Undergraduate Agribusiness and Agricultural Science (Extended Major)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Western Australia

Program Overview

The Undergraduate Agribusiness and Agricultural Science (Extended Major) at The University of Western Australia is designed for students who are passionate about agriculture, sustainability, food systems, and business innovation. The program combines agricultural science with economics, marketing, management, and technology to prepare graduates for leadership roles in the rapidly evolving global agribusiness sector.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build a strong foundation in both agricultural science and business principles. Units such as AGRI1001 Feeding the World, BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology, and ECON1000 Economics for Business introduce students to global food production, biological systems, and economic decision-making in agriculture. Students also develop analytical and communication skills through SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis and gain an understanding of consumer and business behaviour through MKTG1203 Introduction to Marketing.

Year 2

The second year focuses on practical agricultural systems, genetics, economics, and industry experience. Through units like AGRI2201 Pasture and Livestock Systems, GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance, and ECON2245 Business Economics, students learn how scientific and business knowledge work together in modern farming and agribusiness operations. The inclusion of GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems introduces spatial technologies used in precision agriculture, while SCIE2205 Science Work Placement provides valuable industry exposure and hands-on professional experience.

Year 3

In the final year, students explore advanced agribusiness management, agricultural economics, sustainability, and innovation. Subjects such as AGRI3004 Agribusiness Planning and Management, ECON3300 Agricultural Economics and Marketing, and MKTG3302 Scaling and Commercialising Start-ups prepare students to lead agricultural enterprises and develop business strategies for future food systems. Students also deepen their technical expertise through ANIM3306 Clean, Green and Ethical Animal Production, SCIE3314 Crops and Cropping Systems, and GEOG3301 Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing, gaining practical skills in sustainable agricultural production and modern farming technologies.

Focus Areas

Agribusiness management, agricultural economics, food systems, crop and livestock production, sustainability, agricultural marketing, GIS and remote sensing, agritech innovation, farm management, agricultural entrepreneurship

Learning Outcomes

Develop expertise in agricultural science and agribusiness operations, apply economic and marketing principles to food and fibre industries, analyse agricultural production systems using scientific and technological tools, understand sustainable and ethical farming practices, gain practical industry experience through work-integrated learning, and build leadership and problem-solving skills for global agricultural challenges

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is aligned with industry needs in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors and incorporates work-integrated learning opportunities through science placements and consultancy projects to strengthen graduate employability.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Western Australia is ranked 1st in Australia and 13th in the world for Agricultural Sciences (GRAS 2025), and 2nd in Australia and 50th in the world for Agriculture and Forestry (QS 2026). These rankings highlight UWA’s strong global reputation, research excellence, and graduate employability within the agricultural industry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Undergraduate Agribusiness and Agricultural Science (Extended Major) at The University of Western Australia is designed to give students hands-on industry experience alongside strong scientific and business knowledge. Students learn through fieldwork, laboratory-based activities, work-integrated learning, agricultural technology training, and practical industry projects that reflect real-world challenges in food production, sustainability, and agribusiness management.

UWA’s strong focus on applied learning allows students to work with advanced agricultural facilities, GIS and remote sensing technologies, controlled-environment research spaces, and professional industry placements. Through science consultancy projects, field trips across Western Australia, and exposure to modern agricultural systems, students graduate with practical skills that are highly valued across the agricultural and agribusiness sectors:

Science Work Placement: Students can undertake the SCIE2205 Science Work Placement unit to gain hands-on industry experience and strengthen professional employability skills through real workplace environments.
Science Consultancy Projects: The SCIE2206 Science Consultancy Project gives students the opportunity to work on practical scientific and industry-focused challenges in collaboration with external organisations.
GIS and Remote Sensing Technologies: Through units such as GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems and GEOG3301 Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing, students develop practical skills in spatial analysis, mapping technologies, and digital agricultural data management used in modern precision agriculture.
Agricultural Data and Digital Tools: Students learn to apply data analysis, agricultural economics, and technology-driven decision-making tools for improving farming productivity and agribusiness efficiency.
Fieldwork Opportunities: UWA’s Fieldwork in Science program provides students with opportunities to participate in field trips across Western Australia and other locations, helping them apply classroom knowledge in real agricultural and environmental settings.
Plant Growth Facility (PGF): Students have access to UWA’s advanced Plant Growth Facility, which includes 19 greenhouses, phytotrons, plant growth rooms, and controlled-environment research spaces used for agricultural and crop science experiments.
Controlled Research Environments: The Plant Growth Facility allows students and researchers to control light quality, temperature, nutrients, soil composition, and irrigation systems for advanced agricultural research and experimentation.
Industry-Relevant Agricultural Training: Practical learning is integrated throughout units covering crop systems, livestock systems, agribusiness management, ethical animal production, and sustainable farming practices.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Undergraduate Agribusiness and Agricultural Science (Extended Major) at The University of Western Australia are well prepared for careers across the global agriculture, food production, agribusiness, and sustainability sectors. By combining scientific expertise with business and management knowledge, students develop versatile skills that are highly valued by employers in both commercial and research-focused agricultural industries.

Typical career pathways include Agribusiness Consultant, Agricultural Scientist, Farm Business Manager, Agricultural Economist, Sustainability Advisor, Supply Chain Analyst, Livestock Production Manager, and Precision Agriculture Specialist:

Career and Employability Support: UWA Careers and Employability services help students prepare for the workforce through career coaching, resume workshops, networking events, internship support, and employer engagement activities specifically connected to science and agricultural industries.
Industry Work Placements: Students can gain direct industry exposure through the SCIE2205 Science Work Placement unit, helping them build professional networks and practical experience before graduation.
Industry Consultancy Experience: Through the SCIE2206 Science Consultancy Project, students work on real-world industry challenges and collaborate with external organisations, strengthening their project management and professional communication skills.
Global Industry Demand: Graduates are equipped for employment across agricultural production, agritech, food security, sustainability consulting, agricultural finance, commodity trading, and government policy sectors, industries experiencing strong demand globally due to increasing focus on food sustainability and agricultural innovation.
Research Excellence and Employability Reputation: UWA is ranked 1st in Australia and 13th globally for Agricultural Sciences (GRAS 2025), enhancing graduate recognition and employment opportunities internationally.
Industry-Relevant Technical Skills: Students graduate with experience in GIS mapping systems, remote sensing technologies, agricultural data analysis, crop and livestock management, and agribusiness planning, all highly transferable skills across modern agricultural industries.
Professional Networking Opportunities: Students benefit from UWA’s strong links with agricultural industries, research organisations, and sustainability-focused enterprises throughout Western Australia and internationally.
Long-Term Career Value: The program’s combination of agricultural science and commercial business knowledge provides graduates with adaptable skills suitable for leadership positions, entrepreneurship, and future-focused agricultural innovation careers.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates may work within agribusiness companies, government agriculture departments, environmental and sustainability organisations, agricultural technology firms, research institutes, commodity trading companies, and international food production businesses.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this program, students can continue their studies through postgraduate coursework or research degrees at The University of Western Australia and other international universities. Graduates may pursue advanced study options such as a Master of Agricultural Science, Master of Biological Science, Master of Environmental Science, Master of Business Administration (MBA), or research-based Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) including MPhil and PhD programs in agriculture, sustainability, food systems, agribusiness, and environmental management.