Agriculture is one of the oldest and most important industries in the world. Whether you love the idea of feeding the world, protecting the environment, or are interested in a research career where you can make real-world change, Agriculture could be a great choice for you. With a growing population and great pressure on the environment to sustain us and nature, this field has never been more important.
Study Agriculture: Find Bachelors & Masters in English
Agriculture is a combination of environmental studies, life sciences, economics, and business management. Traditional farming is a large part of agriculture, but today, it is a highly diverse, interdisciplinary sector. You are just as likely to be ploughing a field or caring for animals as you are to be working in forest management, the food industry or traditional research.
Graduates of agriculture can be found working outdoors, analysing data, or in the lab – it really is a degree with endless options.
Feeding the world in a sustainable way is essential for the long-term health and survival of our environment, and therefore us. Sustainability and conservation of natural resources has never been as important as it is today. So, if you would like a career where you can make a real-world impact on the planet and on the everyday lives of people all over the world, then you are in the right place.
Agriculture is a widely available degree programme across Europe. There are many English-taught programmes focused on Agriculture at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral level.
Below, we have listed the top European universities for agriculture courses, using the statistics from , and .
University | Country | ARWU | QS | THE |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wageningen University & Research | Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 19 |
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | Sweden | 9 | 3 | 101-125 |
Aarhus University | Denmark | 13 | 40 | 68 |
University of Göttingen | Germany | 14 | 24 | 51 |
University of Copenhagen | Denmark | 17 | 12 | - |
University of Montpellier | France | 19 | - | 126-150 |
L’Institut Agro | France | 21 | 17 | 301-400 |
Ghent University | Belgium | 27 | 6 | 48 |
Paris-Saclay University | France | 44 | 32 | 62 |
University of Helsinki | Finland | 51-75 | 42 | 77 |
Study Agriculture: Find universities in Europe
Agriculture is an extremally diverse subject and there is a lot of overlap with other areas of science, engineering and business.
Some of the typical modules you can study include:
Rankings are never 100% accurate, but they are still very relevant. The universities that rank highly generally do great research; and research is necessary so we can optimise food production while also protecting the planet and mitigating climate change.
When choosing your university, remember to look at the extras that the university can offer. What practical skills are taught, are there work placement programmes or internships? And what affiliations does the university have? All these things will add up to make a great start to your career.
50業子 Tip: There are many online platforms such as Worldpackers or Workaway where you can try out volunteer jobs related to agriculture in different parts of the world. From taking care of sheeps in Iceland to producing cacao in Costa Rica, it can be a great idea to understand if you really like the tasks. And the best part, you get free acommodation and food, so it’s a very cheap way to travel!
Tuition fees for Agriculture degrees at public universities in Europe range between €0 and €4,000 for students from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, and between €5,000 and €15,000 for non-EU students.
The tuition fees vary from country to country – with Switzerland and the UK generally being more expensive and having less scholarships available for international applicants. In countries such as Germany and Austria, non-EU students can study for free or very low tuition fees. Note that getting into a tuition-free programme is going to be competitive, so be prepared for a challenging application process.
While it’s not easy to generalise what minimum requirements you’ll have to meet to enrol in a degree, there are some that can be found in most cases:
*If courses are in English, students are usually required to provide their proficiency through tests such as IELTS or TOEFL iBT. Some universities might also accept Duolingo English Tests, Cambridge Certificates or even completing a university-specific exam. A certificate or letter from your school is usually not sufficient.
Previous experience or knowledge of agriculture is not required to enter a Bachelor’s degree. However, as with all courses, doing relevant internships or volunteering on semester breaks during your Bachelors will improve your chances of getting into a top agriculture Master’s or PhD, plus it will also look great on your CV.
If you’re interested in a broader scope of study beyond Agriculture, there are many related Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees that cover a range of disciplines:
Remember, the programme chosen should align with your career goals and personal interests. Always do your research and consider multiple options before making a decision.
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Find Bachelors & Masters in Agriculture
116 Agriculture Programmes in Europe