Agriculture is the economic powerhouse of a country. Contributing to job creation and solving global food and climatic problems, the sector has seen drastic growth over the years. Emerging as a popular career choice for Science aspirants, the field offers an alternative to highly competitive STEM courses. Pursuing a career in Agriculture can be rewarding and challenging too. Students are widely opting for courses like BSc Agriculture, and MBA in Agriculture which have brighter career prospects. In this blog, we will have a look at some of the best agriculture universities in the world.
QS World University Ranking for Agriculture
Here are the top 10 universities in agriculture as per QS Rankings 2023:
World Ranking | University |
1 | Wageningen University and Research |
2 | University of California, Davis |
3 | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
4 | AgroParisTech |
5 | Cornell University |
6 | ETH Zurich |
7 | China Agricultural University |
8 | University of Wisconsin |
9 | University of California, Berkeley |
10 | Michigan State University |
Wageningen University & Research
The best university in the Netherlands, WUR is revered among the top agriculture universities in the world. The strength of the university lies in the diverse specializations it offers. Combining fields of Natural and Social Sciences, the university has a reputation of incorporating leading to scientific breakthroughs in education. It offers 6 bachelor’s programs, 30 offline and 3 online master’s programs with all focusing on the current and future global issues in the field of agriculture. Currently placed at 125th position in the QS World university 2020 rankings, it has also, for fourteen years in a row, maintained the first position in the list of the best universities in the Netherlands. Food and food production, Living environment, Health, lifestyle, and livelihood are the core areas of research at the university. Following are the Bachelor of Science courses offered at the institution:
- BSc Animal Sciences
- BSc Environmental Sciences
- BSc Food Technology
- BSc International Land and Water Management
- BSc Soil, Water, Atmosphere
- BSc Tourism
Also Read: Food Technology Jobs
University of California, Davis
Among the most academically comprehensive universities, the University of California, Davis (UCD) was founded in 1905. University’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is known for imparting quality education and solving pressing issues of the domain for a century. Offering a broad range of courses in diverse disciplines, the university is ranked No.1 in the US for Agriculture, Plant Science, Animal Science, Forestry, and Agricultural Economics. Pioneering in research in agriculture, the university has led to many path-breaking innovations in the field and contributed to sustainable solutions for food-related problems. With a 20:1 faculty-student ratio, the staff at the institution focuses on the individual development of the students to prepare them for the demanding job profiles. Tabulated below are some of the agricultural or its related courses offered by the university:
Graduate Programs | Majors |
Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry | Environmental Engineering |
Agricultural and Resource Economics | Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry |
Food Science | Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems |
Plant Biology | Environmental Science and Management |
Plant Pathology | Food and Plant Sciences |
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Aggressively participating in the sustainable use of biological natural resources, the university with its comprehensive knowledge has been pioneering the research in the field. The activities of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences span from conducting research on genes and molecules to biodiversity to focusing on bioenergy and food supply. The university provides students with modern educational infrastructure in the field of agriculture. Ranked in 36th place in the young universities category by Times Higher Education Ranking, the institute offers a perfect research atmosphere with more than 1,600 research papers being published every year. Counted amongst the best agricultural universities, it offers a range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs and some of the unique master’s level specializations have been enlisted below:
- Agricultural Economics and Management
- Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Policy Analysis
- Agroecology
- Landscape Architecture
- Sustainable Food Systems
China Agricultural University
Based in Beijing, the China Agricultural University (CAU) has three campuses having partnerships with hundreds of institutions across the world. Housing students from over 80 different countries, the university is a multicultural hub. Owing to its leading class research infrastructure and multidisciplinarity in agricultural courses, CAU is one of the best agriculture universities both in Asia and all over the world. From crop genetics and plant protection to landscape architecture and fruit science, the university has created a dominant position in the domain of agriculture by working in diverse areas. The colleges under the university cover a range of fields that include Agriculture, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Agricultural Management, Livestock, etc.
