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Dairy Business

BAgrSc (NFQ Level 8)
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Sustainable Development Goals

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The Irish dairy industry is in a time of significant change, following the abolition of EU milk quotas on March 31, 2015. This change brings significant challenges and opportunities for young,  highly skilled graduates from the Dairy Business programme.

This degree is designed to equip future leaders of the dairy industry with the scientific, technical and business skills needed to cope with this business and enterprise expansion.

About This Course

First & Second Year

You start with a range of business, science, mathematics and technology- related modules. You  then build on this scientific base by taking a range of modules in relevant applied sciences, as well as business and communications- related modules.

Third & Fourth Year

In June of second year, you’ll undertake technical management of a dairy farm at Teagasc, Kildalton Agricultural College. This is followed by Professional Work Experience (PWE) placement in the dairy industry from July to December.

For trimester two of third year, you study at Teagasc, Moorepark in areas including:

  • Grassland Management & Nutrition
  • Dairy Systems
  • Applied Breeding & Fertility
  • Herd Health
  • Dairy Business Project.

In fourth year, you’ll consolidate your understanding of earlier modules and pursue a range of business and science modules.

Students spend an average of 40 hours  a week, including: lectures and tutorials; laboratory and practical workshops; and independent study.

Assessment varies but involves a combination of projects, continuous assessment and end-of-trimester examinations. Assessment of PWE involves monthly reports, a final report and an interview, upon completion.

PWE takes place between July and December (first trimester, third year) and offers you the opportunity to visit New Zealand at the busiest time of the dairy farming calendar.

In addition to the highly skilled role of dairy farm management, opportunities exist in a wide variety of areas including:

  • Research
  • Animal feed industry
  • Banking
  • Teaching
  • Consultancy

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.

Module Type Module   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
 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
 BMGT10060 Introduction to Management Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 RDEV10040 Introduction to Food and Agribusiness Management Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Select one of the following options in the Autumn term:
 FOR10020 Trees and Forests in Ireland Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Select one of the following options in the Autumn term:
 RDEV10020 Information Skills Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Select one of the following options in the Autumn term:
 BMGT10140 Business Plan Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of an elective worth 5 credits
 BMGT10180 Business Management Simulation Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of an elective worth 5 credits
 CHEM10010 Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of an elective worth 5 credits
 CPSC10010 Introduction to Crop Science Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of an elective worth 5 credits
 FDSC10030 Our Food, Our Planet: Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of an elective worth 5 credits
 PHYC10190 Aspects of Physics for Ag. Sci Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 AESC20060 Soil Science Basics Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 ANSC30010 Animal Reproduction Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 FOR20100 Applied Biostatistics Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 MKT20020 Marketing: Firms, Customers & Society Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 ACC10060 Introduction to Accounting Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 AERD20020 Business Law Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 ANSC20020 Animal Nutrition I Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 ANSC20050 Principles of Dairy Production Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 BMGT20150 Sustainable Operations & Supply Chain Management Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 RDEV20140 Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
These modules may expand your knowledge of 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:
These modules may expand your knowledge of the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives
 FDSC20110 Food Diet and Health II - Making Healthy Food Choices Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
These modules may expand your knowledge of the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives
 CPSC20030 Principles of Crop Science Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 ANSC30370 Professional Work Experience Autumn  30
Stage 3 Core Modules
 ANSC30280 Herd Health & Milk Quality Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 ANSC30290 Grassland Management and Applied Dairy Nutrition Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 ANSC30310 Dairy Systems Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 ANSC30320 Dairy Business Project Spring  10
Stage 3 Core Modules
 ANSC30330 Applied Dairy Breeding and Fertility Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 AERD30190 Farm Business Management Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 AESC30080 Agri-Environmental Issues and Policy Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 ANSC30020 Animal Breeding I Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 ANSC30040 Animal Nutrition II Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 BMGT30100 Leadership and Change Management Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 AERD30210 Food and Agricultural Policy Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 AERD40040 Food and Agribusiness Strategy Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 AESC40140 Agri-Environmental Nutrient Management Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 ANSC30050 Experimental Design and Data Analysis Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 RDEV30060 Professional Communications Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
These modules may expand your knowledge of the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives
CPSC30050 Organic Agriculture Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
These modules may expand your knowledge of the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives
RDEV30380 Knowledge Tfr for Farm Innovat Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
These modules may expand your knowledge of the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives
ANSC30130 Principles of Animal Health, Behaviour and Welfare Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
These modules may expand your knowledge of the Agri-Food sector and may be taken in place of electives
BSEN30020 Buildings and Environment Spring  5

SDG1 SDG2 SDG 12 SDG 13 SDG 15

The mission of the School of Agriculture and Food Science is to develop and apply the science and scholarship of agriculture, food, environmental sciences, and rural development for the benefit of society through excellence in education, research, innovation and continuing professional development.

The BAgrSc in Dairy Business is designed to equip students with the scientific, technical, and business skills required to drive innovation in this exciting and dynamic industry. The pressing challenge for the industry is to become more sustainable not only environmentally but also economically and societally. The programme focuses on the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) as they relate to dairy production practices and the dairy industry in Ireland and internationally. This vision of sustainability fits very closely with the expertise within the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science where the teaching and research programmes span the entire food chain, from on-farm food production to human nutrition and health, providing a diverse range of career opportunities for graduates in Ireland and internationally.

In addition to this the programme relates to the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s): 

  • No Poverty (SDG 1)
  • No Hunger (SDG 2)
  • Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
  • Climate Action (SDG 13)
  • Life on Land (SDG 15)

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.

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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Dairy Business:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceInt DBS1
Dairy Business
Bachelor of Agricultural Science		 Commencing 2024/2025 September Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to Dairy Business:

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt DBS1
Dairy Business
Bachelor of Agricultural Science		 Commencing 2024/2025 September Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.		 Apply
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