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Agricultural Systems Technology

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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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

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.

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.

Dr Sharon O’Rourke
e. sharon.orourke@ucd.ie

UCD Agriculture & Food Science School Office
Agriculture & Food Science Centre
Belfield, Dublin 4

Contact Us


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
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

SDG1 SDG2 SDG9 SDG 13 SDG 15

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.

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