Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New England Armidale

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Agriculture / Bachelor of Business at the University of New England gives you the best of both worlds: hands-on, production-focused agriculture knowledge plus deep business and management skills. It’s ideal for students who are passionate about farming or agribusiness — or who envision a future shaping the agricultural industry — and want to learn how to run it smartly, sustainably, and profitably.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: You plunge into the fundamentals, learning how farms and ecosystems work in units like Sustainable Agricultural Systems I (AGSY101) and Sustainable Agricultural Systems II (AGSY102). Alongside, you’ll study core biology (BIOL110, BIOL120) and basic economics (ECON101, ECON102), giving you a strong foundation in both life sciences and the business thinking that underpins agricultural ventures.

Second Year: You begin to explore more specific agricultural sciences — for example Agronomy and Resource Management (AGRO200), and Animal Production (ANPR211) — helping you understand soil, crops and livestock. At the same time, you dive into business-oriented courses in economics (ECON221), management (MM203) and perhaps even quantitative methods (QM161), bridging your understanding between farm science and business operations.

Third Year: The course broadens, letting you combine advanced agriculture — like crop and animal production units (e.g. AGRO321, ANPR321) or resource management courses — with business-level economics (ECON223, ECON326) and agribusiness electives. You also select “minor” agriculture units (e.g. soil science, genetics or livestock production) so you can start shaping a specialisation based on what matters most to you.

Fourth Year: In your final year you focus on integrating everything: specialised business courses from your major (for instance a business management or marketing stream), along with advanced agriculture studies (like AGCS300) and optional electives or additional minor units. This is where you build a holistic view of agribusiness — from paddock to profit — and hone the skills to plan, manage or innovate in agriculture and agribusiness enterprises.

Focus Areas
Integrated agriculture production and business management with specialisations in agribusiness, international business, marketing or accounting.

Learning Outcomes
You’ll graduate ready to manage farms or agribusinesses, make informed production and financial decisions, understand sustainable resource management, and blend agricultural science with business strategy.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
This combined degree is designed so that if you choose the Accounting major in the business component, you meet the academic requirements for professional accounting bodies such as the major institutes in Australia — meaning your qualification could directly support a career in agribusiness accounting or finance.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)
The degree leverages University of New England’s strong reputation in agriculture and business education, and it’s widely recognised for producing graduates who are well-prepared for the workforce — often praised in education guides for its student support and overall experience.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

University of New England offers a highly practical dual-degree experience where students combine agricultural science with real business training, preparing them for leadership roles across agribusiness, farming enterprises, and rural industries. The program blends scientific agricultural learning with finance, management, and marketing applications, giving students the ability to understand both production systems and the business decisions that drive them. Learning is strongly applied through UNE’s regional setting and industry-connected education model:

UNE Smart Farms practical training: Hands-on agricultural learning across university-managed farms covering crop production, livestock systems, and sustainable land management.
Agribusiness simulation & case studies: Real-world business scenarios focusing on farm profitability, supply chain management, and agricultural market analysis.
Industry-linked learning projects: Collaboration with agricultural and business sectors to solve real challenges in agribusiness operations and rural enterprise management.
Business analytics & software tools: Use of business and data analysis tools such as Excel modelling, financial analysis systems, and introductory statistical software for decision-making.
Field-based agricultural learning: Practical exposure to farming environments in the New England region, including crop systems, soil management, and livestock production.
Group-based interdisciplinary projects: Teamwork combining agriculture and business perspectives to develop solutions for farm management and agribusiness strategy.
Agricultural and business laboratories/resources: Access to applied learning spaces supporting both agricultural science and business studies, including data labs and research resources.
UNE library & digital learning platforms: Extensive access to agricultural science journals, business databases, and economic research tools supporting assignments and projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

University of New England graduates are uniquely positioned for careers that combine agricultural science with commercial and strategic business expertise, making them highly valuable in Australia’s agribusiness sector. The dual-degree structure prepares students for leadership roles where they can manage farming operations, analyse markets, and drive innovation across agricultural supply chains. Common roles include: Agribusiness Manager, Farm Business Analyst, Agricultural Consultant, Supply Chain Manager (Agriculture).

Career progression and employability are supported through structured university services and strong industry integration:

UNE Careers and Employability Service: Provides personalised career counselling, resume development, interview preparation, and access to agriculture and business-focused employment pathways.
Strong agribusiness and rural industry connections: Close engagement with farming enterprises, agribusiness companies, and rural organisations across New South Wales and Australia.
Graduate outcomes & salary range: Agribusiness and agriculture-business graduates in Australia typically start around AUD $60,000–$80,000+, with higher earning potential in management, consultancy, and corporate agribusiness roles.
Industry-relevant dual skill advantage: The combination of agriculture and business knowledge significantly increases employability in both technical and commercial sectors of agriculture.
Long-term professional value: The degree is highly regarded in Australia’s agribusiness industry, supporting long-term career growth in farming enterprises, corporate agriculture, and food supply chain management.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into postgraduate study such as a Master of Agribusiness, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Agricultural Economics, or Master of Rural Science, allowing further specialisation in leadership, agricultural markets, global food systems, or advanced agribusiness strategy.