Why Study Agriculture?
Agriculture simply is the art, science, practice, and – above all – business of farming. It can involve growing crops or raising livestock. It is a multi-faceted field that combines science, mechanics, economics, business, marketing, and, increasingly, technology. Someone with an agricultural degree does not need to go directly into farming, although farming is the only career where your front stoep is your office! Agriculture can also take you into genetic modification of plants or artificial insemination of animals, or any of the thousands of specialist areas of agriculture concerned with the production, processing, and trading of foodstuffs or natural products.
Career Opportunities
An agricultural degree does not only make you a better farmer, it prepares you for a number of specialist careers in plant sciences, animal sciences, food sciences and sustainable agriculture, You can become a consultant, an estate manager, a farm manager, a plant or animal breeder, a soil scientist, a horticulturalist, a forest manager or a field trials officer.
About This Course
Diploma in Agriculture Crop Production
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 371
SAQA ID: 96847
Programme Code: CROPDP
Rationale for the Qualification
The qualifying learner will have exposure and orientation to different agricultural production units and will be competent to manage a production unit under supervision of an agricultural technologist and apply their basic knowledge skills and attitudes towards agricultural production.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this qualification is to supply the agricultural industry with competent agricultural technicians that can manage agricultural production units effectively, under supervision of an agricultural practitioner, as part of a production team.
Admission Requirements
National Senior Certificate with:
- English 4
- Agriculture or Life Sciences 4
- Mathematics 3 OR
- Mathematical Literacy 4
- Physical Science 3
OR Senior Certificate with a minimum of:
- English HG D or SG C
- Agriculture or Life Sciences HG D or SG C
- Mathematics or Math Literacy HG E or SG D
- Physical Science HG E or SG D
Duration of Study
The duration of the course is a minimum of three years, beginning with at least five semesters of attendance at the University, followed by a further one semester of appropriate work-integrated learning.
Diploma in Agriculture in Crop Production (Extended Curriculum Programme)
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 461
SAQA ID: 96847
Programme Code: CROPEC
Rationale for the Qualification
The qualifying learner will have exposure and orientation to different agricultural production units and will be competent to manage a production unit under supervision of an agricultural technologist and apply their basic knowledge skills and attitudes towards agricultural production.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this qualification is to supply the agricultural industry with competent agricultural technicians that can manage agricultural production units effectively, under supervision of an agricultural practitioner, as part of a production team.
Admission Requirements
National Senior Certificate with:
- English 4
- Agriculture or Life Sciences 4
- Mathematics 3 OR
- Mathematical Literacy 4
- Physical Science 3
OR Senior Certificate with a minimum of:
- English HG D or SG C
- Agriculture or Life Sciences HG D or SG C
- Mathematics or Math Literacy HG E or SG D
- Physical Science HG E or SG D
Duration of Study
The duration of the course is a minimum of four years, beginning with at least seven semesters of attendance at the University, followed by a further one semester of appropriate work integrated learning.
Diploma in Agriculture in Animal Production: Extended Curriculum Programme
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 461
SAQA ID: 96848
Programme Code: ANIPEC
Rationale for the Qualification
The qualifying learner will have exposure and orientation to the different animal production units and will be competent to manage, under supervision any agricultural animal production unit and apply their basic knowledge skills and attitudes towards animal production.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this qualification is to supply the agricultural industry with competent agricultural technicians that can manage production units effectively, under supervision of an agricultural practitioner, as part of a production team.
Admission Requirements
National Senior Certificate with:
- English 4
- Agriculture or Life Sciences 4
- Mathematics 3 OR
- Mathematical Literacy 4
- Physical Science 3
OR Senior Certificate with a minimum of:
- English HG D or SG C
- Agriculture or Life Sciences HG D or SG C
- Mathematics or Math Literacy HG E or SG D
- Physical Science HG E or SG D
Duration of Study
The duration of the course is a minimum of four years, beginning with at least seven semesters of attendance at the University, followed by a further one semester of appropriate work integrated learning.
Diploma in Agriculture in Animal Production: Extended Curriculum Programme
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 461
SAQA ID: 96848
Programme Code: ANIPEC
Rationale for the Qualification
The qualifying learner will have exposure and orientation to the different animal production units and will be competent to manage, under supervision any agricultural animal production unit and apply their basic knowledge skills and attitudes towards animal production.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this qualification is to supply the agricultural industry with competent agricultural technicians that can manage production units effectively, under supervision of an agricultural practitioner, as part of a production team.
Admission Requirements
National Senior Certificate with:
- English 4
- Agriculture or Life Sciences 4
- Mathematics 3 OR
- Mathematical Literacy 4
- Physical Science 3
OR Senior Certificate with a minimum of:
- English HG D or SG C
- Agriculture or Life Sciences HG D or SG C
- Mathematics or Math Literacy HG E or SG D
- Physical Science HG E or SG D
Duration of Study
The duration of the course is a minimum of four years, beginning with at least seven semesters of attendance at the University, followed by a further one semester of appropriate work integrated learning.
Advanced Diploma in Agriculture in Animal Production
NQF Level: 7
SAQA Credits: 120
Programme code: ADVAGA
Rationale for the Qualification
The purpose of this programme is to supply the agricultural industry with graduates who are competent as advisers to individuals and communities on best animal production practices and as entrepreneurs to create jobs in the sector. The programme also prepares students to be able to further their studies to higher qualifications in agriculture.
Statement of Purpose
The Advanced Diploma curriculum is such that it prepares students to be agricultural advisers to individuals and communities, to be entrepreneurs and also to be in a position to pursue further studies.
Admission Requirements
- An NQF level 6 qualification with Animal Production and Agricultural Extension or Agricultural Economics as major subjects.
- A minimum 60% aggregate pass for the major subjects indicated above; appropriate experience would be an advantage for those who have not achieved this pass level.
- Process of recognition of prior learning (RPL) would be applied for those applicants without the NQF level 6 qualification.
Duration of Programme
The duration of the programme is 1 year full time and 2 years part time.