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Agriculture with Farm Business Management, BSc (Hons), Newcastle University

the United Kingdom

Newcastle University

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The award How you will study Study duration Course start Domestic course fees International course fees
BSc (Hons)find out3 yearsfind outGBP 9250 per yearfind out

About Agriculture with Farm Business Management, BSc (Hons) - at Newcastle University

Course Overview

This degree focuses on the management of each element of an agricultural business: the whole estate; the farm; and individual arable, livestock and diversified enterprises.

At a Glance

UCAS Code
D402

UCAS Institution Name and Code
NEWC, N21

Degree Awarded Icon

Degree Awarded
BSc Honours

Course Duration
3 Years

Entry Requirements Icon

Entry Requirements
A Level: ABB-BBB
IB:30-32 points

Opportunities Icon

Opportunities
Work placement

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Download course PDF

You study wide-ranging agriculture topics in your first two years, exploring biology, soil science, nutrition, management, accounting and law.

In your third year, you specialise in farm business management. You will explore management techniques used for decision-making in agricultural businesses.

Core modules develop your skills in:

  • farm planning and organisation
  • budgeting and accounting
  • land law

You can boost your employability and professional skills with an optional placement year in industry or the commercial sector. 

You'll also enjoy practical workshops and demonstrations of the major software used in farm business planning and control, and apply your knowledge to real farm case studies.

Highlights of this degree

Quality and ranking

Quality and ranking

We are ranked in the top 5 UK universities for Agriculture and Forestry in The Complete University Guide 2017.

Agriculture at Newcastle also ranks in the top 100 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016.

Flexible degree structure

Flexible degree structure

The first and second years are the same for students on all four of our agriculture degrees.

Our flexible degree structure means it is possible to transfer between any of our agriculture degrees up to the end of Stage 2 if you would like to.

See the Course Details section for more information about what you will study at each stage.

Stage 1

This stage covers scientific and quantitative aspects of the subject such as soil, crop and animal science, and economics.

You'll undertake laboratory work and IT applications for applying statistical techniques to agricultural data.

Stage 2

You apply the principles established in Stage 1 to animal and crop production and farm management.

You also take a crop pests field course, focusing on the major insect, fungal and weed pests that affect crop production, engaging with leading industry experts in the field.

Stage 3

Students on our Agriculture BSc degree continue to follow a broad curriculum.

Students on our other degrees follow a more specialist route in agronomy, animal production Science or farm business management.

Boost your employability with a work placement

Boost your employability with a work placement

Apply to spend a year on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. 

The School will give you support to apply for a suitable placement, including help to write your CV to send out to our wide range of industry contacts.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you impress your host company, it could even result in a job offer on graduation.

Study abroad for international experience

Study abroad for international experience

UK and EU students can broaden their academic experience and expand horizons by studying abroad as part of their degree.

You can study at a partner institution abroad for between three months and one year through the Erasmus scheme.

Current countries include France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary and Estonia.

Industry links

Industry links

The University is highly regarded within the industry and has been a leader in agricultural education since 1891.

We have strong links with the local farming community, which provide experience of a wide range of farming practices including:

  • arable
  • dairy
  • beef
  • sheep
  • pig
  • field-scale vegetable enterprises

In addition, you will have regular visits to the University's commercial farms.

We also provide hands-on experience through a second-year project managing your own crops, and vacation opportunities that include lambing and harvest jobs.

Facilities and support

This degree is run by the School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, located at the heart of campus in the Agriculture Building.

Facilities

Our facilities include:

  • Cockle Park Farm, a mixed farm facility in Northumberland
  • Nafferton Farm, comprising two main farm units in the Tyne Valley
  • well-equipped modern laboratories, for teaching and research
  • nu-food, our food and consumer research facility
  • computing facilities, including computers running industry-specific software relevant to careers in agriculture

Our two University farms are used for research, teaching and demonstration.

Support

You will have an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.

There's also a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works.

Social activities

A student-led Agric Society organises regular social events, and it's a friendly cohort of students.

Teaching and assessment

Study at the cutting edge

Teaching is research-informed, so you'll learn from staff engaged in real-world research on the University's farms and learn at the cutting edge of the discipline. You can also engage in research of your own through a research-led final-year dissertation.

Teaching methods

Lectures and laboratory practicals will teach you the scientific principles that underpin agriculture.

Visits to the University farms and other local farming businesses will help you to understand the practical application of the theory you learn.

You'll also complete project work and reports, working as an individual and in groups.

Assessment methods

Assessment is by formal examination at the end of each semester and by continuous assessment based on projects and essays. The continuous assessment can account for half of your total marks, particularly in the final year.

Find out more

Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module. More information about each module including specific assessment methods, credits and contact hours, can be found in the Course Details section.

Visit our Teaching & Learning pages to read about the outstanding learning experience available to all students at Newcastle University.

Student profile

We are a close group of people on the course as it's a small group, and being able to form relationships with staff allows us to get the best out of our degrees.

Henry, Agriculture with Farm Business Management BSc Honours

Compare this course

See how this course compares with others for topics such as student satisfaction, fees and costs and prospects after graduation using the Unistats Key Information Set.

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All Related DegreesNext step: Course Details

    Opportunities
    Work placement

    Download course PDF

    Entry requirements

    Entry Requirements
    A Level: ABB-BBB
    IB:30-32 points

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