Agricultural Engineering

The agricultural world has many professional opportunities for those who want to develop a career in the world of the countryside and cultivation. Agricultural engineering is one of the degrees that offers you that opportunity.

What is the Agricultural Engineering degree about?

The person who graduates as an agricultural engineer can advise, manage and work on everything related to agricultural production. We refer to soil analysis, genetic improvement, proper management of resources, food security, animal management, research and resolution of environmental problems.

In the study process of the agricultural engineering degree, integrated agricultural production systems are covered, made up of the agricultural part, the livestock part, the forestry part and the agroindustrial part.

Currently, the aim is for the agricultural engineer to be aware of the importance of sustainable production processes, free of chemical products that may have harmful effects on human health.

With livestock study, the goal is to achieve a balance in animal health and in their integral relationship with plants, soils, climate and man.

The care and development of the different agricultural animal species, to prevent diseases and take care actions for their well-being are some of the actions that these professionals take in the development of their career.

In agricultural engineering, subjects related to the agricultural part are studied, covering all crops with the climates that best suit their development, placing special interest in those that are 100% organic as part of caring for the environment and people's health.

What is the profile of an Agricultural Engineering professional like?

As in all branches of engineering, the person who aspires to study this degree must feel a special affinity for mathematics, physics and chemistry.

Later we will talk about the other subjects to be taken in the degree, but it is important to highlight that it is a career with many technical subjects, so you must be a person attuned to this type of work.

You must also enjoy:

• Outdoors: It's a degree that involves spending a lot of time in the countryside and in contact with nature, so you must be a person who has no problem being outdoors.
• Technology: Although your greatest contact is with nature, technology has reached the countryside. It is normal to see agricultural engineers using tablets, laptops, mobile devices and even drones.
• Teamwork: You will not only work with other professionals in your same area, but you will also need to have contact with farmers and growers.
• Good communication: When in contact with professionals in your same area, farmers and growers, you must have good communication skills and abilities.
• Organization: Every engineering professional must know how to organize themselves to keep up with the times and deadlines set by work in the agricultural and livestock field.

Frequently asked questions about the Agricultural Engineering degree

What is the length of the degree? 

The Agricultural Engineering degree in Spain has a total duration of 4 years (240 ECTS). At the Universidad de Sevilla, the Universidad Pablo de Olavide, the Universidad de Valladolid and at the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela it lasts 5 years.

How much does it cost to study Agricultural Engineering? 

The lowest price for the first year of Agricultural Engineering is €757, at the Universidad de Almería, the Universidad de Sevilla and the Universidad de Huelva. From there on we find prices such as €900 for the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela or that of the Universidad de Castilla - La Mancha for €1,132.

The highest price for the first year of this degree is at the INEA - Escuela Universitaria de Ingeniería Agrícola with €1,670.

What cutoff grade is needed to study Agricultural Engineering?

Based on the same 2019 ranking of the best universities in Spain published by El Mundo, the cutoff grades at the five best schools to study this engineering are:

1st    Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - 5
2nd    Universidad de Córdoba - 5
3rd    Universidad de Lérida - 5
4th    Universidad de Almería - 5
5th    Universidad de Sevilla - 5

General subjects in Agricultural Engineering

• Mathematics
• General Chemistry
• Applied Physics
• General Biology
• Plant Biology
• English
• Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Graphic Expression Techniques
• Fundamentals of Anthropology
• Geology and Climatology
• Applied Computer Science
• Topography, Cartography and GIS
• Agroecology
• Fundamentals of Rural Engineering
• Soil Science
• Business Economics and Agricultural Policy
• Agricultural Botany
• Zoology and Entomology
• Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Agricultural Machinery
• Crop Science
• Animal Husbandry
• Rural Development
• Animal and Plant Genetic Improvement
• Agricultural Constructions and Electrification
• Irrigation Systems
• Agroindustrial Uses
• Agricultural Valuation and Marketing
• Projects and Planning
• Intensive Livestock Systems
• Herbaceous and Agroenergy Crops
• Woody Crops

Career Opportunities and Salary

Once graduated in Agricultural Engineering, the professional in this area can work in private enterprise or in the public sector. If working for a company, they can work in those dedicated to the agri-food sector, fertilizer manufacturing and even the tobacco industry.

If working in the public sector, they can work as a teacher, although this activity can also be carried out in private educational institutions. They can also work in public organizations as a project manager and head of agricultural and livestock matters.

If self-employed, an agricultural engineer can advise private enterprise or the public sector by preparing reports on agricultural and livestock farming projects.

A person recently graduated from the degree can earn an annual salary ranging between €12,000 and €24,000. In some cases, it can even reach €30,000.

How do I know if this degree is for me?

If you like country life, nature and animals, especially those linked to the agricultural and livestock sector, as well as rural life, Agricultural Engineering could be an excellent alternative for you.

Remember that you must also be an organized person, who enjoys dealing with people and who is communicative in order to carry out your studies and in turn your life as a professional of this degree.