The Bachelor of Agricultural Science is a 480-credit, four-year full-time degree at Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand. It combines agricultural science with practical farm and industry experience and covers animal and plant production, soil and nutrient management, farming systems, sustainability, plant protection, genetics and breeding, water resources, ecology, agroforestry, precision agriculture and related sciences. The current official Lincoln University programme page lists the next starts as 9 November 2026 for Summer School, 22 February 2027 for Semester 1 and 19 July 2027 for Semester 2.

The supplied IPU website and IPU programme link do not publicly establish that IPU delivers or awards this Lincoln University degree. Therefore, Lincoln University is treated as the authoritative source for programme-specific information.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Gain a broad and advanced scientific understanding of agriculture and food-production systems.
• Study animal science, plant science, soil and nutrient management and farming systems from a scientific perspective.
• Learn to apply research and farm data to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.
• Develop knowledge of plant protection, genetics and breeding, water resources, ecology, agroforestry and precision agriculture.
• Gain substantial practical industry experience through 28 weeks of paid full-time practical work.
• Develop skills relevant to agriculture, food production, consultancy, research, technical development and farm management.
• Have the opportunity to complete the degree with Honours through an original research project.
• Lincoln University describes the degree as a distinctive four-year agricultural science programme.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The degree requires a combination of compulsory courses and electives. Lincoln notes that the detailed structure is indicative and that a course advisor helps students select electives and plan their degree.

Year 1:

Semester 1:

• MGMT 103 – Primary Industry Systems – 15 credits
• PHSC 101 – Chemistry IA – 15 credits
• LINC 101 – Land, People and Economies – 15 credits
• Bachelor of Agricultural Science suggested elective

Semester 2:

• ANSC 105 – Animal Science – 15 credits
• SOSC 106 – Soil Science I – 15 credits
• PLSC 104 – Plant Science I – 15 credits
• Bachelor of Agricultural Science suggested elective.

Year 2:

Semester 1:

• PLSC 204 – Plant Production Systems – 15 credits
• ANSC 213 – Livestock Production Science – 15 credits
• MGMT 201 – Principles of Agricultural Systems – 15 credits
• SOSC 224 – Soil Management – 15 credits

Semester 2:

• QMET 201 – Biometrics – 15 credits
• Suggested/elective courses.

Year 3:

Semester 1:

• AGRI 393 – Agricultural Practicum – 15 credits
• Courses from the Bachelor of Agricultural Science List A
• Electives

Semester 2:

• Courses from the Bachelor of Agricultural Science List A
• Electives.

Year 4:

Students undertake elective courses, with the programme allowing considerable flexibility in selecting advanced agricultural science subjects.

Examples of advanced List A courses include:

• MGMT 316 – Evaluating Agricultural Systems
• PLSC 320 – Crop Science
• ANSC 312 – Dairy Production Science
• QMET 306 – Experimentation
• SOSC 340 – Advanced Soil Management
• MGMT 318 – Opportunity Analysis in Agricultural Systems
• PLSC 321 – Pasture Agronomy
• MGMT 317 – Strategic Management in Agricultural Systems
• ANSC 314 – Meat and Wool Production Science.

Other available areas include:

• Agricultural systems and sustainability
• Agribusiness
• Plant science
• Plant pest management
• Animal health
• Soil science
• Field ecology
• Environmental analysis
• Fruit crop production
• Freshwater resources
• Sustainable futures
• Physical landscapes.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The standard Bachelor of Agricultural Science does not require students to choose one fixed major.

Students can develop a particular academic focus through elective selection.

Key areas include:

• Animal science and animal production
• Plant science and crop production
• Soil science and nutrient management
• Farm and agricultural systems
• Agricultural sustainability
• Plant protection
• Genetics and breeding
• Water resources
• Ecology
• Agroforestry
• Precision agriculture
• Agricultural economics and management
• Agricultural research. 

Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours

The degree can be completed with Honours.

Honours entry is by invitation from the Dean. Lincoln states that students will typically have completed the sixth semester within the minimum time and have a cumulative GPA of 5 or higher for their last two years of study.

The Honours pathway provides the opportunity to:

• Take postgraduate courses.
• Undertake a substantial original research project.
• Develop specialist expertise in an agricultural science area or farm management.
• Prepare for professional-level agricultural or agribusiness work and further research.

Programme Highlights

• 4-year full-time bachelor's degree.
• 480 credits.
• Strong scientific focus on agriculture and food production.
• Combination of classroom, laboratory, field and practical learning.
• 28 weeks of paid full-time practical work.
• Broad choice of agricultural science electives.
• Opportunity to develop expertise in plant, animal, soil or agricultural systems.
• Opportunity to complete the fourth year with Honours.
• Research and data-analysis components.
• Strong focus on sustainable agricultural production.

Career Outcomes

Lincoln identifies the following broad career areas for graduates:

• Agriculture
• Food production
• Agricultural consultancy
• Research
• Technical development
• Farm management.

Depending on elective choices and practical experience, graduates may also pursue work related to:

• Agronomy
• Soil consultancy
• Animal production
• Plant production
• Agricultural sustainability
• Agricultural systems analysis
• Farm advisory services
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural research and technical development.

International students should separately budget for:

• Accommodation
• Food and living expenses
• Airfare
• Local transportation
• Books and study materials
• Student visa costs
• Medical and travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Practical-work related expenses, where applicable.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally need a New Zealand student visa for this full-time degree.

For a Fee Paying Student Visa, Immigration New Zealand requires applicants to satisfy requirements relating to:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Tuition-fee payment or acceptable evidence of ability to pay.
• Living-cost funds.
• Outward-travel arrangements or funds.
• Health requirements.
• Character requirements.
• Genuine intentions to study.
• Appropriate insurance arrangements.