Agriculture with Farm Business Management
BSc Honours
- UCAS code: D402
- Full time
- 3 years
- Next start date: September 2022
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.
Fees (per year)
- Home: £9250
- International: £25200
Entry requirements
- A Level: ABB-BBB
- IB: 30-32 points
UCAS Institution name and code:
- NEWC / N21
Course overview
You study wide-ranging agriculture topics in your first two years, exploring plant 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.
Your course during COVID-19
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption.
Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitments outlined are subject to guidelines that may be in place from time to time.
View our COVID-19 Study page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information
Quality and ranking
- 6th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2023 (Agriculture and Forestry category)
- 11th in the UK – The Guardian University Guide 2022 (Agriculture, Forestry and Food category)
- 7th in the UK – Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 (Agriculture and Forestry category)
- Top 125 for Life Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Top 150 for Agriculture and Forestry – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
You study topics including plant biology, animal science and agri-business economics. We also introduce you to laboratory work and IT applications for applying statistical techniques to agricultural data.
Visits to the University farms provide first-hand insight into agriculture.
Modules
You apply your knowledge to animal and crop husbandry and farm management, covering topics such as animal breeding, arable crop production and agricultural marketing.
Visits to farms continue, reinforcing your learning with practical experience. You have the opportunity to take a crop pests field course, focusing on pests that affect crops.
Modules
You explore management techniques used for decision making in agricultural businesses. Core modules develop your skills in farm planning, budgeting and accounting and land law.
You also write a dissertation on a farm business management topic of your choice. Projects and case studies form a major component of management modules. There are workshops and demonstrations of software used in planning and control.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Farm Business Consultancy | 20 |
| Applied Farm Business Management | 20 |
| Dissertation | 30 |
| Law and Land Use | 10 |
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They combine data on the planned delivery and assessments of our courses in 2021-22 with data on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.
Teaching time is made up of:
- scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present
- structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision
Teaching and assessment
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
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
-
Assessments
-
Assignments – written or fieldwork
-
Dissertation or research project
-
Essays
-
Examinations – practical or online
-
Group work
-
Practical sessions
-
Projects
Skills and experience
Practical skills
As a leader in agricultural education since 1891, we have well-founded links with the local farming community, allowing our students access to a range of farming practices.
In your second year, you'll also gain hands-on experience managing your own crops and opportunities to take on lambing or harvest jobs.
Research skills
To address the problems facing agriculture globally, we conduct research on themes such as:
- ethical and nutritious food
- resource-efficient and resilient production systems
- sustainable landscapes and production systems
- vibrant rural communities and enterprises
You'll also have the opportunity to explore an area of interest in your final year dissertation.
Opportunities
Study abroad
Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.
You can choose to spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas.
If you choose to study abroad, it will extend your degree by a year.
Find out more about study abroad
Work placement
Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. Placements are subject to availability.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
Agriculture is based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at our city-centre campus. During your studies, you'll have access to two commercial farms near Newcastle.
Our University farms, Cockle Park Farm and Nafferton Farm, will give you an insight into how real-world farms operate, so you're prepared for your future. Our farms are used for research, teaching and demonstration.
You'll have the opportunity to access modern laboratories equipped with industry-standard equipment. You'll also use NU-Food, our food and consumer research facility.
You'll be able to use our computing facilities, including computers running industry-standard software used in agriculture businesses, to help ensure you're career-ready.
Support
To support you in your studies, all new students entering year 1 or year 2 will receive a tablet. You can download the online learning resources you'll need for your course (helping us to make our campus more sustainable).
You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to 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 when starting university.
There's also a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works.
Your future
As a Newcastle University agriculture graduate, you will be held in high regard in the industry and have many career options open to you.
You'll be fully prepared for the future with our career-focused approach to agriculture education. 95% of our graduates were in work or study six months after graduating (2016/17)*.
Graduates from this course were earning an average salary of £24,500 within six months after graduating, and have gone into farm management roles, service and supply industries as well as research, advisory and consultancy work in the public and private sector.
*Destinations of (undergraduate, UK and EU) Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016/17
Many of our graduates have found employment in prestigious national and multinational companies such as:
- Velcourt
- Sentry Farming
- Bidwells
- Andersons
- Strutt and Parker
- Agrovista
- Syngenta
Employability at Newcastle
96% of Newcastle University graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating, with 85.5% in graduate-level employment or further study.
Take a look at the most recent data available for our graduates. See what they have gone on to achieve and be inspired to follow in their footsteps.
Statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation (Destinations of (undergraduate and postgraduate UK domiciled) Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016/17).
Enterprising students
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Careers support
Our Enterprise Challenge gives students the opportunity to work with industry on a project that tackles real-world issues. Watch the above video to find out more.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2022 entry.
A Level
ABB-BBB
International Baccalaureate
30-32 points
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Contextual offers
Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.
Entrance courses (INTO)
International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO.
Find out more about International Pathway Courses
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees for 2022 entry (per year)
Home Fee Students
£9250
International Fee Students
£25200
The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Read more about fees and funding
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.
Year abroad and additional costs
For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year.
Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.
Find out more about:
Scholarships
Find out more about:
Open days and events
You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year at our on-campus and virtual open days.
You'll be able to:
• explore our beautiful campus
• find out about our vibrant city
• discover what students think about studying at Newcastle
You'll also have the opportunity to speak to academic staff and find out more about the subjects you're interested in.
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University. Visit our events calendar to find out when we're visiting your region.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:
- the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
- the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
- the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Apply through UCASApply through an agent
International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.
Get in touch
By phone
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