Careers Advice

Advice for school leavers

Why choose a Teagasc course?

Teagasc is unrivalled in the depth of knowledge and expertise it can draw on to support your education. Teagasc is at the cutting edge of research and knowledge transfer for the land and agri-food sectors. Teagasc engages with all land sector areas including farming, agricultural mechanisation, horticulture, forestry and equine.

‘Hands on’ environment

Teaching and learning is typically split 50:50 between classroom and outdoor practical instruction. Our practical instruction allows mutual interaction to develop between tutors and students in a ‘hands on’ learning environment.

We strongly encourage the development of problem solving, decision making and planning capabilities, utilising discussion groups, visits to external farms and other facilities and external speakers in our delivery approach.

Real life experience

As a full-time student you will also spend time away from the college on a host farm or unit. This is called a Practical Learning Period (PLP) and is part of our Level 5 and Level 6 programmes. Our students particularly value the real life experience gained from their PLP. For Level 6 programmes we encourage and facilitate students to complete their PLP overseas. Our PLP programmes are delivered through a network of over 1,000 registered host farms and units.

Work based learning is a major component of Teagasc apprenticeships programmes.

Apprentices are employed with a SOLAS approved employer and earn as they learn.

Teagasc Education’s link with Research and Advisory

Research farms have been developed at a number of colleges. There are also specialised resources and facilities at Teagasc’s two horticultural colleges to enable hands-on learning for horticultural learners and likewise for the equine and forestry programmes at the relevant college. Our adult part-time and distance education courses are delivered across Teagasc’s 12 advisory regions and the agricultural college network.

After you graduate

Teagasc offers more than an education. After graduation, we encourage you to avail of our advisory and research services, discussion group network and continuous professional development programmes for farmers and growers. If you take up a career in the wider agri-food sector we encourage you to avail of the Teagasc ConnectEd programme.

Further updates will be published on the Teagasc website, or by contacting your local agricultural or horticultural college.

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