Program Overview

BSc Agriculture Program

The BSc Agriculture program at the University of Reading is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the science underpinning food production. The program covers everything that impacts production in the supply chain, considering global goals relating to the sustainability of food production.

Overview

The University of Reading is ranked 4th in the People and Planet University League, 2024/25, for environmental and ethical performance. The program focuses on studying the science behind food production, and students will learn how to use biology and technology to maximize crop and animal production, meet targets, and achieve environmental and business objectives.

Pathways

The agriculture program offers distinct opportunities to specialize. Students can study a broad-based agriculture course or specialize in crops, horticulture, or livestock after their first year. If students select a mix of optional modules in their second and third years, they will graduate with a broad-based BSc Agriculture degree. Alternatively, they can choose the crop science, horticultural science, or livestock production pathway and graduate with a specialist degree.

Structure

The program consists of three years of full-time study. The first year introduces students to the key biological principles in crop and livestock science, along with an international perspective on crop and livestock production. In the second year, students explore professional practice in the agriculture industry and discover the range of career opportunities in the sector. The final year allows students to choose a subject that inspires and interests them for their independent research project.

Compulsory Modules

• Agricultural Production Systems
• Agricultural Research Skills
• Agriculture in Practice 1
• Animal Anatomy, Physiology and Nutrition 1
• Crop Physiology, Nutrition and Protection
• Global Sustainability: Challenges and Prospects

Optional Modules

• Animal Anatomy, Physiology and Nutrition 2
• Principles of Horticulture and Crop Production
• Veterinary Health and Disease
• Farmland and Woodland: Ecology and Management of Semi-Natural Habitats

Entry Requirements

• A Level: BBB
• International Baccalaureate: 30 points overall, including an acceptable science subject at higher level
• Extended Project Qualification: In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM (modules taken must be comparable to A level subjects specified)
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: Ł9,790 for 2026 entry
• New international students: Ł30,650 for 2026/27

Careers

The BSc Agriculture program prepares students for senior technical and scientific roles in a wide range of agriculture-related enterprises. Graduates have gone into various graduate jobs, including 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, with an average salary of Ł36,500.