The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics in Agribusiness Management programme provides students with an overview of the global food and agricultural sector and teaches them vital skills in business and science. These skills enable them to build careers in food and agricultural value chains, from seed to plate, and everything in between.

The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics in Agribusiness Management programme is ideal for students who have competencies in science and business subjects and are passionate about these fields.

The programme develops problem solvers with unique skill sets who contribute to feeding and clothing the world. The programme is also the foundation to Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.

Companies, where our alumni are employed, include; commercial banks (eg ABSA, FNB, Landbank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank), insurance companies (Santam), agricultural input providers (Syngenta, Omnia, and John Deere), agricultural service providers (Afgri, NWK, TWK and VKB), agricultural producers organisations (AgriSA, Agri WC, GrainSA, Potato SA, SAPPO and VinPro), agricultural associations (Agbiz), grain trading companies (Majesty Oil, Louis Dreyfus Company and Grainvest), investment groups (Russell Stone Group), food manufacturers (Tiger Brands), government departments (Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries), research institutes (Agricultural Research Council and Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy), and international bodies (Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank) to name a few.

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics in Agribusiness Management degree is ideal for students who are passionate about and have competencies in both science and business subjects. The degree programme cultivates problem solvers with unique skill sets to help feed and clothe the world. Agricultural economists are involved in many different areas of the economy. Their roles in the economy include: analysing and understanding consumer behaviour in terms of people’s wants, needs and willingness to pay for food and clothing; conducting research in environmental economics to assist governments and businesses in ensuring the sustainable use of scarce resources such as water; training of smallholder farmers by providing extension services; trading of financial instruments and agricultural commodities on global and local stock markets; advising clients in the agricultural sector on how to manage their finances and risks; advising government on how to ensure that there will be enough food for all South Africans; and conducting research to ensure the sustainable and profitable supply of food and clothing across the various supply chains. Employment opportunities for agricultural economists include employment in the government, commercial banks, multinational agribusiness companies, former cooperatives, commodity trading houses, food processors and manufacturers, and research councils.

Important information for all prospective students for 2025

The admission requirements below apply to all who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications. Click here  for this Faculty Brochure.

Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS. 

Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.

Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.

Please note that meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Successful candidates will be notified once admitted or conditionally admitted.

Unsuccessful candidates will be notified after 30 June.

Applicants should check their application status regularly on the UP Student Portal at click here.

Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the International undergraduate prospectus 2025: Applicants with a school leaving certificate not issued by Umalusi (South Africa), available at click here.

International students: Click here.

Transferring students

A transferring student is a student who, at the time of applying at the University of Pretoria (UP) is/was a registered student at another tertiary institution. A transferring student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance. Students who have been dismissed from other institutions due to poor academic performance will not be considered for admission to UP.

Closing dates: Same as above.

Returning students

A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme is/was a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP. A returning student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance.

Note:

• Students who have been excluded/dismissed from a faculty due to poor academic performance may be considered for admission to another programme at UP, as per faculty-specific requirements.
• Only ONE transfer between UP faculties and TWO transfers within a faculty will be allowed.
• Admission of returning students will always depend on the faculty concerned and the availability of space in the programmes for which they apply.

Closing date for applications from returning students

Unless capacity allows for an extension of the closing date, applications from returning students must be submitted before the end of August via your UP Student Centre.

All modules will only be presented in English, as English is the language of tuition, communication and correspondence at the University of Pretoria.

Faculty Yearbooks: click here. 

The University of Pretoria has decided not to set a specific closing date for applications to non-selection programmes for 2023. Applications will close when the available study spaces are filled (close on availability of space). Once the available number of study places for a specific programme are filled, no further applications for that particular programme will be considered. All applicants are therefore strongly advised and encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible after 1 April 2022 and to check the application site (UP Student Portal) regularly. 

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is home to more than 6 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Faculty presents degrees in fields ranging from the proverbial A to Z – from actuaries to zoologists, and consists of 13 departments.

All degree programmes are designed to develop problem-solving individuals who can easily adapt to changing circumstances and take the lead in their chosen fields of specialisation. The qualifications awarded are of world-class and provide access to a multitude of career opportunities for dynamic and creative people. According to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings the University has achieved new world rankings in Physical Sciences, a discipline which features strongly in NAS and also maintains excellent positions on the ISI Web of Science (WOS) field rankings in Plant and Animal Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Environment and Ecology Sciences.

In the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, we strive to continuously improve our high impact research and significantly address the national shortage of PhD graduates that respond to global and local challenges.

• Disclaimer: This publication contains information about regulations and programmes of the University of Pretoria. Amendments to or updating of the information may be effected from time to time without prior notification. The accuracy, correctness or validity of the information contained here is therefore not guaranteed by the University at any given time and is always subject to verification. The user is kindly requested to verify the correctness of the information with the University at all times. Failure to do so will not give rise to any claim or action of any nature against the University by any party whatsoever.