Rural Land and Business Management (QA only), BSc (Plumpton College)

Program Overview

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Rural Land and Business Management (QA only), BSc (Plumpton College)

This accelerated degree offers routes to rewarding careers within rural business, land management, consultancy and valuation within the rural sector.

This vocational program offers an alternative pathway to becoming a rural chartered surveyor and agricultural valuer. It is structured to attract individuals committed to joining the profession, including those already working in the field.

The course aims to equip learners with comprehensive knowledge and a practical understanding of resource use and key rural economy industries. It also focuses on developing strong technical skills in essential areas such as valuation, law, finance, business appraisal, and building construction. Additionally, it enhances effective consultancy skills to identify and address client issues, providing solutions to property and business challenges. The program supports learners in working towards personal, academic, and career goals, including achieving full membership in both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).

This accelerated BSc programme offers the ideal opportunity to qualify and gain valuable experience at the same time. Fully endorsed by the CAAV and key land agency stakeholders, it is designed to equip graduates with career ready skills.

UCAS points

104 (view full requirements)

Course/institution codes

N230

Location

Plumpton College

Duration

2 years blended learning

Start month

September

Fees information

For fee information related to this course, please see fees section below

What you should know about this course

• Fast track your career advancement.
• Unique blend of block on campus delivery mixed with online support.
• Fully endorsed by the CAAV.
• This course is offered by one of the university's partner colleges: Plumpton College, based at Lewes, East Sussex.

What you will study

Validated / Quality Assured (QA) Programmes: these are programmes approved (‘validated’) and quality assured by the University of Greenwich for delivery by one of our Partner Colleges. They lead to a University of Greenwich award.

Module details

Module details not found.

About the course team

You will be taught by an expert team whose experience and knowledge closely reflects the course modules. The team consists of leading academics, and experienced industry professionals, along with diverse industrial networks to external international experts who deliver guest lectures on individual modules, and career guidance.

Entry requirements

UK citizens and permanent residents

Minimum of five GCSEs, including Maths and English Language at grade 4 or above plus satisfactory Level 3 qualifications.

We consider a range of Level 3 qualification with UCAS tariff points.

• A Level: three subjects (BCC) – minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points
• C &G Advanced Technical/BTEC: Level 3 Extended Diploma (1080) at DMM
• 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 overall
• Access to Higher Education: 104 Points (45 credits at level 3, of which 21 must be awarded at Distinction and 15 at Merit or higher).

We also consider alternative qualifications at Level 3, such as OCR Cambridge Technical, AQA Tech-Level, and a range of international qualifications at Level 3 equivalent.

International entry requirements

The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses.

For detailed information on the academic and English language requirements, please find your country in our directory.

How you will learn

Learning experience

Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.

Class sizes

Depending on your course, class sizes vary by module. Students have opportunities for 1 to 1 contact time with an academic tutor throughout their studies. This course provides a unique opportunity for those wanting to study while gaining work experience.

Independent learning

At university, you must develop the ability to work more independently than you have done before. In the early stages of the degree, you will receive a higher level of support from module leaders and personal tutors. In years 2 and 3, you will need to demonstrate an increasing ability to build upon material delivered in lectures and practice through independent reading. Greenwich graduates should be able to think and work independently, analytically and creatively to solve problems.

Overall workload

You should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15 or 30 credits. These represent around 150 or 300 study hours respectively. If you receive 100 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 200 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.

Assessment

Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning
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University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.

Other costs

Any costs associated with work placement/experience, travel and accommodation will be the student’s responsibility and is not included within the tuition fees.

There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, depending on your situation including hardship funding.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.

Careers and placements

Will I have a work placement?

Rather than attending a separate module for work experience this accelerated degree embeds industry work placement activities as part of the curriculum. The result being that students are ‘learning on the job’ and therefore boosting their graduate opportunities. These hours of industry work placement will be completed across the three weeks (of the four) where students are engaged with online, distance learning.

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

The course is designed to fill a particular need in the training of rural property and business advisors who wish to qualify as Chartered Surveyors and Fellows of the Association of Agricultural Valuers. The demand for these skills has risen significantly in recent years and professional firms in these sectors are facing a challenge in recruitment exacerbated by the lack of training opportunities.

