Agribusiness
In a small country like New Zealand, successful agribusiness relies on understanding how to manage complex value chains within competitive global markets. Studying Agribusiness at Waikato University puts you in the heartland of New Zealand's leading agriculture-based export industries, learning from experts.
If you're interested in working alongside farmers and businesses focused on agriculture, then Agribusiness at Waikato will help you build the foundations for a dynamic global career.
Gain an all-round understanding of the agricultural sector, including farm management, soil and nutrient management, rural financial management and banking, and value chain management.
You'll learn about international marketing and sales, technological innovations in agribusiness, the impact of free-trade agreements, and how sustainable farming practices can be used to reduce costs and gain a competitive advantage.
During your studies, you'll also develop broad knowledge and skills in general management, which can be applied to various other sectors.
As an Agribusiness student, you'll enjoy field trips to see the operations of successful companies in action, such as Fonterra, Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company and DairyNZ. Learn more about Agribusiness by visiting the Waikato Management School website.
Many of our agribusiness students receive job offers before they have even finished their studies.
Internationally recognised
Waikato is ranked in the world's top 200 universities for Business and Management Studies by the prestigious QS Subject Rankings.
You'll study at our internationally recognised Waikato Management School, which has Triple Crown Accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, placing it in the top 1% of all business schools worldwide.
Qualifications
Agribusiness can normally be taken as a Minor subject (4 papers) for any undergraduate degree offered at the University of Waikato.
In particular, you might like to take a look at the Bachelor of Business, or the Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours. Otherwise, you can take just one or two Agribusiness papers as electives. You can also take Agribusiness for a Graduate Certificate (4 papers).
If you'd like to gain specialist expertise through postgraduate research, take a look at our Master of Management Studies in Agribusiness.
Key information
| Study Locations: | Hamilton, Tauranga, Online Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info. |
|---|---|
| Faculty: |
Study Agribusiness in these qualifications
Agribusiness as a specialisation of
Career opportunities
- Dairy business manager
- Agri-consultant
- Agri-food business adviser
- Agri-technician
- Nutrient specialist
- Agribusiness entrepreneur
- Government policy adviser
- Rural banking adviser
Papers
Available Agribusiness papers
Prescriptions for the PGCert(AgBus), PGDip(AgBus) and MMS.
The qualification regulations define the subject requirements for the PGCert(AgBus), PGDip(AgBus) and MMS.
The specified subject papers that must be completed for these programmes are below.
PGCert(AgBus) students must complete AGBUS501 and 30 points from AGBUS502, AGBUS590, INMGT501, MRKTG553, ECONS543.
PGDip(AgBus) students must complete AGBUS501, MRKTG553 and 30 points from AGBUS502, AGUBS590, INMGT501, ECONS543.
