Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Agri-Management (Top-up)

Course Overview

This top-up degree will inform, inspire, and enable you to gain a fundamental understanding and critical awareness of the problems facing agriculture today, particularly issues relating to the challenges of food production and its global impacts. The farming industry needs new talent, and that means that you are key. Here at the RAU, we're taking on the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture, nationally and globally, to include food security, climate change, environmental land management, and shifts in market demand. You do not need to have an agricultural or farming background; you simply need the passion and drive to make a difference in a rapidly evolving industry. You will learn how to build a productive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural business which contributes to a thriving sector - whether as a farmer, land manager, agronomist, economist, policymaker, researcher, scientist, or consultant – career opportunities are diverse and eclectic.

Industry Experience

You will put your learning into practice on this course through hands-on experience in laboratories, on farms, and via agricultural case studies. You will also have access to the University’s Farm491 facility, an innovative agritech business incubator providing facilities and support to agritech businesses and promoting technology and innovation within the sector.

Course Content

The moral, ethical, welfare, and social issues related to agriculture are embedded in the academic skills, business management professional practice, industry placement, and dissertation modules. You will also select two elective modules, to specialise in a specific sector of interest or to gain a broader understanding of agriculture, land-use, and business issues.

The course will be delivered through a series of lectures, seminars, group projects, visits, and demonstrations at local farms, agricultural businesses, and in the RAU laboratories. You will be assessed through research projects, examinations, presentations, work-based learning, and case studies.

Work Placement

If you are already employed, you may choose to study up to 50% of the course in the workplace, reducing the amount of time you will spend on campus-based modules.

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 of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and societies activities.

Modules

All full-time academic programmes at the RAU are constructed using a selection of modules, each of which requires engagement with a variety of learning activities. Successful completion of module assessments will result in the award of credits, and students are required to achieve a total of 120 credits. Part-time students are required to achieve 60 credits per year over two years.

Each module represents a value of 15 credits or multiples thereof. Each 15-credit module represents a minimum of 150 hours of student learning, effort, and assessment. To achieve the award of BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Management, a student must achieve a minimum of 120 credits. For this BSc (Hons) Top-up course, your grade is calculated entirely on this course's modules.

The modules available for this degree are shown below. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

• 3329 Climate Change and Natural Resource Challenges: Understand the impact that climate change has on natural resources like water, soil, and biodiversity internationally
• 3330 Technology and Agroecology Innovation: Explore the role of technology, innovation, and agroecology in addressing sustainability challenges on farms and throughout the supply chain
• 3331 Food Supply Systems and Policy: Look at the influence of consumers on food systems and the role of policy
• 3332 Specialist Study Module: Undertake a self-directed study within the chosen specialist area
• 3300 Research Project / Dissertation: Develop a detailed research proposal that presents a well-developed research aim supported by clear research objectives

Plus any ONE elective module in each semester selected from:

• 3238 Advances in Livestock Nutrition: Critically evaluate the impact that modern commercial livestock nutrition has on animal and human welfare
• 3239 Crop Health and Protection: Understand the contemporary plant health and protection issues within sustainable crop production
• 3337 Sustainable Farm Management: Create a farm system in accordance with a specific agricultural approach
• 3338 Agronomy Challenges and Solutions: Discuss opportunities and challenges in the cropping sector through study visits and talks from industry leaders
• 3339 Livestock System Challenges and Solutions: Review livestock farming systems and their impact on the economy, society, and the environment
• 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.

Disclaimer Information

The University has established various rules and regulations that you must agree to and follow if you accept an offer to study with us. View our full disclaimer notice.

Careers and Graduate Destinations

Employability of RAU agriculture graduates is excellent, and there are many diverse career opportunities in all sectors of the food chain with 95% in work or doing further study 15 months after completing the course (HESA Graduate Outcomes (GO) Survey, 2020).

Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers within companies worldwide and within the following roles:

• Farm/estate manager
• Food and bio crop manager
• Agricultural/land-based consultant
• Farm and environmental advisor
• Agricultural supplier
• Grain trader

Graduates have gone on to work for prestigious companies such as Agrii, Dalmark Group, Waitrose, AGCO, and Natural England.

Entry Requirements

Typical Offers

• A foundation degree or an HND award in a subject related to the Honours degree and gained in the last five years
• Depending on previous studies, you may be required to complete additional ‘bridging’ studies prior to enrolling on the Honours course in order to cover identified gaps in previous learning

Flexible Entry

The University welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. A wide range of qualifications and experience are accepted in order to join University degree programmes. The University always considers evidence of personal, professional (APL) and educational experience, (APEL), which show an ability to meet the demands of their intended programme of study.

Further Information

Read more general information about our entry requirements.

International students will also need to achieve IELTS Academic or equivalent at the appropriate level for your programme of study. English language requirements for international students.

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:

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

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

Please also refer to the funding your time at university page.

Tuition fees may be subject to an inflationary increase each year as set out in our Access and Participation Plan and are subject to Government and regulatory body conditions.

If you are an Irish national you can check if you meet the requirements for Home Fees. Please visit the UKCISA website and consult the pdf guide “England HE – who pays Home Fees”. First check category ‘3 years in Republic of Ireland/UK/Islands, settled in UK’ or ‘Brexit temporary offer for courses starting before 2028: Irish citizens with residence in Europe or overseas territories’. You will possibly need to be fee assessed when you submit an application for study to the RAU.

Scholarships

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