A guide to pursuing agricultural studies abroad

India has long been known as an agricultural country. We produce large quantities of milk, pulses, rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and spices. Agriculture is a major contributor to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), providing raw materials for industries and earning foreign exchange through exports. India has a large amount of fertile land, and the Indian monsoon is favourable for farming.

Recently, many Indian students have chosen to pursue Agriculture sciences in countries like the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and several European nations, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, and Norway.

Agricultural universities abroad offer access to cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art facilities. They have courses in sustainable farming practices, such as crop rotation, conservation tillage, and integrated pest management.

While admission to most agricultural colleges in India is open only to students from an agricultural upbringing and those whose families own farmlands, the courses abroad are open to all.

The most sought-after programmes include specialisations in food sciences, plant sciences, animal sciences, sustainable agriculture, and agroecology.

Popular Agricultural Universities include Wageningen University and Utrecht University in Netherlands, The University of California, Davis and Cornell University in the U.S, The Royal Agricultural University, Leeds and Nottingham in the UK, University of Queensland and University of Melbourne in Australia, University of Guelph and University of Alberta in Canada, University College Cork and University College Dublin in Ireland, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Lund University in Sweden, University of Göttingen and Technical University of Munich in Germany, Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, Norwegian University of Life Sciences and University of Bergen in Norway, ETH Zurich and University of Bern in Switzerland.

Agriculture courses are interdisciplinary and draw on many areas, including biology, environmental sciences, chemistry, economics, and business and management. Entry requirements to pursue a degree or master’s in agricultural sciences include a background in biology and two others from the abovementioned subjects. Knowledge of English is a must. The IELTS academic test is recommended.

Studying agriculture can lead to a variety of career opportunities in government and private sectors, including agricultural research to improve agricultural practices and develop new products and technologies, agribusiness management, agronomist, farm manager, landscaping manager, food safety officer, horticulture, poultry farming, dairy farming, veterinarian, ecologist etc.

Scholarships for Indian students

Fulbright Foreign Student Programme: The United States-India Educational Foundation offers this fully funded scholarship to Indian students, scholars, and professionals. Students can use this scholarship to pursue a Master’s or join a US university as visiting student researchers.

Netaji Subhas-ICAR International Fellowships: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research offers these fellowships to Indian students to study overseas.

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship: The United States-India Educational Foundation offers this fellowship to scholars from Indian institutions who wish to pursue part of their research in a US institution. 

DAAD Scholarships in Germany: Scholarships for postgraduate study are available through the German Academic Exchange Service.

Students can also check with their chosen university or college to see if they offer scholarships to international students. They can also search for scholarships offered by governments, private organisations, and foundations in their home country or the country they wish to study in.

Studying agriculture abroad is an invaluable opportunity to learn about agriculture in a globalised environment. You will learn how different climates and landscapes affect farming practices worldwide and appreciate these factors’ impact on international food production and supply chains.

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