Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Rural Land Management

Course Overview

This course offers proven routes to rewarding careers within rural business, estate management, consultancy, and property in the countryside. Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), you will learn the fundamentals of rural professional practice as well as planning and development, law, valuation, building construction, and management.

UCAS Code

N231

Location

Royal Agricultural University Campus

Duration

3 Years (full time)

Academic Year

29 September 2025 to 22 May 2026

Course Content

You will learn through a series of lectures, seminars, group tutorials, practical sessions, and visits to local farms, commercial properties, and rural estates. Modules are assessed through a range of coursework, often based on real-life case studies and sponsored by land management firms.

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.

Year One

• 1014 Building Technology (pre-requisite to 2334 & 2336): Gain an overview of basic building science principles relating to structural stability, environmental performance, and sustainability
• 1015 Law 1 (pre-requisite to 2030): Understand and explain how the English legal system is organised and administered through the courts
• 1016 Valuation 1 (pre-requisite to 2037): Explain the factors which underpin value in the property market
• 1044 Agriculture for Land Management (pre-requisite to 2336): Learn how to manage a range of livestock species and cereal crops
• 1320 Fundamentals of Land and Property: Gain an overview of the topics covered in Land and Property programmes
• 1321 Land and Property Economics: Develop an understanding of basic macro and micro economic concepts in land and property markets
• 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

• 2030 Law 2: Apply legal knowledge to the creation, existence, and determination of legal estates and legal interests in land
• 2037 Valuation 2: Identify and use the appropriate method of valuation to meet a range of client requirements and different property types
• 2066 Business, Property Finance and Taxation: Interpret financial statements and recognise how company finance should be structured
• 2333 Planning Law and Practice: Demonstrate a sound working knowledge of the statutory Town and Country Planning system and its procedures
• 2334 Surveying, Inspection and Measurement: Undertake a building inspection report, including advising on the condition of properties and the identification of common building defects
• 2335 Forestry, Land and Resources: Consider and explore topics such as energy generation and usage and sustainable resource management
• 2336 Agricultural Systems and Buildings: Examine the factors that determine how agricultural enterprises and businesses are organized and managed, considering key drivers such as government policy, labour, finances, and physical resources
• 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

Year Three

• 3033 Agricultural Law and Valuation: Evaluate and prepare advice for owners and occupiers of let agricultural property based on the relevant legal constraints
• 3244 Estate Business Management and Diversification: Learn about the factors which drive diversification and how they impact estate management
• 3245 Infrastructure and Compulsory Purchase: Demonstrate understanding of the statutory and non-statutory framework for the development of infrastructure projects
• 3300 Research Project / Dissertation: Develop a detailed research proposal that presents a well-developed research aim supported by clear research objectives
• 3341 Contemporary Issues in Land, Property and Society: Critically analyse a range of issues affecting the land and property sector

Plus a choice of TWO electives selected from a broad range, including:

• 3007 Commercial Property Management: Integrate and synthesise relevant information and principles from various disciplines including law and town and country planning to solve problems encountered in commercial property management
• 3080 Heritage Property: Understand the key concepts behind heritage decisions including statements of significance and conservation management planning
• 3090 Forestry and Woodland Management: Explore the significance of forestry in climate mitigation, timber production, and farm diversification
• 3215 Advanced Residential Agency: Advise on a marketing strategy for sale purposes, of a range of different types of residential property, including town houses, new homes, and country houses sold with or without land
• 3246 Development and Development Appraisal: Prepare a development appraisal to an appropriate professional standard
• 3316 Changing Consumer Behaviour: Interpret consumer behaviour using concepts from diverse disciplinary perspectives including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and consumer culture

Careers and Graduate Destinations

Our graduates have gone on to work for the likes of the National Trust and other national, international, and regional landowners, county councils, and utility companies. Others have secured work with private estates and chartered surveyors. You can expect to find work in any number of the areas connected to rural property management, including:

• Land and property consultancy
• Valuation
• Estate management
• Residential sales and lettings
• Entrepreneurs/business managers
• Auctioneers
• Utility and compulsory purchase

Entry Requirements

Typical Offers

• 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 BCC) – minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points across three A-Levels or equivalent qualifications
• C&G Advanced Technical/BTEC - Level 3 Extended Diploma (1080) at Distinction-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 21 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)
• A period of relevant practical experience is also highly recommended

Fees

Tuition Fees

• UK: £9,535 per year
• International: £16,950 per year

Scholarships

The University offers a wide range of generous fee waivers and bursaries.