The degree has been developed with reference to the requirements necessary for individuals to pass the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence and the Fellowship examinations of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

Students have access to academic tutors on campus and online throughout the duration of their course. Additionally, students who have a learning difficulty, disability and/or ongoing health condition may be able to access reasonable adjustments to support their studies. Support is available to help students apply and access Disabled Student Allowance through either the Inclusive Learning and Development Department or the HE Office.

Support from the department

The Library boasts a collection of over 8,000 books, covering a range of key subject areas within land-based curriculum. The Library also provides students with access to a variety of magazines, periodicals and academic journals through online databases.

Learning technology is central to the learning experience of students at Plumpton College and therefore is supported by dedicated staff within the College Teaching and Learning Team. The responsibilities of this team are to help support students with learning technology to enhance the overall learning experience.

Program Outline

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Rural Land and Business Management (QA only), BSc (Plumpton College) | University of Greenwich, London

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Degree Overview:

This accelerated BSc program offers a route to rewarding careers within rural business, land management, consultancy, and valuation within the rural sector. It is a highly vocational program designed for those with a clear intention to join the profession, many of whom may be working in practice.

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Objectives:

The program aims to provide learners with:

• Thorough knowledge and practical understanding of resource use and industries key to the rural economy.

• Strong technical skills in key disciplines including valuation, law, finance, business appraisal, and building construction.

• Effective consultancy skills to identify and appraise issues on behalf of clients and deliver solutions to property and business challenges.

• Skills to work towards personal, academic, and career targets, including achieving full membership of both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and CAAV (Central Association of Agricultural Valuers).

This accelerated BSc program offers the ideal opportunity to qualify and gain valuable experience simultaneously. Fully endorsed by the CAAV and key land agency stakeholders, it is designed to equip graduates with career-ready skills.

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Outline:

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Structure:

• The program is delivered over two academic years, combining block on-campus delivery with online support.
• It includes Level 4, 5, and 6 modules.

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Course Schedule:

• The academic year runs from September to June.

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Modules:

• Introduction to the Rural Economy
• Introduction to Rural Property Law
• Valuation 1
• Building and Construction Management
• Introduction to farming systems
• Integrated Project 1
• Property Agency and Marketing
• Infrastructure and Compulsory Purchase
• Valuation 2
• National and Local Taxation
• Sustainable Business Management
• Research Methods and statistics
• Integrated Project 2
• Strategic Rural Asset Management
• Planning and Development
• Valuation 3
• Business Planning and Performance
• Natural Resource Management
• Project Investment and Feasibility
• RLBM Honours Project

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Assessment:

• Students are assessed through a combination of assessment methods depending on the modules chosen.
• Each course has formal assessments that count towards the final grade.
• Some courses may also include practice assignments that help monitor progress but do not count towards the final grade.
• Feedback on assignments is provided within 15 working days.

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Teaching:

• The program is taught by an expert team with experience and knowledge closely reflecting the course modules.
• The team consists of leading academics, experienced industry professionals, and diverse industrial networks.
• External international experts deliver guest lectures on individual modules and provide career guidance.

---

Careers:

• The course is designed to fill a particular need in the training of rural property and business advisors who wish to qualify as Chartered Surveyors and Fellows of the Association of Agricultural Valuers.
• The demand for these skills has risen significantly in recent years, and professional firms in these sectors are facing a challenge in recruitment exacerbated by the lack of training opportunities.
• Rather than attending a separate module for work experience, this accelerated degree embeds industry work placement activities as part of the curriculum.
• Students are "learning on the job" and therefore boosting their graduate opportunities.
• These hours of industry work placement will be completed across the three weeks (of the four) where students are engaged with online, distance learning.

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Other:

• The program is offered by one of the university's partner colleges: Plumpton College, based at Lewes, East Sussex.
• Students have access to academic tutors on campus and online throughout the duration of their course.
• Students with a learning difficulty, disability, and/or ongoing health condition may be able to access reasonable adjustments to support their studies.
• The Library boasts a collection of over 8,000 books, covering a range of key subject areas within land-based curriculum.
• The Library also provides students with access to a variety of magazines, periodicals, and academic journals through online databases.
• Learning technology is central to the learning experience of students at Plumpton College and therefore is supported by dedicated staff within the College Teaching and Learning Team.
• The responsibilities of this team are to help support students with learning technology to enhance the overall learning experience.