Where to Study Agriculture
Nowadays, there are enormous opportunities for research and development in the agricultural sector, which is one of the largest employers worldwide. There is a wide range of careers in agriculture that include everything from fighting food poverty through education to developing genetically modified (GMO) crops.
Many universities around the world offer Bachelor and Master of Science programs in agriculture focusing on different aspects of it, for example, management, education, technology, and policy. There are many other adjacent fields such as Animal Science or Plant Breeding that can be a good foundation for further Agricultural Science. Many universities also offer Agriculture as a minor or a separate certificate program. Some institutions build partnerships with each to encourage students’ mobility and travel.
Let’s take a look at the list of most popular destinations to study agriculture.
USA
The United States is a home for many universities that made it to THE University Rankings and QS World University Rankings for Agriculture & Forestry.
Ranked 1st in Agriculture and 5th best public university in the US, the University of California Davis provides a wide range of programs on all university levels, covering environmental education, food systems, agricultural development, and all other fields. There are usually several tracks within each of them to choose from so everyone will find exactly what they need.
BS Agricultural and Environmental Education
Tuition fee: $14,646
BS Agricultural and Environmental Technology
Tuition fee: $14,646
BS Environmental Science and Management
Tuition fee: $14,646
BS International Agricultural Development
Tuition fee: $14,646
BS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Tuition fee: $14,646
MS International Agricultural Development
Tuition fee: $28,710.04
MS Environmental Policy and Management
Tuition fee: $28,710.04
The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Cornell University offers a lot of undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs in more than 30 fields of study. Those who seek to gain a broad interdisciplinary foundation in agriculture or specific scientific and technical knowledge to excel in agricultural sciences will find the right program at the highly ranked Cornell university.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Agricultural Sciences
Tuition fee: $60,286
Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Global Development
Tuition fee: $39,466
MS/PhD, Graduate Field of Plant Breeding
Tuition fee: $39,466
Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Agriculture and Life Sciences
Tuition fee: $39,466
With their scholars working across a range of agricultural and life sciences disciplines, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a major scientific innovation hub. It offers students research-based, hands-on instruction, as well as world-class graduate programs with research and project assistantships, short courses, workshops, and other programs. The results of the university's work are actively applied by businesses, organizations, and communities across Wisconsin.
Agricultural Business Management (ABM), BS
Tuition fee: $39,354
Agricultural and Applied Economics (AAE), BS
Tuition fee: $39,354
Agricultural and Applied Economics, MS
Tuition fee: $25,548
Tuition fee: $25,548
Located in Indiana, Purdue University is famous around the world for its agriculture degrees and partnerships with many other universities across the globe. The school offers a wide range of agricultural programs covering aspects from development, trade, policy implications, agribusiness, production to resources and environmental issues. The school houses some outstanding centers, such as the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), the Center for Food and Agricultural Business, the Center for Commercial Agriculture (CCA), and many more.
Agribusiness (multiple concentrations)
Tuition fee: $31,104
Agricultural Communication, BS
Tuition fee: $31,104
Tuition fee: $31,104
Tuition fee: $31,104
Tuition fee: $31,104
Agricultural Systems Management (ASM), BS
Tuition fee: $31,104
Agricultural & Biological Engineering, MS
Tuition fee: $ 14,397 per semester
Tuition fee: $ 14,397 per semester
Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication, MS
Tuition fee: $ 14,397 per semester
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a home for Wageningen University & Research which is considered to be the top university in the country and the world’s best in Agriculture & Forestry according to the QS World University Rankings. If you are interested in agriculture, healthy food, and living environment, this is a great place to study. Wageningen University & Research offers several BS programs taught in English to study animal sciences, environmental sciences, food technology, water management, and others. The Agroecology double degree is a European master's degree designed for students who are passionate about sustainable agriculture and agroecosystem management. This program includes one year in the Netherlands and one year at the Institut Supérieur d'agriculture et d'agroalimentaire Rhône-Alpes (ISARA-Lyon) in Lyon, France.
Soil, Water, Atmosphere, Bachelor’s
Tuition fee: €15,700 ($17,860) a year
International Land and Water Management, Bachelor's
Tuition fee: €15,700 ($17,860) a year
Environmental Sciences, Bachelor's
Tuition fee: €15,700 ($17,860) a year
Tuition fee: €18,700 ($21,270) a year
Agroecology (double degree), European Master's
Tuition fee: €18,700 ($21,270) a year
Sweden
Sweden is a country that excels in sustainability. If you want to gain a broad understanding of sustainable urban and rural development and how to use biological natural resources without depleting them, Sweden would be your perfect study abroad destination. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is a top international university, which ranks among the best in the world to study agriculture and related disciplines.
The school offers a bachelor’s degree that gives students in-depth knowledge of forests and landscapes. As part of the program, They will also have an opportunity to study at one of SLU's partner universities, such as Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. There are several master’s programs too with a focus on economics, ecology, environment, and conservation depending on the program.
BSc with a major in Landscape Architecture or Forestry Science
Tuition fee: SEK 406,800 ($43,500) for a three-year program
Agricultural Economics and Management, MSc in Business Administration or Economics
Tuition fee: SEK 219,000 ($23,420) for a two-year program
Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis, MSc in Economics
Tuition fee: SEK 219,000 ($23,420) for a two-year program
Agroecology, MSc with a major in Agricultural Science
Tuition fee: total SEK 243,000 ($25,980) for a two-year program
Switzerland
Even though ETH Zurich is the only university in Switzerland to offer degree programs in Agricultural Sciences, these programs are in the world’s top 6 by subject according to the QS World University Rankings and the top 14 by THE University Rankings. Excursions and an agricultural internship are part of the curriculum and provide a link to agricultural practice in Switzerland. During their master’s studies, students select one major, which defines the main focus of their studies: Agricultural Economics, Animal Sciences, or Plant Sciences.
Bachelor in Agricultural Sciences
Tuition fee: CHF 800 ($870) per semester
Master's in Agricultural Sciences
Tuition fee: CHF 800 ($870) per semester
Norway
Famous for its tuition-free English-taught quality programs, the country hosts the Norwegian University of Life Sciences which is highly ranked by the QS World University Rankings. This school praises itself for enabling people all over the world to tackle global challenges regarding the environment, sustainable development, human and animal health, renewable energy sources, food production, and land- and resource management.
International Environment and Development Studies, BA
Tuition fee: no
Tuition fee: no
Tuition fee: no
Applied Economics and Sustainability, MS
Tuition fee: no
