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BSc Agriculture with International Foundation Year

The BSc Agriculture with International Foundation Year course is designed for international students who want to study agriculture at a British university but don't have the correct qualifications. This four-year program enables students to undertake an undergraduate agriculture degree, completing a foundation year before progressing onto the three-year BSc Agriculture degree.

Overview

Our BSc Agriculture with International Foundation Year course covers everything that impacts production in the supply chain while considering global goals relating to sustainability. The University of Reading is ranked 4th in the People and Planet University League, 2024/25, and 7th in the UK for Animal Science and Agriculture (Guardian University Guide 2026).

Structure

The program consists of a foundation year (called Year 0) followed by three years of undergraduate study. The foundation year is designed to equip students with the subject-specific and general study skills needed to cope with the demands of undergraduate study.

Entry Requirements

• A Level: See entry requirements
• AS and A Levels: 72 UCAS tariff points
• International Baccalaureate: 24 points from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or International Baccalaureate Certificate
• GCSE: Grades 9–4 (A*–C) in five subjects, or equivalent qualifications
• IELTS: A minimum overall score 5.5 with no component below 5.5

Modules

Foundation Programme

• Biology: Explore the life cycle of cells and the chemical reactions that give them energy and allow them to replicate
• Ecology and the Environment: Explore key concepts and processes associated with both the physical and living environment
• Environmental Sustainability: Explore the causes and consequences of global contemporary sustainability issues
• Mathematics Foundation: Learn the techniques required to analyse and solve a variety of mathematical problems

Year 1

• Agricultural Production Systems: Discover the key biological principles in crop and livestock science
• Agricultural Research Skills: Plan, conduct, and analyse a group research project
• Agriculture in Practice 1: Develop an understanding of a range of farming systems and agricultural businesses
• Animal Anatomy, Physiology and Nutrition 1: Gain a fundamental understanding of how animals function as integrated biological systems
• Crop Physiology, Nutrition and Protection: Discover the inner workings of various crop families

Year 2

• Agriculture in Practice 2: Explore professional practice in the agriculture industry
• Crop Agronomy: Discover how to manage a UK cereal crop at a basic level
• Data Skills: Learn about the principles of experimental design, data management, and visualisation
• Farm Business Management: Learn how to analyse a business's financial requirements and assess different investment options
• Livestock Production, Nutrition and Welfare: Learn about the factors that influence the management of food-producing animals

Year 3

• Agricultural Technology: Application, Adoption and Ethics: Explore different agricultural technologies and their contribution to sustainability
• Independent Research Project: Identify a particular research question and provide an evidence-based answer
• Plus at least one of:
  • Cereal Management and Marketing
  • Advanced Livestock Production and Product Quality

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £23,000 for 2026/27 Foundation year, then rising to the standard course fees
• New international students: £23,000 for 2026/27 Foundation year, then rising to the standard course fees
• Tuition fees are subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study

Careers

Our BSc Agriculture programme prepares students for senior technical and scientific roles in a wide range of agriculture-related enterprises. Graduates have gone into a variety of graduate jobs, including in agronomy, livestock nutrition, and horticulture, with companies such as Syngenta, HGCA, NIAB TAG, and Volac. The University of Reading ranks 1st for graduate salary for Agriculture, food, and related studies after five years.