Bachelor of Agriculture

Summary

Grow an exciting future at New Zealand’s leading land-based university, with 140 years of specialised know-how, and the most innovative minds, research and resources. Apply your learning and experiences to future-proofing a group of industries that feed and contribute to the wellbeing of seven billion people globally.

At Lincoln, we’ve been supporting agriculture and the land-based industries for longer than any other university in the Southern Hemisphere.

This degree expands your opportunities within agriculture, offering a detailed understanding of soil management, plant and animal production, and farming systems. It also provides the skills to deal with new challenges, change and innovation in the agricultural sectors.

See the Programme Structure below

How you’ll grow

• Become an expert in the workings of agriculture and production.
• Gain in-depth, up-to-the-minute knowledge of soil and its management, animal and plant science and production, and farming systems.
• Learn how to use farm-sourced data to design and implement improvements to land use, soil and nutrient management, plant and feed production, and animal production.
• Cultivate your experience with practical work on a farm, or in an allied industry of your choice.

Career opportunities

You'll be a strong candidate for in-demand roles in areas like soil consultancy, farm management, agronomy, environmental advisory, or farming technology.

Practical work

During your study, you’re expected to complete 28 weeks of paid full-time practical work, spending 10-14 weeks each on one dairy farm and one sheep or beef farm.

Any remaining time can be on a different farm or in an allied industry of your choice.

To complete the practical requirements successfully, you’ll need:

• Competence in driving vehicles (experience driving tractors or trucks is an advantage)

Some previous farming experience, is preferred, but not essential.

[Download the Practical Work Handbook [PDF 2.1MB]](/assets/Practical-work-handbook-Bachelor-of-AG-AGSci.pdf) for this degree.

For more information on the practical aspects of study, practicalwork@lincoln.ac.nz or phone +64 3 423 0061.

Graduate Attributes

Graduate Attributes refer to the knowledge, skills, and values that you gain from completing your qualification. These high-level qualities will prepare you for career success, further study or research and making a valuable contribution to society in your chosen field.

Knowledge

• Describe the philosophical, scientific and ethical principles underlying science research.
• Describe the fundamental areas of agriculture and agricultural production.
• Critically discuss aspects of a wide range of agricultural science fields.

Skills

• Extrapolate from knowledge and principles to solve new problems.
• Locate, evaluate and use information in a range of contexts.
• Recognise personal limitations of knowledge about agriculture and agricultural science and to seek help when these limitations are met.
• Effectively and efficiently organise and manage time and resources.
• Recognise personal needs for health and identify appropriate support or healthcare.
• Practice critical thinking by weighing, evaluating and integrating new information.
• Manage uncertainty in scientific interpretation and decision-making and their application to agriculture.
• Solve problems and design experiments.
• Facilitate the learning experience of individuals, groups and communities, both within and beyond agriculture.
• Co-operate and communicate with colleagues, groups and communities, within and beyond the agriculture sector.
• Synthesise the scientific approach with agricultural practice.

Values

• Develop a commitment to the interdependence of research and scientific knowledge in agriculture.
• Develop a commitment to behaving in an ethical manner.
• Develop social responsibility through understanding that agriculture and food production contributes to human welfare.
• Appreciate the global perspective of agriculture, and the impact of the international community on New Zealand and New Zealand’s contribution to the international community at asocial and political level.
• Show familiarity with and an awareness of cultural issues, Maori and Pakeha perspectives and their implications for land use and land management.
• Maintain proper boundaries between personal and professional roles.