Three ways to study agriculture, and one day to see the difference

Full-time on the farm, blended or online: Agri Skills Transfer offers three routes into a career in agriculture. On Saturday, 14 November, its Mega Open Day opens the farm gates so you can see the difference for yourself.

What if your classroom had cattle, tractors and tunnels full of vegetables in it? At Agri Skills Transfer, that is not a figure of speech. Practical training takes place at the Cullinan farm training centre east of Pretoria, supported by the Groenkloof campus and an online learning environment.

Students get hands-on with beef cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, crop and vegetable production, feedlot operations, greenhouse and tunnel production, aquaponics, compost production and farm machinery.

“We don’t only teach agriculture in a classroom; we put students into agriculture,” is how the institution sums up its approach. It calls this “agricultural training with a difference”, and it starts from a simple idea: the industry needs people who can get stuff done, not just people who know the theory.

But not every future farmer is at the same point in life. A matriculant ready to move onto a farm for a year has different needs from a farmworker who wants a formal qualification without leaving their job. That is why Agri Skills Transfer offers three ways to study.

Students gain direct, practical skills working with sheep and other livestock at the Cullinan Practical Farm. Photo: Agri Skills Transfer

Option 1: Full-time: live and learn on the farm

For school leavers who want the full experience, full-time residential study puts you on the farm.

Apart from the National Diploma in Animal Production NQF 5 and the National Diploma in Plant Production NQF 5, a new programme will be launched next year: the Mixed Crop & Livestock Farmer programme, a National Occupational Certificate at NQF Level 5 worth 197 credits. It runs from January to December 2027 and brings crops, livestock and farm management together in one qualification.

Full-time study is designed as a complete package rather than just a timetable. It includes:

21 meals a week, laundry and Wi-Fi
PPE and work clothing
your own toolbox and farm tools
exposure to game and wildlife farming
a visit to NAMPO, South Africa’s biggest agricultural trade show
guest lectures from industry experts, plus additional short-course opportunities

Practical tasks build the real-world operational experience agricultural employers demand. Photo: Agri Skills Transfer

For parents, this answers the questions that matter most. Where will my child live? Who will support them? Will they gain real experience and a recognised qualification? Accommodation, meals, structure and practical training all come together in one place.

Option 2: Blended: flexibility with your hands still in the soil

Blended learning combines structured theory and classes with practical training. It suits students who need more flexibility than a full year on the farm allows, but who still want to learn by doing.

It is a strong option for young people who are already working part-time, helping on a family farm, or balancing other commitments, and who want a qualification that reflects real farm skills.

Students master foundational agricultural skills, from setting up boundary fencing to farm maintenance. Photos: Agri Skills Transfer

Option 3: Online: study from wherever you farm

Online learning brings Agri Skills Transfer’s training to students wherever they are. It is ideal for farmers and agricultural workers who want to formalise years of experience, grow their knowledge of farm management and agricultural business, or prepare for their next career step without relocating.

For anyone who wants to master one specific skill rather than a full qualification, Agri Skills Transfer also offers practical short courses.

Mega Open Day: come and see the difference

Choosing where to study is a big decision for students and their parents. The best way to make it is to stand on the farm yourself.

Agri Skills Transfer’s Mega Open Day takes place on Saturday, 14 November 2026, from 09:00 at the Cullinan Practical Farm. Visitors can:

Tour the farm and see the animals and farming operations up close
Watch practical demonstrations
Meet lecturers, current students, industry partners and agricultural professionals
Explore student accommodation and see what campus life is really like
Discover the 2027 programmes, including what is new and the game and wildlife opportunities
Get career guidance, help with applications, and answers at a dedicated session for parents

And if you are still wondering whether agriculture is really for you, this is the place to find out. Modern agriculture is innovative, technology-driven and entrepreneurial: a career with purpose that feeds the country.

Secure your place for 2027

Registration and enrolment for 2027 are open now. Don’t wait until January and hope there is still space: choose your programme, apply, and pay your registration and deposit to secure your place.

Book your Open Day spot or apply today: