University of Queensland

Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Science

Delivery: Face to Face
Study Level: Postgraduate
Duration: 6 months
Course Type: Graduate Certificate

Strengthen your agricultural science expertise across crop production, plant health, sustainable resource management and rural leadership, with field-based learning at UQ’s extensive Gatton agricultural facilities.

Course overview

The University of Queensland’s Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Science is designed for recent graduates from any discipline and experienced professionals seeking to strengthen their agricultural expertise. The course examines contemporary challenges affecting agricultural production, natural resources and the ability to produce food while maintaining the environment.

Shape your studies around areas such as agronomy, crop health, plant protection, horticultural production, agricultural policy and international development. Depending on your course selection, learning may include lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, research experience and fieldwork. You can also benefit from access to UQ’s specialist research greenhouses and more than 1,000 hectares of working farmland at Gatton.

Delivered face-to-face at UQ’s Gatton campus, the course can be completed in half a year of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. Graduates may pursue opportunities across agricultural production, consulting, biosecurity, government, research and allied industries. The qualification can also support progression to UQ’s Graduate Diploma or Master of Agricultural Science, subject to the relevant admission and credit requirements.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery

Face to Face

Course Type

Graduate Certificate

Duration

6 months (Full time)

Campus

Gatton

Intake

22nd February, 2027
26th July, 2027

Units

Fees

HECS, CSP

What you will study

At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.

To earn the Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Science, you must complete eight units or four courses, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

Foundational units

Select zero to four units from the following:

Leadership in Rural Industries & Communities
Global Challenges in Agriculture
Plant Physiology
Sustainable Soil Management

Foundational units can only be credited towards the two-year, 32-unit Master of Agricultural Science or the Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Science.

Elective units

Select four to eight units from the following:

Advanced Agronomy
Integrated Crop Health & Management
Crop Physiology
Agricultural & Resource Policy
International Agricultural Development
Horticulture Production
Plant Protection

If you choose not to complete any foundational units, you must complete all eight units from the elective list.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline with a grade point average of at least 4.0 on a seven-point scale.
Have at least two years of full-time equivalent relevant work experience.

Relevant work experience may include employment in:

Agronomy or horticultural crop production and protection.
Environmental management or restoration.
Another profession through which the applicant has established a portfolio demonstrating agricultural science expertise.

English language requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency through at least one accepted option, including:

IELTS: overall score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component.
TOEFL iBT: overall score of 87, with at least 19 in listening, 19 in reading, 21 in writing and 19 in speaking.
PTE Academic: overall score of 64, with at least 60 in each communicative skill.
Cambridge English Scale: overall score of 176, with at least 169 in each skill.
Bridging English: minimum overall grade of 4, with at least a C in each macro skill.
Other evidence accepted by the university.

The Occupational English Test is not accepted for this course. Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Potential career outcomes include:

Agricultural Scientist
Biosecurity Field Officer
Agricultural Consultant
Extension and Inspection Officer
Agricultural Economist
Land Information Systems Officer
Industrial Agricultural Scientist
Plant Protection Adviser

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $2,370 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

The number of units studied.
Choice of units.
Credit from previous study or work experience.
Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
Reviewed and adjusted each year.