Dairy Business

The Irish dairy industry has undergone a significant transformation since the abolition of EU milk quotas in 2015. The pressing challenge for the industry is to become more sustainable not only environmentally but also economically and societally. As a graduate of the Dairy Business Programme, you will be wellprepared to take on this challenge and lead the way in addressing these issues. This degree will equip you with the scientific, technical, and business skills you need to drive innovation in this exciting and dynamic industry.

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The first two years provide a strong foundation in business, science, mathematics, and technology-related modules, followed by relevant applied sciences, business, and communication modules.

First Year

Animal Biology and Evolution • Introductory Chemistry • Mathematics for Agriculture • Physics for Agricultural Science • Agricultural Economics and Business • Introduction to Management • Land Use and the Environment • Cell and Plant Biology • Introduction to Animal Science • Introduction to Food and Agribusiness Management • Optional Modules

Second Year

Soil Science • Animal Reproduction Applied Biostatistics • Marketing: Forms, Customer & Society • Accounting for non-Business students • Business Law • Animal Nutrition • Principles of Dairy Production • Global Operations and Supply Chain Management • Health, Welfare and Safety in Agriculture • Optional Modules

Third & Fourth Year

In your third year, you will undertake the technical management of a dairy farm at Teagasc, Kildalton Agricultural College and gain Professional Work Experience (PWE) in the industry. For trimester two of third year, you study at Teagasc, Moorepark in areas including:

Herd Health and Milk Quality • Grassland Management and Applied Dairy Nutrition • Dairy Systems • Dairy Business project • Applied Dairy Breeding and Fertility

Fourth year focuses on business and science modules, consolidating earlier learning.

Farm Business Management • Agri- Environmental Issues and Policy • Animal Breeding • Animal Nutrition • Leadership and Change Management • Food and Agricultural Policy • Food and Agribusiness Strategy • Agri-Environmental Nutrient Management • Experimental Design and Data Analysis • Professional Communications • Optional modules

Professional Work Experience (PWE)

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.

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.

Graduates of the Dairy Business Programme are well-positioned for a range of roles, including:

• Dairy Farm Management
• Research
• Animal Feed Industry
• Banking
• Teaching
• Consultancy

Research opportunities to Masters and PhD level are also available.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET
• Open Learning Entry Route
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route
• University Access

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.