Studying agriculture in Weihenstephan
Course ambassadors give prospective students an authentic insight into university life. Lena Schmidt and Florian Rüdiger explain what makes the Agriculture programme at Weihenstephan so special.
What personally motivated you to study Agriculture at HSWT, and why specifically at the Weihenstephan campus?
Lena: During my vocational qualification as a farmer, I heard a lot of positive things about HSWT. It quickly became clear to me that I wanted to further deepen my knowledge at a University of applied sciences. The Weihenstephan campus particularly appealed to me because it offers the ‘professional field phase’, which allows you to gain practical experience and explore different career paths whilst you’re still studying. Freising is also an excellent place to study. The town has good transport links and a pleasant atmosphere.
Florian: I first sat on a neighbour’s tractor when I was four years old, and it was clear to me from a very early age that I absolutely wanted to become a farmer. As my family doesn’t run their own farm and I wanted to gain as much training as possible, I decided to go to university. After my A-levels, however, I also wanted to work to gain even more practical experience. That’s why I chose the work-study programme in the form of combined studies, which began with 15 months of practical work on a farm. It was a brilliant time for me!
Many farmers in my area had studied at the HSWT in Freising, and their feedback was consistently positive. The timing of the practical semester was also a factor for me, as it takes place in spring and summer – precisely the most exciting and labour-intensive time of year on the farms.
What experiences so far have particularly shown you just how practical the course is?
Lena: I particularly value the work placements and field trips. Especially in the summer, you’re out in the fields or in the barn several times a week, which allows you to apply and consolidate what you’ve learnt in lectures directly in a practical setting. Through the numerous field trips, you also get to know lots of farms and businesses and make valuable contacts whilst still studying, which can be very helpful for your future career.
Florian: This semester in particular, the subjects of Civil Engineering and Animal Husbandry have shown me this. As part of the modules, we’ve visited working farms and attended various teaching sessions in the barns of different farms.
What career opportunities do you see after graduation?
Lena: Studying Agriculture opens up many career paths. Whether in agricultural machinery, animal or plant production, sales, consultancy or at a government agency. It’s precisely this wide range of topics and career fields that makes the course particularly exciting for me.
Florian: I believe that this degree opens the door to all career fields that require knowledge of agriculture, even beyond the traditional roles of a farmer. For example, with agricultural machinery manufacturers, in the plant protection or food industries, or even in government bodies. Personally, I’m currently considering a career in farm management or crop consultancy.
