Queen's University of Belfast - Medical Faculty
BSc in Agricultural Technology with Professional StudiesBelfast, United Kingdom
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,300 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU and international student
Key Summary
Introduction
Agricultural production now requires an understanding of these demands and other concerns regarding food quality and safety and the environmental impact of production methods in the short, medium, and long term.
The Agricultural Technology degree programmes enable graduates to gain an understanding of:
- Crop and animal production systems for the sustainability of the agricultural industry, including the underpinning scientific, economic, and business principles and the applicability of recent developments
- The impact of global, EU, and regional policy on the agricultural industry
- Assessing agri-environment interactions and devising environmental management strategies
- Managing agriculture as a business
- A professional approach to the work environment, study, and life-long learning
- Devising, managing, and evaluating project work
Additionally, the Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies Programme enables graduates to gain an understanding of the application of their degree to the workplace and career management planning.
Agricultural Technology With Professional Studies Degree Highlights
- World Class Facilities
- Student Experience
- Further Study Opportunities
Admissions
Curriculum
Year 1
- Applied Animal Science (40 credits)
- Mechanization and Farm Buildings (20 credits)
- Applied Crop Science (20 credits)
- Introduction to Business and Research Methods (20 credits)
- Enterprise Technology (20 credits)
Year 2
- Agri-food Business Marketing & Management (40 credits)
- Sustainable Agriculture (20 credits)
- Livestock Production and Management (40 credits)
- Crop Production Systems (20 credits)
Year 3
- Professional Studies (120 credits)
Year 4
- Project Work (Ag Tech) (20 credits)
- Policies for Environmental Sustainability (20 credits)
- Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship (20 credits)
- Advances in Crop and Animal Science and Technology (20 credits)
- Farm Animal Health and Welfare (20 credits)
- Global Issues in Agriculture (20 credits)
Assessment
Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end-of-semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Studying a degree in Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies provides a wide range of graduate opportunities for students interested in the agricultural, agri-environmental, and related industries.
The majority of our graduates will seek careers in the agricultural, agri-environment, or agri-food sectors, in roles including; marketing/sales, production and management, technical advice, and research and development in commercial companies.
Employment after the Course
The degree has been developed in consultation with employers, industry, and academics, to offer students a combined curriculum of formal education and practical experience, which is designed to enhance employability and graduate skills.
Employment Links
This program was developed after extensive consultation with government bodies, major farming organizations, the food processing sector, farmers, and conservation organizations, and the curriculum reflects these consultations. This close industry involvement has continued. The initial years of this program were overviewed by an industry group representing LANTRA, AFBI, DARD, and the UFU.
Industry representatives play a significant role in the operation of student learning projects where they use their expertise to guide students running major college enterprises.
In addition, major employers such as Dunbia, Moy Park, and Thompsons have contributed competitive bursaries to support students in the program.
Students organize an industry symposium as part of their final year, providing opportunities to engage with key stakeholders within the local industry.
Placement Employers:
The work placement is compulsory and is assessed as an integral component of the degree program, contributing 10% to the final degree classification. Students are supported in obtaining work placement through a series of workshops and by a dedicated School Work Placement and Careers Advisor. We work repeatedly with a number of employers and students can also propose their own placement.
Past students have gained work placement with organizations locally, nationally, and internationally such as:
- Moypark
- John Thompson and Sons
- Countryside Services
- Dale Farm
- Fane Valley
- Monaghan Mushrooms
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
- Tamar Farming Co (New Zealand)
- Millridge Ltd (New Zealand)
Each year several students are offered permanent jobs, on graduation, from their work placement providers.
Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree program, at Queen's, you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic, and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports, and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognized by a world-leading university, but you'll also have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this the Degree Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Student Testimonials
Program delivery
Contact Teaching Hours
Large Group Teaching
- 9 (hours maximum)
Personal Study
- 29 (hours maximum)
- Additional Private study of 29 hours
Learning and Teaching
The BSc in Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies program aims to deliver a high-quality learning environment by providing a range of learning experiences. This program is provided jointly with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). The partnership arrangement between CAFRE and Queen’s capitalizes on the strengths of both institutions to provide a course that is academically challenging but also focused on the application of science, business, and economic principles. Stages 1 and 2 are mainly delivered at the CAFRE Greenmount Campus and Stage 3 is mainly delivered at Queen’s in Belfast. The Greenmount Estate Farm is a major resource used to deliver this program. The campus “farm” comprises the Farm Development Centre (200 hectares) and the Livestock Development Centre (1,100 hectares).
Complementary Qualifications
At Stages 1 and 2 students have the opportunity to take a range of complementary qualifications that enhance employability e.g. PA series of spraying courses, Health and Safety, ECDL, Artificial Insemination, First Aid, Telehandler driving.