MMS students must complete one of AGBUS590, AGBUS591, AGBUS592, AGBUS593 or AGBUS594, and AGBUS501, AGBUS502, MRKTG553.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ACCTN101 | Accounting for Management | 19A (Hamilton), 19A (Tauranga), 19B (Hamilton), 19B (Tauranga) & 19C (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China) |
| This paper explains that accounting is an important social practice; an integral aspect of organisational management and covers both the technical aspects of the provision and use of accounting information. | ||
| AGBUS101 | Agri-Food Business | 19A (Hamilton) |
| This paper focuses on the business of food in modern society. It covers the production, processing, trade, and consumption of food, while emphasising their economic, environmental, and social impacts. | ||
| ECONS101 | Business Economics and the New Zealand Economy | 19A (Hamilton), 19A (Secondary School - Unistart), 19A (Tauranga), 19B (Hamilton), 19B (Tauranga), 19C (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China) & 19S (Hamilton) |
| This paper offers insights into the behaviour of consumers, firms and the government within the economy, giving students skills in analysing and predicting the actions of individuals and businesses. | ||
| FINAN101 | Introduction to Finance | 19A (Hamilton), 19A (Tauranga), 19B (Hamilton), 19B (Tauranga), 19C (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China) & 19S (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces the three core areas of finance -- financial management, investments, and capital markets and institutions. The paper also examines applications of corporate finance concepts to personal finance. | ||
| MGSYS101 | Integrated Thinking - Digital Business and Supply Chain Management | 19A (Hamilton), 19A (Tauranga) & 19B (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores the dual concepts of digital business and supply chain management. The interactive lectures help in developing critical thinking skills and highlight many topical case studies. | ||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| AGBUS201 | Agriculture, Food and the Environment | 19A (Hamilton) |
| This paper focuses on the environmental impacts of food systems. Sustainable production, processing, trade, and consumption patterns are explored. Their links to the social context of food are reinforced. | ||
| AGBUS202 | Food and the Consumer | 19B (Hamilton) |
| Students will learn about food systems from the perspective of the consumer including: Demand analysis/product differentiation, preferences for non-taste attributes (e.g. organic/free-range) and analytical tools used to assess food preferences. | ||
| ECONS205 | Data Analytics with Business Applications | 19B (Hamilton), 19B (Tauranga), 19C (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China), 19T (Hamilton) & 19T (Tauranga) |
| This paper introduces various data analytical methods and illustrates their business and economics applications, showing how to use data to communicate more convincingly and to produce better-informed business decisions. | ||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| AGBUS304 | Agri-food Policy | 19B (Hamilton) |
| Students will learn about industry and government policy-making and critical analysis of current and proposed policies in the context of Agri-Food industries drawing on concepts learnt in AGBUS202 and AGBUS201. | ||
| AGBUS306 | Agri-food Business Analytics | 19A (Hamilton) |
| This paper focuses on agri-food industry analytics. It incorporates biophysical and economic financial tools associated with budgeting, cash flow and analysis, investment analysis and the analysis of environmental footprints and agri-food value-chains. | ||
| AGBUS308 | Global Agri-food Systems | 19A (Hamilton) |
| This paper focuses on the theory and practice of international agribusiness and trade in food products. It includes applied analysis of trade policies, agri-food value chains and food consumption and production institutions. | ||
| ECONS304 | International Economics Issues | 19B (Hamilton) |
| This paper covers in-depth analysis of the global economic environment, including international trade, access to markets and cross-border movement of factors of production including capital and labour. | ||
| ECONS307 | Economics of Land, Water and Environment | 19A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides students with a detailed understanding of the role of economic analysis in solving real world environmental problems including pollution, sustainable development, resource scarcity, and climate change. | ||
| SCMGT303 | Supply Chain Management | 19A (Hamilton) |
| Every company is part of a supply network for producing products and services that satisfy customer needs. This paper introduces basic concepts of supply chain management. | ||
| STMGT305 | Doing Business Internationally | 19B (Hamilton) |
| Explores the international dimensions of business that enable growth and provide new markets, but increase the complexities involved (e.g. scale, different regulations, cultures). | ||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| AGBUS501 | International Agribusiness | 19A (Hamilton) |
| Analysis of international agribusiness examining firm and country strategies, including analysis of specific commodities. | ||
| AGBUS502 | Agribusiness Case Studies | 19B (Hamilton) |
| Analysis of agribusiness decisions pertaining to production and trade. | ||
| AGBUS590 | Directed Study | 19C (Hamilton) |
| Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff. | ||
| AGBUS591 | Agribusiness Dissertation | 19C (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| AGBUS592 | Agribusiness Dissertation | 19C (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| AGBUS593 | Agribusiness Thesis | 19C (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
| AGBUS594 | Agribusiness Thesis | 19C (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
| ECONS543 | Applied Econometrics | 19A (Hamilton) |
| A postgraduate paper in econometrics for students who have not included an advanced paper in econometrics in their undergraduate degree. | ||
| INMGT501 | E-Global Business: Strategic Management and Marketing | 19S (Online) |
| Rapid expansion of global communications has changed the environment of international commerce resulting in the re-evaluation of the way firms conduct their transactions internationally. | ||
| MRKTG553 | International Marketing | 19B (Hamilton) |
| This advanced level paper aims to find solutions to potential problems that firms entering a global market may face. The paper investigates managerially relevant topics (e.g. country-of origin effects, branding and pricing strategies, etc.) using the latest theories. | ||
I can’t speak highly enough of my lecturers; they were fantastic. Waikato was the most amazing agribusiness programme to be associated with.
