Agricultural Systems Technology is aimed at students who wish to learn how to build, develop, and manage technology for the agriculture sector. Students will gain a deep understanding of how to use technology in order to improve and enhance sustainability, efficiency and reliability in farming and food production. You will take classes in engineering, science, mathematics and data science. Upon completing the course, you will be uniquely equipped to build, develop and manage technologies such as computer systems, networks, data management and sensors, machinery systems and precision agriculture.
I am an
Study Abroad
Sustainable Development Goals
This course is available through the following application route(s)
Agricultural Systems Technology is aimed at students who wish to learn how to build, develop, and manage technology for the agriculture sector. Students will gain a deep understanding of how to use technology in order to improve and enhance sustainability, efficiency and reliability in farming and food production. You will take classes in engineering, science, mathematics and data science. Upon completing the course, you will be uniquely equipped to build, develop and manage technologies such as computer systems, networks, data management and sensors, machinery systems and precision agriculture.
About This Course
Students will study modules in basic science, agricultural sciences, engineering technologies and data science. Modules include:
First Year
Animal Biology & Evolution • Introductory Chemistry • Mathematics for Agriculture • Physics for Agricultural Science • Agricultural Economics & Business • Introduction to Biomolecules • Cell & Plant Biology • Information Skills • Optional Modules
Second Year
Agricultural Engineering Principles • Animal, Crop & Soil Science • Applied Biostatistics • Agricultural Microbiology • Food Physics • Food Macronutrients • Computer Programming
Third Year
Agricultural Mechanisation (engines, hydraulics, components and machinery systems) • Sensors & Sensing Systems • GIS & Remote Sensing • Business Management • Data Structures & Algorithms • Numerical Methods for Agricultural Technology • Professional Work Experience (PWE)
Fourth Year
Precision Agriculture (crops) • Precision Livestock Management • Optical Sensing Technology • Databases & Information Systems • Experimental Project • Life Cycle Assessment • Quantitative Risk Assessment • Waste Management
Students will spend an average of 40 hours a week attending lectures, tutorials and 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.
Professional Work Experience (PWE)
A 16-week period of structured PWE takes place in third year. PWE can be taken in Ireland or abroad
There are opportunities to study abroad for one trimester in third year. Possibilities include:
- University of California, USA
- University of Queensland, Australia
- Michigan State University, USA
- Kansas State University, USA
- Purdue University, USA
Graduates will find rewarding and challenging employment in agri-food industries, including:
- Production Agriculture
- Environmental Protection
- Consulting
- Equipment Manufacturing
- Agri-Tech
Typical Roles Include Technical and Managerial Positions in:
- Production
- Service Provision
- Environmental Protection
- Information Technology
- Manufacturing
- Process & Product Design
There are also excellent graduate study opportunities to specialise in Environmental Technology, Food Engineering, Sustainable Energy and Green Technology.
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 |
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 |
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 |
MATH10240 | Mathematics for Agriculture II | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of: Students must select an Autumn module |
AESC10010 | Land Use and the Environment | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of: Students must select an Autumn module |
FOR10020 | Trees and Forests in Ireland | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of: Students must select an Autumn module |
FDSC10010 | Food Diet and Health | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
FDSC10010 | Food Diet and Health | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
BSEN10010 | Biosystems Engineering Design Challenge | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
CPSC10010 | Introduction to Crop Science | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
HORT10020 | Plants and People | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
RDEV10040 | Introduction to Food and Agribusiness Management | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
AERD20030 | Business Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
AESC20060 | Soil Science Basics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
BSEN20060 | Food Physics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
COMP10010 | Introduction to Programming I | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
FOR20100 | Applied Biostatistics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
MICR20010 | Agricultural Microbiology | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
ANSC10010 | Introduction to Animal Science | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
ANSC20020 | Animal Nutrition I | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
BSEN20150 | Agricultural Engineering Principles | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
CPSC20030 | Principles of Crop Science | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
RDEV20140 | Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your elective from any available modules across UCD that fit your term dates or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, this is available: |
CPSC20020 | Fundamentals of Arable Crop Production | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN30510 | Professional Work Experience | 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum) | 10 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
AERD20030 | Business Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN20170 | Applied Programming for Agricultural Technology | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN30170 | Agricultural Mechanisation: Engines and Crop Machinery | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN30190 | Agricultural Mechanisation: Hydraulics and components | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
CPSC30040 | Grass and Forage Production | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
FOR30430 | Geographic Information Systems | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN20040 | Biosystems Engineering Research Trends | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN30520 | Sensors and Sensing Systems | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN30530 | Numerical Methods for Agricult | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD that fit your term dates or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
AESC30230 | Climate, Carbon and Soil | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD that fit your term dates or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
ANSC30050 | Experimental Design and Data Analysis | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD that fit your term dates or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
FOR30070 | Forest Harvesting | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD that fit your term dates or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
HORT30390 | Plant Biotechnology & Micropro | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD30190 | Farm Business Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN30240 | Waste Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN30360 | Life Cycle Assessment | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN40570 | Capstone Project 1 | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
COMP20070 | Databases and Information Systems I | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN30060 | Quantitative Risk Assessment for Human and Animal Health | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN30210 | Precision Agriculture | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN40510 | Precision Livestock Management | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN40520 | Optical Spectroscopy | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
BSEN40550 | Capstone Project 2 | Spring | 10 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
BSEN30280 | Water and Wastewater Engineering | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
BSEN30020 | Buildings and Environment | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something in Agriculture, these are available: |
BSEN30030 | Air Pollution | Spring | 5 |
Each Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) can be considerably advanced by using digital technologies. Digitalization and digital transformation are revolutionizing food and agricultural systems globally through AI, cloud computing and IoT. This plays a significant role in increasing the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of agri-food systems.
This programme considers the related UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) in the transformation of the entire food value chain:
- No Poverty (SDG1)
- Zero Hunger (SDG2)
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG9)
- Climate Action (SDG13)
- Life on Land (SDG15)
I have had a keen interest in agriculture, working on the family dairy farm and keeping up to date with the rapid advancement in agricultural machinery and technology. This course combines themes in precision agriculture, engineering and technology. I have enjoyed modules such as Sensors and Optical Sensing systems and Agri- Mechanisation. In third year I completed a Professional Work Experience placement with Valtra in Finland. There I worked within SmartAG Engineering and had a role in product testing, development and launch to market. I maintained a strong relationship with the SmartAg team, who are supporting me in the field experiment phase of my final year Capstone Project.
Cian Mongey, Student
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.
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Agricultural Systems Technology:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to | Application Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceInt | UAS1 Agricultural Science Bachelor of Agricultural Science |
Full-Time Commencing September 2024 |
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU) Non EU Undergraduates |
Closed |
| showAudience-audienceInt | UAS1 Agricultural Science Bachelor of Agricultural Science |
Full-Time Commencing September 2025 |
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU) Non EU Undergraduates |
Apply |
| showAudience-audienceEU | DN250 Agricultural Science Bachelor of Agricultural Science |
Full-Time Commencing September 2025 |
Application through CAO | Apply via CAO |
* you can change options at the top of the page
Additional special entry route(s) to Agricultural Systems Technology:
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 | UAS1 Agricultural Science Bachelor of Agricultural Science |
Full-Time Commencing September 2025 |
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 |