Agriculture (Triesdorf) (Bachelor's)
The Agriculture degree programme provides training in the latest methods for sustainably producing agricultural raw materials and food, managing agricultural enterprises and agribusinesses and providing rural services. The course goes beyond looking at individual farms to examine environmental, social and ethical aspects, and its contents are indicative of our preoccupation with ensuring sustainable agricultural production.
At a glance
Academic qualification | Bachelor |
Duration of studies | 7 semesters |
Language of instruction | German (proof of proficiency is required) |
Location | Triesdorf |
Programme start date | Winter semester |
Admission restriction | No |
Information events
Information about events for potential students can be found on the German page for the degree programme.
Course content
Students study processes at the start of the food supply chain, focusing primarily on the production and quality assurance of food and the raw materials needed to produce it. After you have been taught an in-depth range of skills in the fields of production technology and agricultural economics and have gained comprehensive practical experience, they can choose their specialisation: 'Agriculture' or 'Organic Agriculture'
The 'Agriculture' specialisation allows you to select one of four areas of focus to help you start building your own profile:
- Crop production
- Animal production
- Agricultural economics
- Agribusiness Marketing and Management
Students also have the option of specializing in 'Organic Agriculture'. All students cover the same fundamental aspects during the initial semesters of the programme. Those who do choose to take up this specialist area of study will gain a comprehensive range of skills in all essential aspects of production technology, economics and law, from soil, plants and livestock to the European legal framework and the economic, ecological and social evaluation of processes.
Since the traditional and organic specialisations run concurrently, around half of the course content can be taken by both groups of students. In addition to basic natural science and technical subjects, core modules in economics, law and politics as well as courses to improve social skills, such as communication and consulting methodology, can be studied by both groups. The advantage of both sets of students being taught together on a number of modules is not only the opportunities they have to talk about each other’s specialisations, but also the way in which they gain a deeper understanding of the objectives and core contents of both approaches.
During the final semesters of the degree programme, students can choose from a wide range of compulsory elective modules to create their own unique profile. Students receive training in fields that go beyond the narrow confines of agricultural production and are thereby prepared for the diverse and fast-growing number of employment opportunities they can enjoy in areas relating to agriculture, such as the fields of: Digitalisation in indoor and outdoor livestock systems, renewable energies, development of rural regions, business start-ups, agritourism and social services, direct and regional marketing, aquaculture, communication, human resources management and consulting, land use and climate protection.
Course structure
The course balances both theory and practical elements. In addition to specialist knowledge, integrated courses also allow students to develop social and methodical skills to aid their personal development. Particular value is placed on team work in interdisciplinary classes and projects. From the second semester, you have the choice of specialisation between Agriculture (Landwirtschaft) and Organic Agriculture (Ökologische Landwirtschaft).
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Preparatory PDF documents
The following PDF documents (in German) will help prepare you for your classes in the first academic year. They summarise the content covered in the relevant subjects at school, providing a good basis for your further studies.
To open the documents, please use the following passwords:
Biologie I and Biologie II (identical password): axz/3:Ba
Chemie: pql_2/As
Physik: F=m.a:$IN
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1st semester
- Anatomie & Physiologie landwirtschaftlicher Nutztiere
- Physikalisch-technische Grundlagen
- Statistik
- Einführung in die Ökonomik und das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten
- Chemie
- Obligatory elective module
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2nd semester
- Bodenkunde & Pflanzenernährung
- Pflanzenbau
- Buchführung
- Grundlagen der Agrartechnik
- Biologie & Agrarökologie
- Obligatory elective module
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3rd semester
Studienrichtung Landwirtschaft
- Bodenkultur & Düngung
Studienrichtung ökologische Landwirtschaft
- Bodenkultur & Nährstoffmanagement
Module für beide Studienrichtungen
- Tierernährung
- Produktionsökonomie
- Tierhaltung & Tierzucht
- Technik der Außenwirtschaft
- Obligatory elective module
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4th semester
Studienrichtung Landwirtschaft
- Spezielle Tierische Erzeugung
- Phytopathologie & Pflanzenschutz
Studienrichtung ökologische Landwirtschaft
- Tierhaltungsverfahren in der Ökologischen Landwirtschaft
- Regulation von Unkräutern & Pathogenen im Pflanzenbau
Module für beide Studienrichtungen
- Unternehmensplanung & Investitionsrechnung
- Marktlehre & Marktanalyse
- Verfahren & Ökonomie der pflanzlichen / tierischen Erzeugung
- Obligatory elective modules
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5th semester
- Praxissemester mit praxisbegleitenden Lehrveranstaltungen
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6th semester
Studienrichtung Landwirtschaft