Read stories from other students
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject requirements
Expand to read Subject requirements
Agribusiness as a Minor
To complete a minor in Agribusiness, you must complete 60 points including at least 30 points above 100-level from AGBUS papers.
The specific requirements for a minor in Agribusiness are that you must include:
- AGBUS101 Agri-Food Business
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)
To complete the requirements for a Postgraduate Certificate, you must pass 60 points at 500-level from this subject area.
The specific requirements for Agribusiness are that you must include:
- AGRI501 International Agribusiness
And choose 30 points from:
- AGRI502 Agribusiness Case Studies
- AGRI590 Directed Study
- ECON539 Environmental and Economic Resources
- ECON543 Applied Econometrics
- MNGT501 Research Methods in Management Studies
- MKTG553 International Marketing
- MSYS576 21st Century Logistics
For full details of available papers visit papers.waikato.ac.nz/subjects/AGBUS
Note: You may need to meet any additional paper prerequisites unless a waiver is obtained and depending on your programme of study.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
To complete the requirements for a Postgraduate Diploma, you must pass 120 points at 500-level, including at least 90 points from this subject area.
You will also need to submit a Portfolio of Achievement.
The specific requirements for Agribusiness are that you must include:
- AGRI501 International Agribusiness
- MKTG553 International Marketing
- MSYS576 21st Century Logistics
And choose 30 points from:
- AGRI502 Agribusiness Case Studies
- AGRI590 Directed Study
- ECON539 Environmental and Economic Resources
- ECON543 Applied Econometrics
- INMG501 E-Global Business: Strategic Management and Marketing
- MNGT501 Research Methods in Management Studies
For full details of available papers visit papers.waikato.ac.nz/subjects/AGBUS
Note: You may need to meet any additional paper prerequisites unless a waiver is obtained and depending on your programme of study.
Master of Management Studies (MMS)
The completion requirements for the MMS depend on your admission criteria; please see the MMS qualification information for further details.
However all students must:
- Take MNGT501 Research Methods in Management Studies (unless passed previously)
- Take a dissertation (591/592) or thesis (593/594) in your subject area
- Submit a Portfolio of Achievement
The specific requirements for Agribusiness are that you must include:
- AGRI501 International Agribusiness
- AGRI502 Agribusiness Case Studies
- MKTG553 International Marketing
Choose any remaining papers from:
- AGRI590 Directed Study
- ECON539 Environmental and Economic Resources
- ECON543 Applied Econometrics
- INMG501 E-Global Business: Strategic Management and Marketing
- MSYS576 21st Century Logistics
For full details of available papers visit papers.waikato.ac.nz/subjects/AGBUS
Note: You may need to meet any additional paper prerequisites unless a waiver is obtained and depending on your programme of study.
Contacts
Management Student Centre (MSC)
Phone: +64 838 4303
Email: msc@waikato.ac.nz
Website: www.management.ac.nz/msc
Opening hours: 8.45am - 4.45pm Monday to Friday
Location: MSB.1.50, Hillcrest Road, University of Waikato, Hamilton
One of the best times to pop into MSC is Open Advice Day, held every Wednesday from 10am to 2pm.
Agribusiness subject convenors
Professor Frank Scrimgeour
Undergraduate/Postgraduate Convenor for Agribusiness
Email: scrim@waikato.ac.nz