Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture and Professional Accounting)
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture and Professional Accounting)
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Upcoming start dates
Semester 2 - 14 Jul 2025
November Summer School - 10 Nov 2025
Semester 1 - 23 Feb 2026
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Qualification
Bachelors
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Duration
4 years full-time
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Credits
480
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Location
Lincoln University Campus
As land-based industries become even more important in feeding growing populations, there will be increasing need for future-focused leadership. This four-year degree blends farm management and agricultural production with modern business and accounting. You’ll grow your worth as someone who can shape a commercially and environmentally sustainable future for farming.
As the world changes, new skills are needed to evolve and improve primary industries. If you’re hungry to expand your opportunities along with your passion for the landing and farming, this is your degree.
How you’ll grow
As well as growing your knowledge of primary industry and plant production systems, you’ll meet the academic requirements for recognised Professional Accounting bodies and leading professional business and finance associations in Australasia and beyond:
- Certified Practising Accountants Australia (CPA)
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a global network of finance professionals.
Career opportunities
Graduates of Lincoln University’s Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture and Professional Accounting) are in-demand for leadership roles in accounting and management firms across agribusiness and farming in New Zealand and Australia.
Practical work requirements
During your study, you’re expected to complete:
- At least 30 weeks of hands-on practical experience
- This can be two farm placements of 15 weeks each
- OR two farm placements plus a further allied placement of 10 weeks
- The minimum placement period is 10 weeks per workplace, with a maximum term of 15 weeks.
- Two reports are required.
To complete the practical requirements successfully, you’ll need:
- Competence in driving vehicles (experience driving tractors or trucks is an advantage).
- Some previous farming experience is preferred but not essential.
- The physical ability to work on farms without endangering yourself or others.
Download the Practical Work Handbook (PDF 1600 KB) for this degree.
For more information on the practical aspects of study, contact the Practical Work Co-ordinator at practicalwork@lincoln.ac.nz or phone +64 3 423 0061.
This bachelor degree gives you a different skill set that makes you stand out from the crowd. It leads to loads of opportunities in the changing agri sector.
Fiona Pahl
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture and Professional Accounting)
Programme information
University Entrance through NCEA or an approved, equivalent qualification.
If you have an overseas qualification, you can find out more about entry requirements here.
If English isn’t your first language, other entry requirements will apply. Learn more about English language requirements.
Recommended preparation
- Accounting (highly recommended)
- Agriculture / Horticulture
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Computing
- Economics
- English (highly recommended)
- Māori Studies
- Maths / Statistics
Summary of Regulations
All of the following:
- Pass at least 480 credits (32 courses)
- Pass all compulsory courses
- Complete no more than 165 credits (11 courses) at the 100 level
- Complete at least 105 credits (7 courses) at the 300 level
- Complete 30 credits (2 courses) at level-100 coded ANSC, FORS, HORT, PLSC, SOSC, WINE
- Complete a further 30 credits (2 courses) at any level coded ANSC, FORS, HORT, PLSC, SOSC, WINE
- Complete all practical work requirements.
What's it going to cost?
Learn more by using the Domestic Fees Calculator or viewing the International Fees.
You can start studying in either:
- Semester 1 (late February)
- Semester 2 (mid-July)*
There are also options for starting in summer semesters. But the range of courses available would be limited.
*Please obtain course advice if you’re considering this option.
Graduate Attributes refer to the knowledge, skills, and values that you gain from completing your qualification. These high-level qualities will prepare you for career success, further study or research and making a valuable contribution to society in your chosen field. Attributes in italics apply to the Majors, the others apply to the BCom core courses.
Knowledge
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge fields relevant to the different stages of primary production systems.
- Describe in depth the multi- and inter-disciplinary nature of the bio-physical environment and biological production systems, and the impact of these on agribusiness and food supply chains.
- Explain the characteristics of agricultural, horticultural and agribusiness industries, and the theoretical concepts that underpin their formation, operation and management.
- Explain the risk associated with agriculture systems.
- Understand the likely impacts of new technologies and innovative practices in the primary sector.
- Explain the different approaches and dimensions of sustainability relevant to different stakeholders in primary production systems.
- Evaluate and contextualise a range of accounting and finance issues within the business environment and discuss their implications on business.
- Evaluate a range of tools and techniques to solve accounting and finance problems.
Skills
- Apply appropriate approaches, methods and tools to analyse, evaluate and solve problems related to agricultural production management issues.
- Communicate, in both written and spoken forms, an understanding of agribusiness and food marketing issues clearly and fluently.
- Critically evaluate risks and implement mitigation and avoidance strategies.
- Integrate theory and practice from different disciplines to evaluate complex social, economic and technical aspects of bio-economic farming systems.
- Prepare and analyse a range of accounting and finance reports.
Values
- Appreciate appropriate professional and environmentally sound practice.
- Appreciate different cultural and socio-economic perspectives.
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Entry requirements
University Entrance through NCEA or an approved, equivalent qualification.
If you have an overseas qualification, you can find out more about entry requirements here.
If English isn’t your first language, other entry requirements will apply. Learn more about English language requirements.
Recommended preparation
- Accounting (highly recommended)
- Agriculture / Horticulture
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Computing
- Economics
- English (highly recommended)
- Māori Studies
- Maths / Statistics
-
Regulations and fees
Summary of Regulations
All of the following:
- Pass at least 480 credits (32 courses)
- Pass all compulsory courses
- Complete no more than 165 credits (11 courses) at the 100 level
- Complete at least 105 credits (7 courses) at the 300 level
- Complete 30 credits (2 courses) at level-100 coded ANSC, FORS, HORT, PLSC, SOSC, WINE
- Complete a further 30 credits (2 courses) at any level coded ANSC, FORS, HORT, PLSC, SOSC, WINE
- Complete all practical work requirements.