- Schwerpunkt: Agrarökonomie, Pflanzliche Erzeugung, Tierische Erzeugung, Marketing und Management
- Nachhaltige Verfahrenstechnik Tier oder Pflanze oder Diversifizierung
Studienrichtung ökologische Landwirtschaft
- Anbau- und Tierhaltungssysteme in der Ökologischen Landwirtschaft I
- Anbausysteme für Spezialkulturen, Qualitätsproduktion tier. Erzeugnisse oder Diversifizierung
Module für beide Studienrichtungen
- Unternehmensorganisation
- Agrar- & Umweltpolitik
- Obligatory elective modules
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7th semester
Studienrichtung Landwirtschaft
- Schwerpunkt: Agrarökonomie, Pflanzliche Erzeugung, Tierische Erzeugung, Marketing und Management
Studienrichtung ökologische Landwirtschaft
- Anbau- und Tierhaltungssysteme in der Ökologische Landwirtschaft II
Module für beide Studienrichtungen
- Bewertung & Agrarrecht
- Bachelorarbeit
- Obligatory elective module
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Obligatory elective modules
Studienrichtung Landwirtschaft (Auswahl)
- Waldwirtschaft
- Innenwirtschaft
- Tiergesundheit
- Projektmanagement
- Kommunikation & Präsentation
- Agrarmarketing
- Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
- Recht
- Steuer
- Grünland / Futterbau
- Nutzpflanzenkunde
- Obstbau
- Futtertechnik
- Aquakultur
- Erneuerbare Energien
- Biotechnologie
- Klima, Wetter und Landwirtschaft
- English for Agribusiness und andere Fremdsprachen
Studienrichtung ökologische Landwirtschaft (Auswahl)
- Innenwirtschaft
- Tiergesundheit
- Gemüsebau
- (Streu-)Obstanbau
- Betriebsorganisation
- (Handels-)Marketing
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Module handbooks
A detailed description of the content of the modules is provided in the module handbooks. The module handbooks are updated at the beginning of each semester.
Agriculture (Triesdorf) degree programme modules
Triesdorf Language Centre modules
Obligatory elective modules for all Triesdorf degree programmes
Career
The bachelor’s degree programme provides graduates with an application-based, academic and vocational qualification that will enable them to take on particularly challenging specialist and management tasks. Depending on students’ individual profiles, the course will help them to perform the following tasks:
- company management in agriculture, the agricultural industry or the rural services sector
- agricultural self-regulating organisations: producer and machinery rings, cooperatives
- product development and consulting in the agricultural industry
- agricultural commerce and marketing
- agricultural, environmental and regional consulting in state-run and private institutions and associations
- research and development, testing.
"My Bachelor’s degree at the Triesdorf campus and the knowledge that I gained by working at various agricultural businesses prepared me well for practical work and working at practice-oriented educational institutions. Today I can make use of these diverse experiences as I support students on the Ecological Agriculture course. A vocational Master’s degree at HSWT gave me the chance to gain further qualifications. In my eyes, that was the perfect way to supplement my academic education and provided me with further development prospects."
MSc Barbara Stangl, administrative assistant for Ecological Agriculture and assistant to the Chair of the Department of Agriculture
"My studies in Triesdorf enabled me to deepen my passion for agriculture, nature and the environment. The most important thing for me was developing new ideas for and alongside agriculture. As project coordinator of a biotope network I have to look after the interests of the land managers as well as the demands of nature conservation. I’d already been toying with the concept of community-supported agriculture for a long time, partly because I was able to collect ideas during my studies. The idea of coming alongside consumers to grow vegetables together motivated us to establish a small but steadily growing community-supported agriculture project (in German 'SoLaWi', from 'Solidarische Landwirtschaft') with its own fields and greenhouses."
Margarete Lösl, employee at the Landscape Management Association of Amberg-Sulzbach and co-founder of a community-supported agriculture project
Admission
There are no admission restrictions in terms of NC (numerus clausus).
The pre-study internship is not currently required. Nevertheless, we recommend that prospective students who have no prior practical experience in agriculture complete a six-week placement with an agricultural business before starting their studies.
Information on the general admission requirements is available here.
Dual (work-study) course
The Agriculture bachelor's degree programme (Triesdorf) can also be taken as a work-study course. As part of combined study, you can gain the academic qualification 'Bachelor of Science' and the vocational qualification of an expert in agriculture over a period of four and a half years.
Overview of the advantages of the work-study course:
- double qualification: bachelor's degree and professional qualification
- saves time: both qualifications in 4.5 years
- comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge
- very good career entry opportunities
- specially designed vocational school sessions
- standard remuneration during vocational training with a company
- individual support from the university
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Training elements
- Training with a company: Centre of Practical Training
- Industry-wide training: specialist supplement to practical training
- Vocational school (Berufsschule): theoretical training content and preparation for exams
- University: Centre of Theoretical Training
The individual training elements correspond appropriately to one another in terms of content and timing so that excellent progress is ensured despite the shorter training period.
