Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science)

The course

Massey University introduced the Bachelor of Science agricultural science major to encourage students to combine a strong science programme with agriculture.

The course is designed to meet demand from New Zealand's largest export sector for people able to apply new science technologies such as gene discovery, food chemistry, plant and animal physiology and molecular genetics.

The three-year course - which can be extended to a fourth, honours year - is offered at Massey's Turitea campus in Palmerston North, but many of the papers can be studied extramurally, full or part-time or by a mix of correspondence and on-campus.

Study time is typically up to 50 hours a week - 25 hours of lectures, tutorials, laboratory time and fieldwork, and the same time in individual study.

Theory and research findings underpin all the teaching. Skills developed include laboratory techniques in the sciences (biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, cell biology, plant and animal physiology), and field techniques (grazing management, soil testing, land-use assessment, animal feeding requirements, ecological field methods). Students also study how to set up and conduct laboratory and field experiments.

A minimum of 20 weeks' practical experience is required before graduation, which can be on farms, in research organisations, or in business. The practical work is found either by the College of Science's Practical Work Office, or through personal contacts.

Assessment is by internal assessment and final exams, varying between papers but typically half assignments, essays, and laboratory reports plus a final exam.

Massey is known internationally as a leading agricultural science university, and the degree is recognised throughout the world. Here, employers recognise the qualification as a top agricultural degree.

Students can do an honours year or a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Science or a two-year Master of Science. Those obtaining first-class honours can enrol for a three-year doctorate programme.

Entrants must qualify for entry to Massey and ideally have studied chemistry and mathematics to 7th form level. The course costs $3700 a year. The next intake is in February and enrolment starts on December 14.

Graduates work as scientists or technical officers, advisers or consultants, and farm managers. Employers include Crown Research Institutes (AgResearch, Crop and Food, LandCare), universities, agricultural businesses such as fertiliser and agrichemical companies, livestock breeding and nutrition, plant breeding and evaluation companies, and farms.

Graduates earn from $35,000 to $50,000.

What graduates think

Jennifer Burke, 31

Lecturer, Palmerston North

Graduated 1996

"My parents farm in Taranaki so I had a link to and an interest in agriculture. I considered doing a veterinary degree. A lot of people who love animals probably consider that first, as somewhat prestigious, but probably a lot more want to apply what they learn to farming. A lot of my class did the six months of study for selection to the vet school and moved over to agricultural science.

"I liked the idea of research. I'd worked at a research station near my home. I liked the how and why questions. What happens if you do this? I've got an inquisitive mind. I was always a hard worker, and you've got to be, to do any good and to go further. The chances of getting scholarships are slimmer if you don't do well.

"The first year is quite general: it's not until the third year that you know what you might want to do and you focus. The papers we did were all sorts - soil, pasture and animals - and they started to link together. You saw how they related. I enjoyed it. They kept it broad and you were set up for anything.

"Of our class, some went on to do PhDs, some are in universities, others are at AgResearch, Dexcel, LIC, Agriculture NZ, or are soil reps or rural bankers.

"It's very broadening. You've got to have an interest in the agricultural industry and be prepared to get your hands dirty. You can live in jeans, gumboots and Swanndris in the early stages, when you've got to be prepared to get stuck in at the grassroots."

What employers think

Graeme Smith

General manager of sales, Ballance Agrinutrients


"A Bachelor of Agricultural Science or similar is the sort of qualification we are looking for and there's a real shortage of people with it. Out of our sales force of 70 people, around 52 are in the North Island and so our perfect candidate comes from Massey with an agricultural science degree and has done papers in soil and fertility.

"We do take people straight from university but it's a challenge to hold on to them. It's good if they have gone overseas and come back and settled down.

"We go to Massey's career expos and offer four scholarships each year of $4000 a year for three years. As a co-operative we do anything we can to work with Massey and get people coming through.

"Lots of graduates don't have a lot of worldly knowledge and could improve on their personal presentation and marketing. And they should know what they want out of the job. The first job could set their course for life."

The qualification

Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science)

Massey University


Phone: 06 356 9099 extn 7576

Earning: $35,000 to $50,000