Agriculture is the fundamental of civilisation, where mass agriculture activities cater the need of food for people living in cities. The food that we all have in our plates are the output of agriculture, making the field of agriculture a multi-billion industry.
Agriculture is no longer the traditional farming with indigenous knowledge and tools like axe, hoe and stick. The evolution of agriculture has greatly improved the form of extensive and sustainable farming with cutting edge technology like drone farming,plants genetic modification and water monitoring devices.
If you are curious about the technology behind the modern agriculture, then you should consider studying a course in Agriculture to turn your interest into a career. Read on to find out more on what Agriculture can offer you.
What is Agriculture all about?
Agriculture is the science and art of cultivating plants and livestock. It is not simply about plowing land or keeping sheep and cattles in farm.
Farmers have huge contribution in helping humanity and ecosystem by applying knowledge to produce food. In order to achieve that goal, one has to understand the science behind soil, water, climate and many many more.
50% of the world population still relies on traditional farming where environmental impacts are not considered, causing irreversible pollution. The agriculture in modern days concerns about conservative agriculture to grow food while conserving lands to reduce deforestation and soil erosion.
What are the major fields in Agriculture?
In agriculture, there are wide range of knowledge to be acquired in order to achieve sustainable farming. Below are a few of the many disciplines in agriculture you can learn:
What are the entry requirement and qualifications?
The entry requirement and qualifications for different institutions in Ireland varied. Make sure that you check on the official portal of your desired institutions before applying.
The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is not accepted for direct entry to universities in Ireland. A foundation course in Ireland is definitely a good start for your journey in Ireland.
Non-native English speakers can provide evidence of ability via one of the following qualifications:
- Irish Leaving Certificate in English
- GCSE English Language
- University of Cambridge – Use of English Examination
- TOEFL
- IELTS
- Cambridge Proficiency
- Cambridge Advanced
- ARELS oral examination
- ETAPP
- PTE Academic
Below are the general minimum requirements to study a foundation course in Ireland:
|
Academic |
Successful completion of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), with an aggregate of 25-30 in the five best subjects. OR 4-5 subjects at IGCSE with grades A-C. |
| English | IELTS 5.0; TOEFL iBT 60+; Pearson PTE 45 OR Other related English test results |
| Age | Minimum 17 years old at the start of course. |
Students who do not meet the minimum requirement of English may be asked to study a short English course before starting the university foundation course.
What are the job opportunities?
It is highly likely that you are going to work outdoor, which could be physically demanding.
Other than being a farmer, there are plenty of job opportunities in the field of agriculture. Here are some of them for your reference:
Universities in Ireland that offer Agriculture courses
Eight Irish Universities made it into QS’ World University Rankings for 2018, which proved the quality of tertiary education in Ireland. See the list below for universities in Ireland that offer Agriculture and related subjects:
1. University College Dublin (UCD)
University College Dublin founded in 1854, is ranked within the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide, has become Ireland’s global university. University College Dublin is one of the Europe’s leading research-intensive universities. UCD is also Ireland's most globally engaged university with over 30,000 students drawn from over 139 countries offering variety of agricultural-related degrees such as forestry, animal science, human nutrition and food science.
2. Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin is recognised for academic excellence and a transformative student experience, that home talented inquiring minds.It is ranked 104th in the world in QS World University Rankings 2018.Trinity College Dublin has over 200 societies, sports club and publications, making student life extremely diverse and exciting. In the school of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, Trinity College Dublin provides the degree programmes in environmental science, geoscience and zoology that allow you to gain the first step into the field of agriculture.
3. University College Cork, Ireland
University College Cork (UCC) has been ranked as one of the leading universities in the world for sustainable social and economic impact. It is also ranked as top in the world for its work in assisting the UN goal of ‘responsible consumption and production’, making it the ideal choice to study for a degree in agriculture. It offers Agricultural Science, that enables student to understand the functioning and operation of Irish farm-oriented systems.
4. Maynooth University
Maynooth University has sustained its place in the top 100 global universities under 50 years old, achieving a ranking of #80 in the latest Times Higher Education Young University Rankings. Since establishment, Maynooth University has produced over 10,000 undergraduates students and 1,900 postgraduate students.
5. University of Limerick
Graduates from University of Limerick are among the most employable in Ireland, and prepared for work by practical courses.Student life in University of Limerick is more than learning in classroom.It will also involve being part of a community, work experience, volunteering and personal development. Its campus is one of the most beautiful university campuses anywhere in the world. It offers Equine Science, Environmental Science and Food Science that can prepare student well before joining the field of Agriculture.