Agricultural Science Major (BAdvSci) (Honours)

About offering

Agricultural scientists are central to ensuring that we can feed a growing global population. In this major you will use chemistry and biology to develop an understanding of production systems and to apply problem-solving techniques to management strategies.

This major is part of the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours), a course designed for high performing students to pursue their interest in Science through a core of research, leadership and entrepreneurship. You will work in multidisciplinary teams with students from other majors in the Advanced Science course to address global issues such as food security, changing markets, sustainability and climate change.

There is a strong focus on field trips and practical agricultural experience. You will study broad acre cropping and livestock production systems through research-led activities, problem-solving and self-directed experiments using the Curtin University field trial site and glasshouse facilities.

Work-based learning is ensured through the requirement to engage in an immersive industry and/or research experience.

Throughout this major, you will have opportunities to engage with world-leading researchers, such as the Curtin Centre for Crop Disease Management (CCDM), Australia’s leading research group for developing solutions to crop pathogens.

The Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) provides opportunities through second and third year to undertake internal and external internships and immersive work experience, sourced by the student, which can be used for course credit.

Please note: beginning your studies in July may increase the duration of this course beyond four years due to unit availabilities.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.

How to apply

This major sits within the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) degree. To apply for this major, you will apply for the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours). In step 3 of the application process, you will be asked to confirm the major you wish to study.

Applying as an undergraduate student is easy. For information tailored to your situation, visit our easy to follow instructions to get your application started.

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What you'll learn

Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the nature of science, its methods and processes, an advanced capacity to apply agricultural systems concepts in a range of theoretical and practical situations, and the ability to contribute new knowledge to the agricultural sciences through research.
Critically, logically and rationally analyse challenging and multi-faceted problems in agricultural sciences, address them by applying practical and theoretical tools and critically evaluate findings within the current body of disciplinary knowledge.
Access and make judgements on the value of available knowledge using a variety of tools, and incorporate them into the planning, conduct and communication of their own findings.
Communicate effectively by demonstrating the capacity to listen and respond (using both written and spoken language) to clients, staff, professionals, management and industry and conform to discipline standards in presentations and publications.
Consider profitability, sustainability and impact on the environment, health and society when using new and established technologies in agribusiness related industries.
Engage in self-driven continuous discipline and professional education and training in agricultural sciences.
Participate in the generation and application of science in addressing global problems in agriculture while understanding international ethical and professional standards in agricultural sciences.
Work collaboratively and respectfully with scientists from a range of cultural backgrounds and understand the cultural issues that impact research in agricultural sciences or the broader profession; value professional and community partnerships through integrating socio cultural contexts and ethics with in agricultural sciences.
Be able to work professionally and ethically as an independent agricultural scientist and collaboratively within teams either as a professional leader or collaborator using effective problem solving and decision making skills within the professional context of their area of study; comply with appropriate legislation in the field of agricultural science.

Why study Agricultural Science Major (BAdvSci) (Honours)

The majors in Curtin’s Advanced Science (Honours) are unique in Western Australia in their combination of discipline focus, capacity to specialise within that discipline or pursue other interests, and research and work experience within the course. You will have a distinctive set of skills and experience that lay the foundation for a career as a scientist able to work across the range of ‘science’ job: from pure research to translational and entrepreneurial science.

How this course will make you industry ready

Increasing demand for global food security in a globally competitive environment provide graduates with many job opportunities across the food production chain. Graduates from agricultural science and related courses are highly employable across a diverse range of sectors including in Government agencies (such as CSIRO and state departments of agriculture), Farm consultancy, Agronomy, Research, Education, International agricultural development.

Student profile

View our student profile table to get an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at Curtin University. This table provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available. It includes those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

Professional recognition

Graduates from this major are eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology.

Career information

Increasing demand for global food security in a globally competitive environment provides graduates with many job opportunities across the food production chain. Graduates from agricultural science and related courses are highly employable across a diverse range of sectors, including Government agencies such as CSIRO and state departments of agriculture, Farm consultancy, Agronomy, Research, Education and International agricultural development.

Admission criteria for Australian and New Zealand students

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are as outlined in the IELTS table below. Additional information on how you can meet the English requirement can be found on the English proficiency page.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)
Writing	7.0
Speaking	7.0
Reading	7.0
Listening	7.0
Overall band score	7.0

What kind of applicant are you?

Applicants with recent secondary education
(within the past two years)

Completed your secondary education in Australia within the past two years? Learn how you can apply to Curtin.

Applicants with higher education study

Undertaken higher education study before? Find out how you can apply for a Curtin course and what credit you may be eligible for.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Have you studied a VET course? Find out how you can get into Curtin using these qualifications.

Applicants with work and life experience

Spent time in the workforce, completed a pathway program or finished secondary education more than two years ago? See how you can apply to study at Curtin

Applicants with recent secondary education
(within the past two years)

Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, but also includes those who may have completed their senior secondary studies with a TAFE or other VET provider within the same time frame. This includes applicants whose secondary education was undertaken interstate or overseas.

Guaranteed ATAR: 95

This is the ATAR level at which an offer of admission is guaranteed, subject to any other non-ATAR criteria being met.
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites):
Mathematics Methods ATAR
Desirable WACE subjects: Biology ATAR, Chemistry ATAR
STAT entry: Not accepted.

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) assesses competencies considered important for success at uni.
These tests are provided by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) to help mature age candidates apply for certain courses.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

Other admission options

Recipients of the John Curtin Undergraduate Scholarship will receive an early offer to study this course.
Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Lowest selection rank to which a recent Year 12 student offer was made (including the consideration of any equity or other adjustment factors)

View the lowest selection rank (incorporating ATAR plus any adjustments) of an applicant to which an offer of a place was made in the most relevant recent intake period, this includes any ATAR adjustments.

