Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture
Duration:
1 Year full time (26 weeks at Kildalton College and 8 weeks Practical Learning Period on a host farm)
Course Structure and Content:
- This course provides the first year of education and training for people wishing to farm on a full-time or part-time basis. It is accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
- Link to This course consists of a combination of formal course work and a period of practical learning on a host farm. As part of the course, students spend 26 weeks at Kildalton college and 8 weeks completing a practical learning period at a Teagasc registered host farm.
- The formal course work is split 50:50 between practical/skills training at Kildalton College enterprises and classroom (theoretical) sessions.
- The course consists of a range of mandatory and elective modules. Students must pass all module components, 50% is the pass mark for all modules.
- The 8 weeks practical learning period takes place in March and April each year. This course normally starts at the end of August and finishes in mid-May the following year.
Application Process:
Applications should be made on the Teagasc website for Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture. Applications are open now. Applications for this course can be made by clicking here.
Fees:
The fees for this course are €990. Please note, where an applicant is the holder of a major award at Level 6 or higher, an additional course charge of €1,000 is applied.
Entry requirements:
View the Teagasc Course Entry Requirements here
What will I study? Core subjects include:
- Principles of Agriculture
- Farm Safety and Farm Assurance
- Soils and the Environment
- Farm Business and Technology
- Grass Production
- Safe use of Pesticide Products
As part of this course, students specialise in one of the following subjects:
- Dairy Husbandry
- Sheep Husbandry
- Tillage Crop Husbandry
Progression:
All students who successfully complete the Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture are automatically offered a place on the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture.
There are three streams to choose from for Level 6, all available at Kildalton College:
- Advanced Certificate in Crops and Machinery Management
- Advanced Certificate in Dairy Herd Management or
- Advanced Certificate in Drystock Management.
Please note that at the end of the Level 5 course, students have not completed the requirements for young trained farmer and stamp duty exemption. Students are required to complete one of the Level 6 Advanced Certificate courses to achieve this status.
All students who successfully complete the Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture can apply through the Higher Education Links Scheme using their QQI Level 5 award to apply through the CAO for a place in the first year of a higher education programme.