Program Overview

BSc Agricultural Business Management with International Foundation Year

The BSc Agricultural Business Management with International Foundation Year course is designed for international students who wish to study agriculture at a British university but do not have the correct qualifications. This four-year program enables students to undertake an undergraduate agricultural business management degree.

Overview

Our BSc Agricultural Business Management with International Foundation Year course will enable you to become a successful manager or consultant within the agricultural sector. Study at one of the UK's leading universities for environmental and ethical performance. The University of Reading is ranked 4th in the People and Planet University League, 2024/25, and 7th in the UK for Animal Science and Agriculture (Guardian University Guide 2026).

Structure

The program consists of an International Foundation Year, followed by three years of study for the BSc Agricultural Business Management degree.

• International Foundation Year
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Compulsory Modules

The following modules are compulsory:

• Academic Skills
• Foundation Economics - Microeconomics
• Foundation Economics - Macroeconomics
• Foundation Statistics and Data Science
• Agriculture in Practice 1
• Agricultural Production Systems
• The Economic Environment
• The Fundamentals of Management and Marketing
• Global Sustainability: Challenges and Prospects
• Research and Professional Skills for Business and Marketing
• Agriculture in Practice 2
• Farm Business Management
• Research Methods and Data Analysis
• Business Management and Entrepreneurship
• Business Planning and Control
• Independent Research Project

Optional Modules

The following modules are optional:

• Academic English 1
• Academic English 2
• An Introduction to Business Management
• Applied Marketing and Management
• Crop Agronomy
• Digital Marketing
• Livestock Production, Nutrition and Welfare
• Principles of Horticulture and Crop Production
• Farmland and Woodland: Ecology and Management of Semi-Natural Habitats
• Optional Language or University Wide Module
• Advanced Livestock Production and Product Quality
• Agricultural Systems in the Tropics
• Agricultural Technology: Application, Adoption and Ethics
• Climate Smart Agriculture
• Food Policy and Supply Chain Management
• Horticultural Crop Technology
• Principles of Integrated Pest Management
• International Human Resources Management

Entry Requirements

Our typical offers are expressed in terms of A level, BTEC, and International Baccalaureate requirements. However, we also accept many other qualifications.

• A Level: See entry requirements
• AS and A Levels: 72 UCAS tariff points
• International Baccalaureate: 24 points from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or International Baccalaureate Certificate
• GCSE: Grades 9–4 (A*–C) in five subjects, or equivalent qualifications
• IELTS: A minimum overall score of 5.5 with no component below 5.5

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £23,000 for 2026/27 Foundation year, then rising to the standard course fees for the duration of your bachelor's level study
• New international students: £23,000 for 2026/27 Foundation year, then rising to the standard course fees for the duration of your bachelor's level study
• The University of Reading will charge undergraduate home tuition fees at the upper limit as set by the UK government for the relevant academic year

Careers

The University of Reading has an outstanding reputation with employers, and graduates are headhunted for key management roles. Graduates from this course become managers, trainee managers, and employees in a range of farming enterprises. Graduates also work in agricultural contracting, land agency, and farm consultancy, financial, accountancy, and agricultural banking services, in the UK and overseas. The average salary calculated at £36,500 is over £8,500 more than the average graduate salary after five years for this subject across all universities.