First cohort of TUS Agricultural Science and Sustainability Degree students celebrate graduation
9th November 2026
The Degree, run in conjunction with Gurteen College, sees 165% increase in its second cycle
The first cohort of graduates in Agricultural Science and Sustainability have been conferred with their degrees. Seventeen graduates received their parchments at the recent TUS conferring ceremonies on the Moylish Campus – the final graduation ceremony for TUS President Professor Vincent Cunanne.
The course, run in conjunction with Gurteen Agricultural College, is designed to develop graduates’ skills in managing agriculture and its interaction with the environment. It allows students to take advantage of the growing employment opportunities by focusing on the practical application of knowledge and skills required in agri‑business and on‑farm settings.
It also includes a semester of work placement. Placements for the class of 2026 included roles in Teagasc, Kerry Group, the Department of Agriculture, and sustainability roles within local county councils as well as farms in the UK, Germany and New Zealand.
Speaking after the ceremony, Prof. Cunnane said: “Congratulations to the first cohort of students to graduate from the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science and Sustainability. This is a highly innovative and relevant degree developed with our partners in Gurteen College. This partnership is absolutely central in how we move forward in this sphere.
“It is wonderful to see the first graduates emerge from the programme, and we all look forward to seeing many more in the future. This course ensures we remain engaged in bringing people together to share knowledge for the benefit of our region and beyond while also focusing on providing solutions to real-world problems.”
Principal of Gurteen Agricultural College, Jon Parry, said that blending TUS’s expertise with Gurteen College’s long tradition of teaching agriculture made for a powerful combination.
He added:“We have a big farm, so we have a lot of resources and a lot of connections into the industry. This course is six years in the making – writing the degree, getting the degree validated – and this is the first group of graduates coming through.
“The course is actually increasing in numbers. We had 17 students who graduated this year and there’s 45 due to graduate next year,” he concluded.
Graduates are already putting their education and qualifications to good use, with some taking the opportunity to travel and experience agriculture in other countries. Others have progressed onto Masters’ programmes while more have secured permanent professional roles in the region, including jobs back at their placement hosts.
About the course
The course is designed to give graduates the practical skills in the laboratory, fieldwork and farm skills to work in a broad range of sectors. In the second semester of year 3, students can take part in a work placement of their choice to hone their practical skills.
There is also a strong focus on personal and professional development which is valuable for success in the workplace. Through the combination of experiential learning opportunities, specialist facilities, and an interdisciplinary curriculum encompassing agriculture, sustainability, and science, the degree course offers a unique and distinctive educational pathway.
Students of this four-year course spend their time between TUS Thurles campus and Gurteen College, which is a 414-hectare farm that includes a wide range of commercial enterprises providing an ideal learning environment. The course fulfils the requirement for Trained Farmer Status (Green Cert).
