1. Study
2. Undergraduate
3. Courses
4. Agricultural Science

About This Course

Fact File

• Title

  Agricultural Science

• Code

  CK412

• College

  Science, Engineering and Food Science

• Duration

  4 years

• Teaching Mode

  Full-time

• Qualifications

  BAgrSc (Hons)

• Fees

  Student Contribution + Capitation: €3,138. See Fees and Costs for full details.

• Entry Requirements

  1 x H4, 1 x H5, 4 x O6/H7; Maths and a Lab science subject are required. See Requirements for full details.

• CAO Points

  2023: 496

Course Outline

At UCC we guarantee a comprehensive agricultural education; building from a foundation of fundamental sciences, developing core knowledge, instilling best practice applications using the very latest tools and technologies, and interrogating the business that is dairying. This course has been developed to ensure you as a highly-skilled and motivated graduate, are uniquely positioned to capitalise on the vast employment opportunities that await.

Two formative uniquely tailored Work Placement opportunities (dairy farm and industry) will serve to deepen your knowledge and forge your individual professional development. You will experience and implement best practices and be mentored by the very best.

Practicals, field trips, commercial farm visits, evening seminars and guest lecturers will enhance both your learning and overall experience.

Work placement forms a significant component of this degree programme. These work placements form the basis of a final year project (AG4001), representing assessment based on real-world application, challenging and consolidating your learning from the course.

Year 1 Modules

• AG1001 Introduction to Agriculture (10 credits)
• BC1001 Introduction to Biochemistry and the Biological Basis of Disease (5 credits)
• BL1002 Cells, Biomolecules, Genetics and Evolution (5 credits)
• BL1004 Physiology and Structure of Plants and Animals (5 credits)
• CM1202 Fundamentals of Modern Chemistry for Agricultural Sciences (10 credits)
• FE1019 Introduction to Food and Agricultural Economics (5 credits)
• FE1030 Introduction to International Food Policy (5 credits)
• FS2005 Principles of Food Science & Technology (5 credits)
• MA1001 Calculus for Science Part I (5 credits)
• PY1109 Physics for Agriculture & Environmental Science (5 credits)

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the Academic Programme Catalogue for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.

Course Practicalities

• Anchored in the School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) at UCC, it is here on UCC campus that you will spend the majority of both first and second year. Teagasc’s input at this point will be delivered through a combination of visits (transport provided from UCC) to Teagasc Moorepark (Fermoy) and Teagasc Clonakilty Agricultural College, and a series of complementary field trips.
• From third year, the Paddy O’Keeffe Innovation Centre at Teagasc Moorepark will increasingly become your base, You will become immersed in and enjoy the unique ‘Moorepark Experience’, gaining insight at first hand into the many flagship research experiments underpinning Teagasc’s latest cutting-edge advice.
• It is recommended that students be in possession of a valid full driving licence prior to commencing their Work Placements in year 3.

Why Choose This Course

UCC has a long-standing reputation of excellence in Dairy and Food Science. Through collaboration with Teagasc and well-established links with the agri-food industry, Agricultural Science at UCC is specially tailored to attract those with a particular passion for dairying, who are ambitious, and committed to advancing their career in dairy farming or the wider dairy/agri-food sector.

Based in the heartland of Irish dairying, this course is offered by University College Cork in partnership with Teagasc. Teagasc Moorepark is both nationally and internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in pasture-based dairy research and innovation. Clonakilty Agricultural College has been a renowned flagship of practical agricultural training for over 100 years. This degree is truly research-led, constantly rebooted by the latest advances in agricultural research. Thus, ensuring students are exposed to the latest advances as well as enjoying a truly applied experience steeped in the legacy that is Teagasc’s low-cost pasture-based system’s ideology.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Work Placement

In year 3, you will undertake a total of 30 weeks of Work Placement (AG3001) across two settings. First, you will undertake a 18-week dairy farm placement with one of Ireland’s top dairy farmers. On this placement, you will experience all aspects of the day to day management of an intensive, highly efficient, profitable and sustainable dairy farming operation.

After, 12-weeks placement in one of Ireland’s key industry stakeholders tailored to your individual interest will also be arranged.

These work placements form the basis of a final year project (AG4001), representing assessment based on real-world application, challenging and consolidating your learning from the entire course.

Study Abroad

Placement abroad opportunities are currently not possible for the on-farm component. However, we do encourage and facilitate study abroad for Industry Placement where these placements are deemed high quality and consistent with the objectives and quality learning outcomes of the degree.

You will have an additional optional opportunity to tour New Zealand for two to three weeks visiting many of the top farms and key industry stakeholders. You will then commence work placement on a New Zealand dairy farm for 3 months. This work placement takes place during the summer after second year.

Skills and Careers Information

Graduate Study Opportunities

There are many options for further study (MSc and PhD) in Science or Agriculture. It is also possible to progress into graduate programmes, such as Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine.

Career Opportunities

Students will be highly employable in the agri-food sector on completion of this programme. The knowledge, experience and professional development gained from this degree will make you stand out to prospective employers. It will provide you with vast employment opportunity both nationally and internationally.

Sample career opportunities include but not limited to leading roles within: Teagasc, DAFM, ICBF, financial institutions, dairy/food processing companies, agri-merchants, pharma giants, AI industry, enterprise management, private consultancy, education, marketing, communications, journalism etc.

Requirements

Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements

At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H4 in one subject, minimum grade H5 in one subject and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. 

The following are considered Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry and Agricultural Science.

Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:

English	Irish	Maths	Lab Science	Note
O6/H7	O6/H7	O6/H7 or H4*	O6/H7 or H4*	H4 in either a Lab Science subject, Maths or Applied Maths or Computer Science

* If the H4 is in Maths, Applied Maths or Computer Science an 06/H7 in a Lab Science subject is also required.

Mature Students

Applicants should apply directly to the CAO, include a statement of interest and may be called for interview. Applicants must have studied a Laboratory Science subject at second-level or QQI/FETAC level or demonstrate involvement in Science related areas. Approximately two places are available on this course for mature students.

Other Qualifications

EU/EFTA/UK students presenting an alternative school-leaving qualification (e.g. A-levels or International Baccalaureate) or QQI/FET course should visit our EU/EFTA/UK Applicants pages for further information. 

Fees and Costs

The cost of travelling between UCC and Teagasc centres, as well as field trips and site visits, during Years 1 and 2 will be covered. However, third-year students will be required to contribute towards the cost of travel for journeys to and from Moorepark and other field trips associated with the course. Also, students are responsible for any costs associated with work placement in Year 3 of the programme.

How Do I Apply