Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences

Be part of the boom

Agriculture is about understanding the land, animals, crops and community.

For those seeking a career in the industry, our Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences is the degree of choice. It is ranked 45th in the world and is the only Agricultural Science degree in South Australia*.

What will you do?

Our hands-on approach to teaching will set you up to join this booming industry. You will:   

  • learn how to respond to global food shortages and a changing climate with sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, modern agribusiness and new technology
  • practice the latest methods, from adapting genes and cells for new crops to the business of livestock, and explore emerging trends, like vertical farming
  • build practical skills through at least 450 hours of internships
  • learn about industry-transforming technology, like drones, GPS and crop sensors
  • go on field trips across Australia, exploring everything from dryland farming to glasshouse systems
  • develop skills in agribusiness that will allow you to work in the business of farming
  • access the latest research, innovation and technology through government and industry partners.

Where could it take you?

Within just a few months of finishing, almost 90% of our graduates find full-time employment**. In fact, on average there are four jobs available for every graduate***. You’ll be set to improve primary production outputs in both rural and city locations. You could work as a consultant, conduct sustainability research, advise on government policy or innovate in urban and vertical farming. You might get a job in ag media, connecting farmers to their customers. Perhaps you’ll come up with ways to increase farming efficiency using modern drone technology.

Note: this program is taught across multiple campuses depending on the courses that are undertaken. First year of this program is taught at North Terrace campus.


Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
This degree gives you the opportunity to be part of our new The Academy by Deloitte. You’ll be part of a supportive student cohort that learns from one another and industry leaders. Formal and informal experiences will allow you to build relationships within the Deloitte network.


  • 6 positions available for every graduate***
  • Ranked #42 globally for Agricultural Sciences*
  • By 2030, 1 in 3 new jobs in agriculture will be technology related^^

*Academic Ranking of World Universities by Subject 2022
**Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences (QILT Outcome Results by Program 2018)
***ABC News, 2022
^^Delivering Ag2030, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Entry Requirements

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Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.

Domestic applicants

Admissions information

SATAC Code 324561
2023 CSP ATAR 66.35
2023 CSP IB 24
Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR 75
Guaranteed Entry Score - IB 27.5
Deferment Yes - 2 year
Intake February and July
Assumed Knowledge SACE Stage 2: Chemistry and Mathematical Methods IB: Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL) or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL), and Chemistry.
Selection Criteria
Recent Secondary Education Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Higher Education Study You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) study You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Work and life experience To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Other Entry Pathways

2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
ATAR
(raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors)
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer 63.8
Median ATAR to receive an offer 80.75
Highest ATAR to receive an offer 99.15
Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer 66.35
Median Selection Rank to receive an offer 84.2
Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer 99.95
Minimum eligibility score 65
Additional criteria considered Selection rank only
  • Admissions Transparency Data
    Student Profile
    Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023
    Number of students Percentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    18 26.9%
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study <5 N/A
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    N/A N/A
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    44 65.7%
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/A N/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    <5 N/A
    International students <5 N/A
    All students 67 100.0%

Ready to Apply?

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Fees and Scholarships

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Domestic applicants

Indicative annual tuition fees
Commonwealth-supported place: $6,385

Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

More information on Student Contribution Amounts.

Scholarships

These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.

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Careers

Career Readiness

Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
Students who as part of their studies take part in The Academy by Deloitte experience will have the benefit of undertaking a paid internship with Deloitte. This internship is designed to shape their business readiness through significant real-world client exposure, access to multiple networking opportunities and relevant professional training.


The proportion of agricultural graduates in full-time employment is 12-15% higher than graduates from other degrees.

In fact, 91% of our Bachelor of Agricultural Science graduates find full-time employment within just a few months of graduation.

You will be highly sought after for positions such as consulting in the livestock and cropping industries, banking and research as well as natural resource management.

You’ll be well-positioned for employment in industries such as:

  • advisory and regulatory services
  • agricultural and business consulting
  • agricultural production
  • agronomy
  • banking and rural finance
  • managing commercial enterprises
  • journalism, communication and marketing
  • research and technical work
  • secondary, tertiary and vocational education.

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.
  1. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
  2. Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
  3. Teamwork and communication skills
  4. Professionalism and leadership readiness
  5. Intercultural and ethical competency
  6. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
  7. Digital capabilities
  8. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Industry Placement

Unlike many other universities, we offer industry work experience: a total of 12 weeks, or 450 hours. This is done during university vacations.

In your first and third year, you’ll go on numerous field trips and excursions.

You’ll also have the opportunity for field trips to South-East South Australia and Queensland; and even international trips.

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Vineyard Management;  Vineyard Operator;  Vineyard Supervisor;  Viticulturalist;  Livestock Scientist;  Merchant Banker;  Biosecurity Officer;  Geospatial Scientist;  Agricultural Scientist;  Animal Scientist ...

Degree Structure

The course is designed to provide broad training in science and agriculture. In the first year students develop basic skills in chemistry, biology and statistics and study core courses in soils and agriculture. In the second and third years students enrol in crop science, livestock science, soil science and agribusiness courses.

Field trips and excursions are incorporated into the first and third year of the program to expose students to best-practice in industry. Practical skills are developed through a professional internship (12 weeks or 450 hours) during the second half of the program. Study in the first year of the program is mainly at North Terrace and the second and third years of the program are based at the Waite and Roseworthy campuses.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences, the student must satisfactorily complete a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 72 units, comprising:
  • Core courses to the value of 57 units
  • Elective courses to the value of 15 units
  • Work based training/Extra Mural studies.

Example Study Plan

To satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences, students must complete core courses to the value of 57 units.

All courses are 3 units unless stated otherwise.

Year I
All of the following courses must be completed: AGRIC 1510WT Agricultural Systems I
AGRIC 1520WT Agricultural Production I
BIOLOGY 1101 Biology I: Molecules, Genes and Cells
BIOLOGY 1202 Biology I: Organisms
CHEM 1611 Foundations of Chemistry IA (Ag and Vit)
CHEM 1621 Foundations of Chemistry IB (Ag and Vit)
SOIL&WAT 1000WT Soils and Landscapes I
STATS 1000 Statistical Practice I
Year II
All of the following courses must be completed: AGRIC 2500WT Agricultural Biochemistry II
AGRIC 2505RW Crop and Pasture Production II
AGRIC 2510WT Agricultural Genetics II
AGRIBUS 2520WT Agribusiness II
ANIML SC 2503RW Livestock Production Science II
PLANT SC 2510WT Foundations in Plant Science II
PLANT SC 2500WT Microbiology and Invertebrate Biology II
SOIL&WAT 2500WT Soil and Water Resources II
Year III
All of the following courses must be completed: AGRIBUS 3500WT Agricultural Economics and Policy III
AGRIC 3515WT Agricultural Experimental Design and Analysis III
AGRIC 3500WT Professional Skills in Agricultural Science III

To satisfy the requirements for Work Based Training / Extra Mural Studies (EMS) students must adhere to the following:

Students must complete a total of 12 weeks of professional work experience to the value of at least 450 hours, including satisfactorily completing all associated assessment items.

Assessment

  • Varies with individual courses and includes a combination of oral presentations, written assignments, practical or examination work

Testimonial

Field trips and practicals that were run as part of the Bachelor of Ag degree helped develop my knowledge and was a key reason why I have had success in my career.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Tuesday, 28 Nov 2023