This course is available through the following application route(s)
Agronomy is the science of crop production and soil management, leading to improvements in crop yield and quality.
Environmental challenges, production of biofuels, and the growing demand for major food crops like wheat and rice, make agriculture and crop science a vital subject for our future well-being. You will learn about the science, production and management of crops, from genes and cells through to fields, farms and the development of future crops from subject experts who are active researchers in the most rapidly developing area of agriculture and agri- business.
First year concentrates on developing the basic sciences, before the focus moves to more applied sciences.
Students spend an average of 40 hours a week attending lectures and tutorials, participating in laboratory-based practicals and undertaking independent study.
A combination of continuous assessment and end-of-trimester written examinations is used. Certain modules also require project work.
A PWE placement takes place in third year and may be taken internationally.
In addition, an opportunity exists to take a trimester abroad in the Autumn Trimester of third year in an international university such as:
The potential opportunities for graduates are in a wide variety of areas such as
This is also a very suitable degree if you intend to pursue full-time farming or combine part-time farming with a professional career. Research opportunities to master’s and PhD level are available.
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Core Modules |
AESC10010 | Land Use and the Environment | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
CHEM00020 | Introductory Chemistry | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MATH10230 | Mathematics for Agriculture I | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PHYC10180 | Physics for Ag. Science | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
RDEV10020 | Information Skills | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
RDEV10030 | Introduction to Agricultural Economics and Business | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
ANSC10010 | Introduction to Animal Science | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
BIOL10010 | Animal Biology and Evolution | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
BIOL10030 | Cell and Plant Biology | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
CHEM10010 | Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
CPSC10010 | Introduction to Crop Science | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: These modules may be selected in the SPRING term in place of 5 elective credits. |
FDSC10030 | Our Food, Our Planet: Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: These modules may be selected in the SPRING term in place of 5 elective credits. |
PHYC10190 | Aspects of Physics for Ag. Sci | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: These modules may be selected in the SPRING term in place of 5 elective credits. |
RDEV10040 | Introduction to Food and Agribusiness Management | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
AESC20060 | Soil Science Basics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
BSEN30170 | Agricultural Mechanisation: Engines and Crop Machinery | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
FOR20100 | Applied Biostatistics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
HORT20070 | Agricultural Botany | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
MICR20010 | Agricultural Microbiology | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
BSEN30020 | Buildings and Environment | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
CPSC20020 | Fundamentals of Arable Crop Production | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
CPSC20040 | Physiological Plant Ecology | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
FDSC20100 | Agricultural Biochemistry | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
RDEV20140 | Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: The modules may expand your knowledge in the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives |
AERD20030 | Business Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: The modules may expand your knowledge in the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives |
BIOL20050 | Climate Change and Agriculture | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: The modules may expand your knowledge in the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives |
ANSC20010 | Genetics and Biotechnology | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
CPSC30010 | Professional Work Experience | 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) | 30 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
AESC30100 | Pests, Parasites and Beneficials | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BIOL30010 | Plant Diseases: Biology and Control | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
CPSC30050 | Organic Agriculture | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
CPSC30100 | Emerging Crop Pathogens | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A)1 of: Students must select ONE of the two following modules: |
AERD40140 | Analysis of Prices and Markets in Global Agri-Business | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A)1 of: Students must select ONE of the two following modules: |
AESC30220 | Soil Science Applications | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 0 of: This module may be taken in place of an elective |
RDEV30380 | Knowledge Tfr for Farm Innovat | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD30190 | Farm Business Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AESC40660 | Plants, Roots and Productivity | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
CPSC30040 | Grass and Forage Production | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
CPSC40010 | Cereal Production | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
CPSC40100 | Advances in Crop Mechanisation | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AESC30160 | Agrichemicals and the Environment | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AESC30230 | Climate, Carbon and Soil | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
CPSC40050 | Devs in Crop Production & Util | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
HORT10030 | Plant-based Diets | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
RDEV30060 | Professional Communications | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of: Suggested option module |
AESC30080 | Agri-Environmental Issues and Policy | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of: Suggested option module |
AESC30010 | Scientific Writing and Review | Spring | 5 |
Understanding of crop science is a key aspect of sustainable agricultural practices. Crops are pivotal in developing climate-smart agriculture through food security, nutrition and resources sustainability. Crops underpin both human and livestock production and hence the production of crops in a way that optimises the use of soil and water resources while supporting biodiversity and climate-smart agricultural practices is a fundamental aspect of crop science. This aligns with the vision of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science as the crop teaching and research programmes work with the entire sector from pre and post-farm gate through the processing sector and into national and international companies. The crop science programme supports the development of strategies relating to UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.
UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Crop Science:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to | Application Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceInt | CPS3 Crop Science Bachelor of Agricultural Science |
Commencing 2024/2025 September | Undergraduate Degree (Non EU) Non EU Undergraduates |
Apply |
