International Agribusiness – Bachelor of Agribusiness

Go global with your agribusiness skills. Learn how agricultural products are created, marketed, and distributed internationally.

Where you can study

Distance and online
Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand
Note: Not all listed subject course options are on offer every year. Some distance courses contain compulsory contact workshops.

Specialise in International Agribusiness for your Bachelor of Agribusiness at Massey

Does managing the marketing process of meat, kiwifruit, or milk to retailers in Tokyo or Nestlé in Switzerland excite you? How about sourcing and processing billions of litres of milk every year?

In the Bachelor of Agribusiness (International Agribusiness) you’ll learn about the global agri-food system. This includes everything from on-farm procurement in New Zealand to export and distribution of food and other agricultural products to consumers around the world.

You’ll learn about

  • production sciences
  • agri-food value chains
  • manufacturing
  • distribution and logistics
  • international finance, and
  • the trade and marketing skills required to take New Zealand’s agri-food industry to the global marketplace.

Real-world experience

Your learning will focus on real-world case studies and will include field trips to provide the experience sought by employers.

Research-led teaching

Our staff are active researchers. Massey's Agribusiness qualifications integrate the most recent developments and thinking into your learning.

A growing, innovative industry

New Zealand’s economy is dominated by agriculture and food. It generates close to $37 billion in export earnings a year and international demand is predicted to continue to grow.

Relevant international knowledge

Massey’s Agribusiness qualifications align with agribusiness industries throughout the world. This ensures our graduates have the skills and industry knowledge employers want today and in the future.

Massey graduates and staff are helping to define the future of our nation’s agriculture and food businesses.

A Bachelor of Agribusiness in International Agribusiness is a good fit if you:

  • are interested in agriculture and business
  • want a career with an international perspective.

Planning information

If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.

If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.

Capstone course

‘Capstone’ courses are designed to be taken in your last year of study. This relies on you having completed the correct first and second year courses and ties your learning together. The capstone course for this qualification is 119373 Integrative Studies

Practical work requirement

There is a practical work requirement for this degree, consisting of at least 26 weeks full-time work. This is completed by submission of two reports for assessment. Practical work is normally done during summer vacations throughout the degree. Summer jobs are readily available on farms, orchards and other rural enterprises.

Course planning

Year One

115112 Accounting for Business

115113 Economics for Business

115114 Finance Fundamentals

115116 Introduction to Marketing

117153 Introduction to Animal Production in New Zealand

119120 Plants for Agriculture and Horticulture

119180 Introduction to Agribusiness

161140 Agri-Statistics

Year Two

112248 Food and Agribusiness Value Chains

115211 Business Law

119150 Practicum I*

152261 International Business

156231 Strategic Marketing Management

One course from:

119281 Decision Tools for Primary Industries

127242 Introduction to Property Valuation

138255 Applied Engineering in Agriculture and Horticulture Systems

And three courses that can be International Agribusiness major courses (200-level), electives or a mix of both.

Year Three

112301 International Food and Agribusiness Strategies

112302 Food and Agribusiness Strategies

119250 Practicum II*

178312 Globalisation and Trade

119373 Integrative Studies

And four courses that can be a mix of International Agribusiness major courses (at 200 or 300-level) and electives, or electives only if you have taken 45 credits of International Agribusiness courses in year two. The level of electives will be determined by the choice of majoring courses: you need at least 75 credits (usually five courses) at 300-level overall.

*26 weeks of relevant practical work (2 x 13 week blocks of full time work). Work to be completed the summer prior to writing the reports.

Minors

Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.

A minor must be in a different subject from your major.

A Bachelor of Agribusiness (International Agribusiness) with a minor

You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another undergraduate degree, the regulations of that qualification will apply.

An International Agribusiness minor (for students who are studying a different major or degree)

If you are not studying a Bachelor of Agribusiness (International Agribusiness) and wish to complete an International Agribusiness minor see the Bachelor of Agribusiness regulations for requirements. 

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations or this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Core courses for the Bachelor of Agribusiness

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Bachelor of Agribusiness core courses

International Agribusiness courses

Compulsory courses

Choose 105 credits from
Course code: 112301 International Food and Agribusiness Strategies 15 credits

Application of a broad range of business concepts - economic, financial and marketing - to international agri-food business and marketing. Emphasis is placed on international consumers and agri-food exports, including external environment, terms of trade, transportation, packaging, documentation, methods of payment, risk management and negotiation.

View full course details
Course code: 112302 Food and Agribusiness Strategies 15 credits

Extensive use of food industry and agribusiness case studies. Emphasis is placed on strategic analysis and decision making applied to New Zealand and international agribusiness

Prerequisites: 112248

View full course details
Course code: 115116 Introduction to Marketing 15 credits

The course provides an understanding of the core concepts and practices of marketing.

