Agriculture with Foundation Year

Gain a solid grounding in fundamental science while understanding the changing needs of the industry on a degree that is constantly updated in consultation with our industry advisors. You will become familiar with the opportunities for technological transformation and the demands of global production, economic consequences and new policy developments.

Our extensive contacts and external visits to livestock and crop enterprises and agribusinesses will provide you with invaluable insights into industry.

Farm491 will give you unparalleled access to on-farm/applied product development initiatives and RAU farms will provide research trials. This will help you to understand what it takes to bridge the gap between the laboratory, the field, the commercial market and the farm. Students have gone on to work for organisations including Agrii, NIAB TAG and AGCO.

Course structure
We are now offering this degree course with a foundation year that will give you the opportunity to gain the experience and skills you will need before progressing on to the traditional parts of the programme.

In the first year of your four year programme you will be developing your academic and team-working skills and gaining confidence in written work; handling numerical and statistical data, and ICT. You will be introduced to a range of rural land use topics including, learning about the agricultural year; mapping; laboratory skills, and you will have the opportunity to gain competence in a range of practical skills. The year will help you to make the transition to being an independent learner, and perhaps an entrepreneur. Successful completion of the foundation year will allow you to proceed onto Year 1 of the course.

You will learn through a series of lectures, seminars and practical classes at the RAU farms, local farms, agribusiness enterprises and RAU laboratories.

Modules are assessed through a blend of examinations and coursework, including real-life case studies, presentations and reports.

The Research Project is an integral part of the course. Completed in your fourth year, it provides the opportunity to research a subject of specific interest or of direct relevance to your future employment.

Work placement
In the third year, you will apply and develop your expertise during a 15-week work placement.

Not only could you find yourself working for prestigious companies in the UK or across the world, you will develop your confidence and gain industry contacts for when you graduate.