Agricultural Science
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.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years
Specific Subjects or course 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 O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O6/H7 or H4*
Lab Science O6/H7 or H4*
Note
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.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
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.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 3
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 26
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
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)
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.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/programmes/) 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 (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/modules/)
Professor Frank Buckley
frank.buckley@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 4650
https://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/
Philomena Fogarty
p.fogarty@ucc.ie