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
The university that has an unmatched reputation in Europe secures a top position among the best agriculture universities. Known for its cutting-edge research and innovation, ETH Zurich was established in 1855. Boasting 20 Nobel Laureates including Albert Einstein himself, the university is a brand name in Science and Technology. Blending theory with practical application, the institute uses modern agricultural practices to train students for the global industry. Keeping pace with global development, the university has intensive courses in Agricultural Sciences and Environmental Sciences.
Royal Agricultural University (RAU)
Located in the UK, Royal Agricultural University has been at the forefront of imparting excellence in agricultural education for more than 170 years.RAU has more than 1,100 enrolled students who are studying Agriculture, Animal Science, Environment, Business, Farm Management, Food, and other specializations at the university. Enjoying close links with the top recruiters in the domain, the institute has high employment rates with 93% of its graduates getting placed just months after the completion of their degree. Probably the best among the agriculture universities, RAU combines state-of-the-art facilities with traditional knowledge to improve the global agricultural industry.
Also Read: Career in Agricultural Economics
Other Agriculture Universities Abroad
The leading universities all over the world offer comprehensive courses, and infrastructure equipped with modern amenities apart from providing quality education thus giving students the liberty to study anywhere in the world. Some of the other agriculture universities that prepare students for the dynamic job roles in the sector are listed below:
- AgroParisTech
- Cornell University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Wisconsin
- University of Reading
- Michigan State University
- Purdue university
- University of Copenhagen
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences
- University of Hohenheim
- University of British Columbia
- The University of Queensland
- Iowa State University
- Texas A&M University
- University of Guelph
- Ghent University
- The University of Tokyo
- Oregon State University
- University of Göttingen
- Nanjing Agricultural University
Top Agricultural Universities in India
Here are the top 20 agricultural universities in India:
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnagar
- ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education Mumbai
- ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute Karnal
- Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana
- Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology Udaipur
- Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Rahuri
- The Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Hisar
- Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University Nagpur
- Junagadh Agricultural University Junagadh
- Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya Jabalpur
- Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University Bikaner
- Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University Hyderabad
- Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University Venkataramannagudem,West Godavari
- The University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences Shivamogga
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut
- University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore
- Kerala Agricultural University Thrissur
- Orissa University of Agricultural and Technology Bhubaneswar
- University of Agricultural Sciences Raichur Raichur
Agriculture Branches
Popular Agriculture Branches in India | |
Livestock Production | Crop Production |
Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Engineering |
Plant Pathology | Entomology |
Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry | Plant Breeding and Genetics |
Agronomy | Horticulture |
Agriculture Statistics | Extension Education |
Seed Technology | Nematology |
Plant Physiology | Forestry |
Agricultural Biotechnology | Food Production |
Food & Beverage Service | Agricultural Entomology |
Dairy Technology | Dairy Engineering |
Poultry Farming | Fisheries Science |
Top Agriculture Courses
Mentioned below are the top agriculture courses you can pursue to make a career in agriculture.
- BSc Agriculture
- BSc Agriculture and Food Business
- BSc Forestry
- BSc Animal Husbandry
- BSc Agriculture Economics and Farm Management
- BSc Fisheries
- BSc Crop Physiology
- BBA in Agricultural Management
- MSc Agricultural Production
- MBA in Agriculture
- MSc Agronomy
- MSc Agriculture
- MSc in Integrated Plant and Animal Breeding
Agriculture Jobs and Salary
Job Profile | Salary |
Agricultural Scientist | INR 2-4 LPA |
Agricultural Engineer | INR 2.5-4 LPA |
Crop Specialist | INR 3-5 LPA |
Agronomist | INR 4-6 LPA |
Food Researcher | INR 2.73-5.5 LPA |
By taking up any of the agriculture courses, you can start a successful career in the field. Whether it is working with a top company or choosing to build your start-up, the universities abroad will prepare you for all the aspects of the field. If you are confused about the agriculture universities then reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu. Right from the application process to preparing your visa, we will handle it all. To start the process, book your 30-minute free career counseling session with us now!