Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management (Professional Placement Year)

Course Overview

The BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Business Management will support you to develop the unique mix of knowledge and skills required to work in a range of roles in the extended food supply chain. Whether you want a career in a corporate environment directing supply systems, working in a family business or, in a SME refining delivery processes, this degree will support you to achieve your goals.

UCAS Code

D4N3

Location

Royal Agricultural University Campus

Duration

4 years (Full time)

Academic Year

29 September 2025 to 22 May 2026

Course Content

You will develop your knowledge through a number of different classes and assessments which will give you a wide range of academic experiences. In your fourth year you will complete a research project which will give you an opportunity to study in-depth a subject of specific interest or of direct relevance to your future employment.

Across the programme Employability Standards are built into every module. These are designed in consultation with employers, so you will always be able to see the relevance of what you are studying to your future career.

Timetables

Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day Monday to Friday. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and societies activities.

Modules

Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Each credit equates to 10 hours of total study time. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

Full-time students normally take modules worth 60 credits per 15 week semester but this can vary depending on your elective choice. Part-time students taking proportionally fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for your degree is based on marks obtained for modules taken at level 5 and level 6 (weighted 30:70 accordingly).

The modules available for this degree are as follows:

Year One

In the first year, you will focus on the fundamentals of business management, marketing and finance.

• 1236 Entrepreneur in Action: Understand and assess the characteristics of an entrepreneurial mindset
• 1325 Introduction to the Agri-Food Industry: Develop an understanding of the agrifood supply chain from farm to fork
• 1414 Principles of Marketing: Explore the theories which underpin marketing and learn how to put these into practice
• 1415 Global Business Environment: Gain an understanding of the economic, political and cultural factors which constitute the Global Business Environment
• 1417 Business informatics: Learn how to apply key business concepts in practice to improve management processes
• 1418 People and Organisations: Discover the theories behind organisational behaviour
• 1440 Academic and Practical Skills: Learn and try out a range of practical skills used in the land and farming sectors
• 1443 Business Finance and Accounts: Learn the fundamentals of accountancy and use software to create and clearly present financial information

Year Two

• 2023 Financial Management: Explore how business finance affects the corporate planning process
• 2032 Marketing Management: Identify and interpret relevant market research data to recommend future strategic directions for a company
• 2258 Intrapreneurship and small business development in urban and rural context: Analyse the challenges faced by small & medium-sized businesses in urban and rural contexts
• 2317 Industry Placement: Complete 15 weeks of work experience to develop key skills for the world of work
• 2337 Personal and Professional Development Skills and Employability: Review and critically assess professional communication standards and other competencies needed for successful client and business management
• 2348 Society and Food: Analyse the impact of climate, international trade and policy on food security and supply chains
• 2349 The Resilience of Agro-Ecosystems: Explore key concepts and theories around sustainable agriculture and different methods for promoting it
• 2378 Research and Evidence: Explore the wide range of research methodologies available, and learn how to select the optimal approach for a given scenario

Year Three

You will undertake your placement year during year three of your programme. You will complete Years 1 and 2, complete the placement year and then return for your final year of the programme.

• PPY Professional Placement Year

Year Four

In the final year, you will have the opportunity to select elective modules and specialise in subjects of particular interest and relevance to your future career aspirations.

• 3300 Dissertation: Develop a detailed research proposal that presents a well-developed research aim supported by clear research objectives
• 3316 Changing Consumer Behaviour: Interpret consumer behaviour using concepts from diverse disciplinary perspectives including psychology, sociology, anthropology and consumer culture
• 3320 Organising and Organisation: Understand the processes which affects how organisations are formed
• 3323 Food Ethics and Governance: Explore different ethics frameworks and how they inform decision making about food
• 3332 Specialist study module: Gain the skills needed to successfully launch a business

Plus a choice of TWO electives selected from:

• 3041 Corporate Finance: Explore how finance affects the corporate world and the individual
• 3244 Estate Business Management and Diversification: Learn about the factors which drive diversification and how they impact estate management
• 3242 Negotiation in Business: Explore the process of negotiation as a form of persuasion and problem-solving within professional and personal communication contexts
• 3317 International Marketing: Explore the impact of the global environment on international marketing decisions
• 3325 Rural Entrepreneurship: Gain the skills needed to successfully launch your own business
• 3340 Farm Business Consultancy: Explore budgeting, financial forecasting, risk management and overall evaluation of the financial health of a farm business

The availability of electives to individual students will be dependent on timetabling considerations and on sufficient students electing to take part.

Careers and Graduate Destinations

We are committed to developing employable graduates and the curriculum has been designed to enhance employability at all levels of study. Employability is seen as an intrinsic aspect of all degree programmes and development of essential graduate attributes is embedded in the keystone modules.

The Agricultural Business Management core modules emphasise themes of: creativity, innovation, using one’s initiative, dealing with ambiguity and risk management. We pride ourselves on being able to help our students acquire the skills they need to foster their initiative and creativity as responsible global citizens. Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers within companies worldwide and within the following roles:

• Food account manager
• Farm trader
• Agriculture manager
• Agri-food communications
• Agri-food relationship manager
• Research manager
• Manager food and agriculture

Entry Requirements

Typical Offers

Required: GCSE minimum five GCSEs at Grade C/4 including English Language and Mathematics (or Maths Numeracy for Welsh applicants) plus satisfactory level 3 qualifications:

• A-Level: (example grades CCC) – minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points (applicants should have either three A-levels or two A-level and two AS level subjects or equivalent qualifications)
• C&G Advanced Technical/BTEC - Level 3 Extended Diploma (1080) at Merit-Merit-Merit
• C&G NPTC/C&G Advanced Technical/BTEC - Level 3 Diploma (720), Extended Certificate (360) and 90-Credit Diploma (540) acceptable when accompanied by other Level 3 qualifications
• International Baccalaureate: 26 points
• Access to Higher Education: 45 credits at level 3, of which a minimum of 15 must be awarded at Distinction and 15 at Merit or higher (Pass at Functional Skills level 2 are accepted in lieu of GCSE English & Mathematics)

Other level 3 qualifications will be considered.

Fees

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees cover the cost of a student’s academic studies. This usually includes teaching costs, registration and examination fees (not repeat or trailing modules, re-sit fees or coursework resubmission). Any costs associated with work placements will be the student's responsibility.

Applicants

For the academic year the tuition fees for this course are:

For part-time study, please contact for further information.

Scholarships

The University offers a wide range of generous fee waivers and bursaries. To find out more about the these, please visit the bursaries, awards and scholarships page.