Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Commerce

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Western Australia

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Commerce at The University of Western Australia is a unique double degree designed for students who want to combine advanced agricultural science knowledge with strong business and commercial expertise. This program is ideal for students interested in food systems, sustainability, agribusiness, economics, management, and agricultural innovation, preparing graduates for leadership roles across global agricultural and business industries.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build a strong scientific and commercial foundation through introductory units in biology, agriculture, economics, and business. Subjects such as AGRI1001 Feeding the World, BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology, and SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis introduce global agricultural challenges, biological systems, and scientific data analysis, while commerce units develop analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills relevant to modern business environments.

Year 2

The second year focuses on developing technical agricultural knowledge alongside specialised business studies selected from commerce majors such as Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Business Economics, or Management. Students deepen their understanding of agricultural systems, sustainability, and production technologies while also learning business strategy, financial decision-making, and organisational management through discipline-specific commerce units.

Year 3

In the third year, students engage with advanced agricultural science topics including digital agriculture, agricultural economics, crop and livestock systems, and sustainable production practices. Units within the Agricultural Science and Technology extended major help students explore the impact of climate change, land management, and food security challenges while strengthening their commercial understanding of agribusiness operations and global markets.

Year 4

The final year integrates advanced agricultural expertise with high-level business and industry applications. Students apply their scientific and commercial knowledge to real-world agricultural and business challenges, preparing for careers in agribusiness, consulting, sustainability, finance, and agricultural technology sectors. Through upper-level commerce and agricultural science units, students graduate with a multidisciplinary skill set suited for leadership roles in the global food and agricultural industries.

Focus Areas

Agricultural science, agribusiness management, agricultural economics, sustainability, crop and livestock systems, digital agriculture, business strategy, finance, marketing, agricultural technology, food security, environmental management

Learning Outcomes

Develop advanced knowledge in agricultural production and sustainability, understand business and commercial operations within agricultural industries, apply scientific and economic principles to global food systems, analyse agricultural and business data for decision-making, strengthen leadership and communication skills, and build expertise in agricultural innovation and agribusiness management

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Bachelor of Commerce component is delivered through the UWA Business School, which is internationally accredited by AACSB and EQUIS and aligned with Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). Depending on the selected commerce major, students may also meet accreditation requirements for professional industry bodies such as CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Western Australia is ranked 1st in Australia and 13th globally for Agricultural Sciences (GRAS 2025), highlighting its global research strength and industry reputation in agriculture. UWA Business School also holds internationally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditation, reflecting strong graduate employability and global business education standards.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Commerce at The University of Western Australia combines practical agricultural training with real-world business and industry experience. Students develop hands-on scientific, analytical, and management skills through laboratory classes, field-based learning, agricultural technology training, consultancy projects, and work-integrated learning opportunities connected to both the agricultural and commercial sectors.

UWA’s advanced agricultural research facilities, business innovation environment, and industry-connected learning approach allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real agricultural production systems, agribusiness operations, and sustainability challenges. Throughout the program, students gain experience with digital tools, collaborative industry projects, scientific research environments, and professional business applications:

Science Work Placement: Through the SCIE2205 Science Work Placement unit, students can gain professional experience in agricultural, environmental, scientific, or commercial workplaces while building industry networks and employability skills.
Science Consultancy Project: The SCIE2206 Science Consultancy Project enables students to work in teams on real industry and research challenges in collaboration with external organisations and industry partners.
GIS and Remote Sensing Technologies: Students develop practical skills in spatial technologies and agricultural mapping through units such as GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems and advanced remote sensing studies used in precision agriculture and land management.
Plant Growth Facility (PGF): Students have access to UWA’s Plant Growth Facility, which includes controlled-environment glasshouses, growth rooms, phytotrons, and agricultural research spaces designed for crop science and environmental experimentation.
Controlled Agricultural Research Environments: The facility allows students and researchers to work with regulated temperature, irrigation, soil, nutrient, and lighting systems used in modern agricultural science research.
Fieldwork and Agricultural Site Visits: Students participate in practical field activities and agricultural fieldwork experiences that connect theoretical knowledge with real farming systems, sustainability practices, and environmental management challenges.
Digital Agriculture and Data Analysis Tools: The program integrates agricultural data analysis, scientific modelling, and technology-based decision-making tools relevant to agribusiness management and modern farming operations.
Collaborative Group Projects: Students work on multidisciplinary projects combining agricultural science and commerce knowledge to solve practical business and sustainability challenges affecting the global food industry.
Business School Learning Environment: Through the UWA Business School, students gain access to case-study learning, commercial problem-solving activities, teamwork-based assessments, and industry-connected business education experiences.
Research Institutes and Innovation Exposure: Students learn within a research-intensive university environment connected to agricultural sustainability, food security, environmental science, and agribusiness innovation initiatives.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Commerce at The University of Western Australia graduate with a rare combination of scientific expertise and commercial knowledge, making them highly competitive across agriculture, agribusiness, sustainability, finance, and food production industries. The program prepares students for careers that require both technical agricultural understanding and strategic business decision-making in a rapidly evolving global market.

Typical career pathways include Agribusiness Manager, Agricultural Consultant, Commodity Trader, Sustainability Advisor, Agricultural Economist, Farm Business Analyst, Supply Chain Manager, and Agritech Business Specialist:

Careers and Employability Centre: UWA Careers and Employability services support students through personalised career consultations, resume and interview workshops, employer networking events, internship preparation, and graduate recruitment opportunities connected to science and business industries.
Industry Work-Integrated Learning: Students gain practical experience through units such as SCIE2205 Science Work Placement and consultancy-based projects that strengthen professional skills and industry exposure before graduation.
Strong Industry Connections: UWA maintains close links with agricultural enterprises, agribusiness companies, sustainability organisations, research institutes, and commercial industries throughout Western Australia and internationally, helping students build valuable professional networks.
Global Agricultural and Business Demand: Graduates are prepared for employment in sectors experiencing strong international demand, including food security, agritech innovation, agricultural finance, commodity markets, environmental consulting, and sustainable resource management.
Business School Accreditation Value: The UWA Business School holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditation, internationally recognised standards achieved by only a small percentage of business schools worldwide, adding long-term global value to the commerce qualification.
Professional Accounting Recognition: Depending on the selected commerce major, students may complete studies aligned with accreditation pathways for CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
Industry-Relevant Technical Skills: Students graduate with expertise in agricultural systems, agribusiness planning, GIS technologies, data analysis, sustainability management, financial decision-making, and business strategy, skills highly transferable across multiple industries.
Research and Innovation Reputation: UWA is ranked 1st in Australia and 13th globally for Agricultural Sciences (GRAS 2025), strengthening graduate employability and international recognition within agricultural and environmental sectors.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates may work within multinational agribusiness companies, government agricultural agencies, environmental and sustainability firms, commodity trading organisations, agricultural technology companies, banking and finance sectors, and food production enterprises.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this double degree, graduates can continue into postgraduate coursework or research degrees in both agriculture and business-related disciplines. Students may pursue advanced studies such as a Master of Agricultural Science, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Environmental Science, Master of Commerce, Master of Economics, or Higher Degrees by Research (MPhil and PhD) in areas including agribusiness, sustainability, food systems, agricultural economics, environmental management, and agricultural technology innovation.