Dual study program in agriculture

The dual study program in agriculture combines agricultural training with a bachelor's degree in organic farming. This allows you to combine theory and practice. The dual study program is an investment that enables you to work in practical agriculture or close to it later on. In addition, the total training period (at least two years of apprenticeship, three years of bachelor studies) can be shortened to approx. four and a half years. This is a cooperation between the Department of Ecological Agricultural Sciences at the University of Kassel and the Hessen State Farming Agency.

Study application: After this training year, apply in August for the winter semester for the Bachelor's degree course in Organic Agriculture (via the University of Kassel's ecampus portal ). In the ecampus portal, you will be asked to indicate whether you are a dual student and have the option of uploading the relevant documents (e.g. training contract).

Vocational training and final examination in another federal state:
► Consultation with the responsible office for agricultural training in this federal state required
► Information to the study coordination in Witzenhausen

After your second semester, you will complete a second one-year vocational training course at a recognized training company in Hesse . During the second training phase, you are again employed by the company as an apprentice. You can remain enrolled at the same time or exmatriculate for this period. In total, you must provide evidence of at least 24 training hours for the vocational training, whereby the examination date (final examination) may not be more than two months before the end of the training period. Prerequisites for admission to the final vocational examination are:

• Training at state-recognized training companies,
• Training contract(s) registered with the competent vocational training office, proof of successful completion of training
• Keeping a report booklet
• Participation in inter-company training and the intermediate examination.

Students in the dual study program are, according to Hess. School Act, students in the dual study program are entitled to attend vocational school during the second practical phase, but are not required to attend vocational school. Participation in the inter-company training courses is required. If the scheduled course dates are outside of your practical periods, you will need to arrange alternative dates in good time.

After completing the training period, you will re-enrol as a student on the Bachelor's degree course in Organic Farming and continue your studies. The training period and the grade of the final examination will be credited towards the professional internship in the Bachelor's degree program.
If you are planning to complete the second training period and the final examination in another federal state, please contact the relevant vocational training office in this federal state immediately. Please also inform the study coordination office in Witzenhausen immediately.