it’s worth looking closely at the curriculum when you apply. It’s possible to study agriculture in combination with another subject, like forestry or animal science, which is a great way of focussing the direction of your degree.

Most undergraduate programs are taught over three to five years, and many offer work placements that give you real hands-on experience. You can study a master’s in agriculture over one or two years, and it’s also possible to study for a PhD which can take four or five years to complete.

Here’s some of the modules and subjects you might see:

Soil and environmental science Crop production and technology Livestock science Nutrition Biosciences Animal biology Plant science Food marketing Farm business management Agricultural economics

Graduating with a degree in agriculture will give you the skills and knowledge to work in a number of related fields. Popular jobs that agriculture graduates go into include:

• Farm manager
• Agriculture consultant
• Agronomist
• Breeding advisor
• Plant geneticist
• Soil scientist
• Woodland manager
• Environmental consultant
• Agricultural sales executive
• Journalist

An agriculture degree will give you plenty of transferable skills that most employers value, so you don’t need to limit your search to jobs in the agriculture sector.

As agriculture programs can be varied, make sure you think about what career you want after graduation. Use this to help you find a program that covers the areas that will help you achieve your aims.