What's it going to cost?
Learn more by using the Domestic Fees Calculator or viewing the International Fees.
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Intake semester
You can start studying in either:
- Semester 1 (late February)
- Semester 2 (mid-July)*
There are also options for starting in summer semesters. But the range of courses available would be limited.
*Please obtain course advice if you’re considering this option.
-
Graduate Attributes
Graduate Attributes refer to the knowledge, skills, and values that you gain from completing your qualification. These high-level qualities will prepare you for career success, further study or research and making a valuable contribution to society in your chosen field. Attributes in italics apply to the Majors, the others apply to the BCom core courses.
Knowledge
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge fields relevant to the different stages of primary production systems.
- Describe in depth the multi- and inter-disciplinary nature of the bio-physical environment and biological production systems, and the impact of these on agribusiness and food supply chains.
- Explain the characteristics of agricultural, horticultural and agribusiness industries, and the theoretical concepts that underpin their formation, operation and management.
- Explain the risk associated with agriculture systems.
- Understand the likely impacts of new technologies and innovative practices in the primary sector.
- Explain the different approaches and dimensions of sustainability relevant to different stakeholders in primary production systems.
- Evaluate and contextualise a range of accounting and finance issues within the business environment and discuss their implications on business.
- Evaluate a range of tools and techniques to solve accounting and finance problems.
Skills
- Apply appropriate approaches, methods and tools to analyse, evaluate and solve problems related to agricultural production management issues.
- Communicate, in both written and spoken forms, an understanding of agribusiness and food marketing issues clearly and fluently.
- Critically evaluate risks and implement mitigation and avoidance strategies.
- Integrate theory and practice from different disciplines to evaluate complex social, economic and technical aspects of bio-economic farming systems.
- Prepare and analyse a range of accounting and finance reports.
Values
- Appreciate appropriate professional and environmentally sound practice.
- Appreciate different cultural and socio-economic perspectives.
Programme Structure
Year 1
Semester 1 courses
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Semester 1 courses
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{{ 'LWST 114' | except-last-word }} {{ 'LWST 114' | last-word }}
Introduction to Commercial Law
15 credits
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{{ 'ECON 113' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ECON 113' | last-word }}
Economies and Markets
15 credits
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{{ 'MGMT 103' | except-last-word }} {{ 'MGMT 103' | last-word }}
Primary Industry Systems
15 credits
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{{ 'COMM 112' | except-last-word }} {{ 'COMM 112' | last-word }}
Financial Information for Business
15 credits
Semester 2 courses
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Semester 2 courses
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{{ 'ACCT 101' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ACCT 101' | last-word }}
Accounting Fundamentals
15 credits
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Year 1 required electives*
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Elective
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Elective
Year 2
Semester 1 courses
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Semester 1 courses
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{{ 'ACCT 203' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ACCT 203' | last-word }}
Accounting Information Systems
15 credits
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MGMT201 OR MGMT214*
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Year 2 required electives*
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Elective
Semester 2 courses
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Semester 2 courses
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{{ 'ACCT 202' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ACCT 202' | last-word }}
Management Accounting
15 credits
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{{ 'MGMT 222' | except-last-word }} {{ 'MGMT 222' | last-word }}
The Agribusiness Environment
15 credits
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{{ 'MGMT 203' | except-last-word }} {{ 'MGMT 203' | last-word }}
Agricultural Systems and Sustainability
15 credits
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MGMT202 OR MGMT216*
Year 3
Semester 1 courses
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Semester 1 courses
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{{ 'FINC 204' | except-last-word }} {{ 'FINC 204' | last-word }}
Financial Management
15 credits
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{{ 'MGMT 316' | except-last-word }} {{ 'MGMT 316' | last-word }}
Analysis and Planning in Agricultural Systems
15 credits
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{{ 'ACCT 211' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ACCT 211' | last-word }}
Financial Accounting
15 credits
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Elective
Semester 2 courses
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Semester 2 courses
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{{ 'COMM 111' | except-last-word }} {{ 'COMM 111' | last-word }}
Introductory Statistics
15 credits
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{{ 'MGMT 317' | except-last-word }} {{ 'MGMT 317' | last-word }}
Development and Investment in Agricultural Systems
15 credits
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{{ 'MGMT 340' | except-last-word }} {{ 'MGMT 340' | last-word }}
Agribusiness Strategic Management
15 credits
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{{ 'MGMT 318' | except-last-word }} {{ 'MGMT 318' | last-word }}
Opportunity Analysis in Agricultural Systems
15 credits
Year 4
Semester 1 courses
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Semester 1 courses
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{{ 'ACCT 302' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ACCT 302' | last-word }}
Auditing
15 credits
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{{ 'ACCT 306' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ACCT 306' | last-word }}
Taxation
15 credits
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{{ 'ACCT 308' | except-last-word }} {{ 'ACCT 308' | last-word }}
Advanced Management Accounting
15 credits
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Elective
Semester 2 courses
- Compulsory courses
- Elective courses
- Refer to the lists below
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*Year 1 required electives
choose a minimum of two of the following:
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*MGMT201 OR MGMT214
Choose a minimum of one of the following courses:
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*Year 2 required electives
The following courses are suggested for second years:
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*MGMT202 OR MGMT216
Choose a minimum of one of the following courses:
This degree structure is indicative only. A course advisor will help you to select your electives and plan your degree. You can check out our courses to see what electives might interest you.
Programme contacts
Key information for students
Compare qualification and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Need more info?
Email us on grow@lincoln.ac.nz
Or call us on 0800 10 60 10
If you're overseas, please call +64 3 423 0000
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