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Target group
The work-study degree programme in Agriculture trains students to become experts with extensive practical skills alongside cutting-edge theoretical knowledge. This will qualify them to take up leading responsible positions with service companies in the agricultural and land sector.
The tight training schedule requires participants to demonstrate particular commitment and a lot of self-discipline. The work-study course is therefore intended for particularly motivated and target-orientated students.
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Time schedule
Differing from the standard bachelor's programme, the work-study course starts with a 15-month practical training element. Practical training starts on 1 July. Participants then enrol at the University in October of the following year. The rest of the practical training elements are carried out in blocks during semester breaks and as part of the practical semester.
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Training companies
All recognised agricultural training companies ('anerkannte Ausbildungsbetriebe') in Germany are available for consideration for the practical placements for students on the work-study course. Recognition as a training company is the only decisive factor for cooperation with the university. However, if practical training is to take place outside Bavaria, different state requirements will usually have to be taken into account. Please contact us as early as possible if this is the case!
The website of the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry has a database of training companies for careers in agriculture. You can filter these training companies by subject focus and regional origin.
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Industry-wide training (Überbetriebliche Ausbildung)
As with the standard agriculture courses, students following the work-study course complete the following industry-wide training courses:
- Landtechnik I: Schlepper und Gerät (Agricultural Engineering I: Tractors and Equipment)
- Landtechnik II: Schweißen (Agricultural Engineering II: Welding; compulsory elective module at the university)
- Landtechnik III: Maschinen der Außen- und Innenwirtschaft (Agricultural Engineering III: International and National Machines)
- Grundlehrgang Tierhaltung (Foundation Course in Animal Keeping)
- Schwerpunktlehrgang I: Rind oder Schwein (Expert Course I: cows or pigs)
- Schwerpunktlehrgang II: Rind oder Schwein (Expert Course I: cows or pigs)
If you have obtained a specialist subject-restricted university entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife) from the Fachoberschule in Triesdorf (specialising in Agriculture), you are considered to have already passed the Agricultural Engineering I course and foundation course in animal keeping. Instead of the two courses, students following the work-study course carry out additional practical sessions.
You will receive a written invitation with the most important information about the courses. For more information about the educational institutions, see the following links.
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Documents for download
Kooperationsvereinbarung (cooperation agreement)
Berufsausbildungsvertrag (vocational working contract)
Hinweise zum Ausbildungsvertrag 2022 (notes on the 2022 vocational working contract)
Hinweise zum Ausbildungsvertrag 2021 (notes on the 2021 vocational working contract)
Berufsausbildungsvertrag Start 2019 (2019 vocational working contract)
Informationsbroschüre für Ausbildungsbetriebe (information brochure for training companies)
Zeitplan Ausbildungsstart 2022 (schedule beginning of training 2022)
Zeitplan Ausbildungsstart 2021 (schedule beginning of training 2022)
Why we are the right choice for you
- Practical, comprehensive, current
- Situated in a unique educational centre, the Triesdorf campus offers a degree not just in agriculture, but within it: current agricultural technology, the latest animal husbandry and plant cultivation testing grounds are just a few minutes’ walk away from the lecture theatres and shed light on a wide variety of agricultural systems of the future.
- The degree programme is also offered as a work-study combined course. This ends with a double qualification: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with vocational training in agriculture.
Contact
Do you have questions which have not been answered here?
… then please let us know
… please contact us
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Göbel, subject advisor, bernhard.goebel [at]hswt.de
Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Pflanz, Organic Agriculture professor, wilhelm.pflanz [at]hswt.de
Barbara Stangl, degree programme assistant (Organic Agriculture specialisation), barbara.stangl [at]hswt.de
Susann Köhler, degree programme assistant for the dual (work-study) course, susann.koehler [at]hswt.de
Klara-Marie Haas, student in the the dual (work-study) course, klara-marie.haas [at]student.hswt.de
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Accreditation
Department
Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf
Fakultät Landwirtschaft, Lebensmittel und Ernährung
Markgrafenstraße 16
91746 Weidenbach
T +49 9826 654-131
F +49 9826 654-4131
lt[at]hswt.de
Subject Advisor
Prof. Dr Bernhard Göbel
T +49 9826 654-201
bernhard.goebel [at]hswt.de
Programme director
Prof. Dr Manfred Geißendörfer
T +49 9826 654-245
manfred.geissendoerfer [at]hswt.de