Restrictions: 115104

View full course details
Course code: 152261 International Business 15 credits

A study of business and management from an international perspective. This course provides an introduction to the conduct of business in the global environment by exploring different forms of international business activity in the context of regionalism and globalism.

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Course code: 156231 Strategic Marketing Management 15 credits

A study of the decisions required to allocate and manage marketing resources in a competitive business environment.

Prerequisites: 115116 or 156200

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Course code: 161140 Agri-Statistics 15 credits

An introduction to statistics in an agricultural context, including the presentation, analysis and interpretation of quantitative data.

Restrictions: 161100, 161101, 161111, 161120, 161122, 161130, 115101, 195101, 297101

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Course code: 178312 Globalisation and Trade 15 credits

An examination of selected economic concepts to the operation of global trade, agribusiness and financial markets.

Prerequisites: 115113 or 119180 Restrictions: 178352 and 178358

View full course details

Compulsory course selection

Choose 45 credits from
Course code: 125230 Business Finance 15 credits

The course provides students with a fundamental knowledge of financial theory and practice. In addition to valuation and capital budgeting, students will study working capital management, capital structure, the cost of capital, dividend policy and ethics in finance.

Prerequisites: 115114

View full course details
Course code: 152233 Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship and Innovation 15 credits

This introductory course develops understanding of the key concepts in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Restrictions: 152230

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Course code: 152355 Sustainability Issues, Challenges and Responses 15 credits

An examination of sustainability issues and challenges, how they relate to the business community, and the implications of sustainability for business policy and management.

Prerequisites: Any 200 level course from the 152 course prefix series Restrictions: 152392

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Course code: 156232 Consumer Behaviour 15 credits

A study of the theory and practice of changing consumer behaviour through marketing programmes. The course critically evaluates traditional cognitive models of consumer behaviour and alternative behaviourist approaches.

Prerequisites: 115116 or 156200

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Course code: 178360 Sustainability, Environmental and Climate Change Economics 15 credits

A survey of environmental and climate change issues and the application of economic analysis to these issues and policies to achieve sustainable outcomes.

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Course code: 235312 Case Studies in Māori Agribusiness 15 credits

This course explores Māori agribusiness through a series of case studies in the field with an emphasis on the temporal understanding of Māori agribusiness. Each case study has an emphasis on analysis and decision making and is applied to a range of Māori agribusinesses.

Prerequisites: 119180

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15 credits from

Course code: 119281 Decision Tools for Primary Industries 15 credits

Application of decision tools for farm systems analysis at the tactical level. Analytical frameworks to assist decision-making in finance, human resources, production and marketing.

Prerequisites: 119180 or 117155

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Course code: 127242 Introduction to Property Valuation 15 credits

An introduction to the principles and methods of property valuation.

Restrictions: 127255

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Course code: 138255 Applied Engineering in Agriculture and Horticulture Systems 15 credits

Engineering principles underpinning the systems used in the growing, harvest and post-harvest treatment of agricultural and horticultural products. Emphasis is placed on deriving the system performance specification following consideration of capacity, product quality and safety, and ecological requirements.

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Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Can't meet the entry requirements?

If you need to do a course before you start your qualification, there may be options for you in Summer School.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

New Zealand’s agribusiness sector is flourishing, and there is strong demand for graduates, from running large farm-based businesses through to international trade. Massey's Agribusiness qualifications bring in the most recent developments in both business and primary production, because we actively research in all our subjects. Therefore, you'll have the knowledge and foundation skills for several career paths.

Potential careers include

  • business analyst
  • business and industry leadership roles
  • business management
  • export and import
  • businesses involved in international trade.

Practical experience while you study

During your degree you will gain a huge amount of practical experience. This experience will include at least 26 weeks of paid employment undertaken in agriculture and related sectors. That will give you an advantage with potential employers.

International students

New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.

Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.

As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.

What our students say

“This degree allowed me to pursue my passions in agriculture and commerce, and also offered the flexibility to include a minor in politics. This allows me to combine knowledge, and see how sectors in society are connected. The thought provoking content is preparing us for a future where the market is ever-changing and every day may be different.”
Fatima Imran

Bachelor of Agricommerce (International Agribusiness)

“I have always believed that there is real value in workplace experience as it gives students the ability to apply their learning. The opportunity to work with i4 lead me to work on various projects and has exposed me to new challenges, ideas and initiatives. It has also taught me new soft skills, and broadened my career aspirations.”
Brooke Maddison

Bachelor of Agricommerce (International Agribusiness)

Accreditations and rankings

QS Ranking - Agriculture and Forestry

Massey is world-ranked and New Zealand’s No 1 university in agriculture according to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings.

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QS Ranking - Business Management Studies

Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 400 universities for business and management.

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ShanghaiRanking - agricultural science

Massey University is ranked No.1 in New Zealand for agricultural science by ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

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