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Course overview

Agriculture has a vital role to play in global food production and security, climate change mitigation, environmental protection, water management and renewable energy creation. 

Our Agriculture students are taught by lecturers with extensive industry and research experience to develop and manage sustainable production systems integrating appropriate technologies to maximise economic, social and environmental security. You will be studying in a diverse range of learning spaces located at the heart of our Future Farm alongside students from a wide range of rural and urban backgrounds, whilst establishing a life-long network of friends and professional contacts. 

You will soon be putting your learning into practice engaging with real-world scenarios and projects from day one. Supported by an integrated placement year in industry, you will be ready for your future career having developed a range of personal, technical and professional skills that today’s employers value. You will be well prepared for careers in farm management, on-farm advisory and consultancy roles, the agri-food industry and both agriculture and environmental policy roles. Additionally, your degree will equip you with the skills to continue in research or education. 

The FdSc Agriculture degree programme is a three-year course. Opportunities to transfer to the BSc (Hons) Agriculture courses will be made possible at the end of the second year or as a one-year Top-up course upon completion of the FdSc, providing specific academic criteria are met.

What will I learn?

On successful completion of the FdSc Agriculture award, students will be able to: 

• Explain the biological processes that underpin sustainable agricultural production systems.
• Evaluate the impact of agricultural production systems on the environment, the rural economy and wider society.
• Develop and manage sustainable agricultural production systems that can be adapted to address specific social, economic and environmental challenges.
• Identify relevant technologies and apply them within agricultural production systems.
• Identify relevant policy and legislation and apply it within agricultural production systems.
• Explain the relationship between the farming business and the agri-food supply chain.
• Evaluate the influence of global issues on agricultural production systems.
• Develop an evidence-based approach to communicate effectively and sensitively on agricultural issues with diverse groups.

Teaching and learning

• Key principles will be taught in lectures by subject specialists and visiting speakers.
• Small workshops and seminars, lab and farm-based practical sessions will be used to apply the principles from the classroom in a practical context.
• Student engagement and learning experience will be improved through using a variety of learning spaces.
• Directed study will be used to develop life-long learning skills.

Assessment methods

We will assess students' progress using a blend of different methods such as individual and group presentations, technical writing, data handling and analysis, personal development planning and time-constrained assessments.  The diverse assessment journey will give students an equitable chance to succeed and develop skills for employment and life-long learning. 

Work Placement

FdSc students undertake placement in their second year. You will have a dedicated Placement Manager, support officer, and tutor to visit you whilst on placement.  You will usually undertake paid employment for at least 12 months on modern progressive farms or in the agricultural support industries. . Examples of employers include Velcourt, G's Fresh and Cargill. Students also have the opportunity to access a range of overseas placements, with the support of supporting agents, where possible. Students may undertake placement overseas in the USA, , Australia or New Zealand, for example. Several commercial scholarship opportunities, linked to placement, are available to apply for, with sponsoring companies paying a significant amount towards the tuition fees of successful applicants.

Careers

Employability of agriculture graduates is excellent, and there are many diverse career opportunities in all sectors of the food chain. The applied nature of our courses, teaching methods and close links with industry give you the academic, technical and employment skills which are highly sought after by employers.

As an agriculture graduate you may go on to manage farms either at home or elsewhere, for example with Velcourt, Sentry Farming, Dyson Farming, or G’s Fresh.

Alternatively, you may opt for a career in the support industries: example employers include Frontier Agriculture, NFU, Savills; or advisory services such as DEFRA and ADAS.

Studying agriculture also develops the skills needed for other graduate careers such as accountancy, teaching, journalism or the civil service.