Agriculture vocational training

The agriculture vocational training is a great foundation for everyone that is involved with agriculture one way or another. The aim of the study programme is to prepare students on one hand for a wide range of carriers within the field of agriculture and food production and on the other hand to prepare students for further studies. This programme is in Icelandic.

What do I learn?

The aim of the programme is to strengthen your knowledge and practical skills for farm management and general agriculture, in particular operation management, agricultural technology, crop production, and husbandry. Opportunities for specialisation are primarily offered in cattle, sheep, and horse farming.

Practical Training

Students get access to the university's dairy and sheep farms and the equine centre. There are also a mechanical workshop and an agronomy centre that is used for practical teaching.

Work Placement

Part of the studies will take place at one of nearly 90 collaborative farms around Iceland during which the student will live and work as part of the family for a period of 12 weeks (April – June).

Course Catalog

Curriculum

This study programme is a specialised vocational training taught on the upper secondary level. The applicant must have completed three to four semesters in upper secondary school and be over 18 years of age. If the applicant is applying through recognition of prior experience and learning, a certain process applies.

It is also permitted to admit applicants who are 25 years of age or older and have relevant work experience in the field, but do not have formal upper secondary education. Applicants must have completed at least the following courses at an upper secondary school (a total of 49 credits):

Icelandic at the secondary competence level, 10 credits
English at the secondary competence level, 10 credits
Mathematics at the secondary competence level, 5 credits
Danish, 5 credits
Chemistry – students must have completed general chemistry at the first competence level (5 credits); completion of organic chemistry is desirable
General Biology at the first competence level, 5 credits
Bookkeeping at the first competence level, 4 credits

Students are expected to have good computer skills and strong study skills.

It is desirable that students hold a valid first aid certificate.

Applicants are expected to have at least one year of work experience in agriculture recognized by the University before classroom-based studies begin.

Work experience from the labor market may be assessed as partial fulfillment of preparatory studies at the upper secondary level; this is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Applications for admission must be accompanied by upper secondary school transcripts and information on agricultural work experience.

After graduation you get the professional title of Agricultural Vocational Specialist (Búfræðingur) and you have skills to work with specialised agricultural work, running your own farm or as a contractor for other farm owners. Agricultural Vocational Specialist can manage livestock animals and farm machinery as well as knowledge for cultivation and land management. This study programme also prepares students who seek to study further in the field of Agricultural Sciences or veterinary medicine.