Selection rank adjustments (previously referred to as ATAR related adjustments)

Details of the types of adjustment factors (bonus points) commonly available to applicants can be found on our StepUp to Curtin webpage.

ATAR and selection rank profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in the most recent intake period

View data on the ATAR and selection rank profile of offers made from the most relevant recent intake period.

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This includes applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It also includes applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Curtin offers a variety of bridging courses to help you meet the admission criteria for this course. Find out more about our bridging courses.
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites):
Mathematics Methods ATAR
Desirable WACE subjects: Biology ATAR, Chemistry ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

Curtin course switcher criteria

To switch into this course, you need to have:

attained an ATAR of 95 or completed 200 credits over one year, with a course weighted average (CWA) of 80% or higher and completed the prerequisites.

The Maths Methods prerequisite can be met with:

Maths Methods ATAR; or
MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics with a final mark of at least 80; or
MATH1015 Linear Algebra 1 with a final mark of at least 70; or
MATH1016 Calculus 1 with a final mark of at least 70; or
MATH1017 Accelerated Mathematics 1 with a final mark of at least 50

Higher education course switcher criteria

This course has a semester one intake only. Please refer to the TISC website for more information.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Guaranteed ATAR: 95

This is the ATAR level at which an offer of admission is guaranteed, subject to any other non-ATAR criteria being met.

OR
TAFE:
Not accepted. VET study cannot meet the equivalent ATAR requirement.
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites):
Mathematics Methods ATAR
Desirable WACE subjects: Biology ATAR, Chemistry ATAR
STAT entry: Not accepted.

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) assesses competencies considered important for success at uni.
These tests are provided by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) to help mature age candidates apply for certain courses.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

Applicants with work and life experience

Applicants with work and life experience are those who left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Guaranteed ATAR: 95

This is the ATAR level at which an offer of admission is guaranteed, subject to any other non-ATAR criteria being met.
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites):
Mathematics Methods ATAR
Desirable WACE subjects: Biology ATAR, Chemistry ATAR
STAT entry: Not accepted.

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) assesses competencies considered important for success at uni.
These tests are provided by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) to help mature age candidates apply for certain courses.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

Cut-off scores

Please note: The cut-off scores below are for 2018 only.

Qualification	Score
GCE/STPM/HKALE (A-levels - best of three)	14
HKDSE	25
IB	37
Ontario Gr 12 (best of 6)	90
ATAR (including WACE/SACE/HCE/VCE)	95
WAUFP (CPS)	75
India (CBSE)	90%
India (HSC)	94%
Sri Lanka	14

Minimum academic entry requirements

Please select a country above.

Essential course prerequisites

This course is designed for high performing science students. As such students are expected to maintain a minimum academic standard. If that standard is not reached students will be recommended to transition to the Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science) or the Bachelor of Agribusiness.

Other requirements and notes for this course

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

Advanced standing / credit transfer / recognition of prior learning

At Curtin, we understand that everyone’s study journey has been different.

You may have already studied some of the units (subjects) listed in your Curtin course, or you may have work experience that matches the degree requirements.

If this applies to you, you can apply for credit for recognised learning (CRL), which means your previous study is recognised and matched against a similar unit in your intended Curtin course.

A successful CRL application exempts you from having to complete certain units within your course and means you could finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.

CRL is also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing and credit transfer.

Use the CRL search to find out how much CRL you qualify for, or contact us at:

Email: crl@curtin.edu.au
Tel: 1300 222 888

CRL search

At Curtin, we understand that everyone’s study journey has been different.

You may have already studied some of the units (subjects) listed in your Curtin course at another educational institution, or you may have work experience that matches the degree requirements.

A successful CRL application exempts you from having to complete certain units within your course and means you could finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.

CRL is also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing and credit transfer.

Use the CRL search to find out how much CRL you qualify for, or contact us at:

Email: ci-enquiries@curtin.edu.au
Tel: 1300 222 888

CRL search

Fees and charges

Australian and New Zealand student indicative fees for 2019

Please note the indicative fees shown below are for the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) degree.

Student type	Cost
Commonwealth supported What is a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)? A CSP is subsidised by the Australian Government. They pay part of the course fees directly to Curtin and then the student pays the remainder (referred to as the “student contribution amount”). The student can defer this fee to their HECS-HELP loan. All Australian students studying an undergraduate degree are automatically awarded a Commonwealth supported place. A limited number of Commonwealth supported places are also available for some postgraduate courses. Learn more about CSPs and whether you’re eligible by visiting the Australian Government’s StudyAssist website.	$9,400^*

Student type

Cost

$9,400^*

Fees are indicative first year only and are subject to passage of legislation.

*The indicative first-year fee is calculated on 800 credit points, which is the typical full-time study load per year, however some courses require additional study to be completed, in which case the fee will be higher than that shown.

This fee is a guide only. It may vary depending on the units you choose and does not include incidental fees (such as lab coats or art supplies) or the cost of your textbooks – visit other fees and charges for more information. For more information on fees and to determine your eligibility for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP, please visit fee basics or the Study Assist website

If you’re not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen, please see information for international students.

International student fees for 2019

International onshore – fee paying
Offer letter (100 credit) published fee	$15,900^*
Indicative year 1 fee	$31,900^*
Indicative essential incidental course fee	N/A

The fees shown above apply to international students studying on-campus in Western Australia. The tuition fee is subject to an annual tuition fee increase of up to 5 per cent per annum. For information about fees at other locations please visit Curtin International’s offshore site.

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice:

Please note that each campus has different application deadlines. Please view our application deadlines page for further information.

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Next steps

This major/stream is part of a larger course. Please view the About offering tab for more information, including how to apply.

About offering