Agriculture with Farm Business Management BSc Honours
- UCAS code: D402
- Full time
- 3 years
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.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2025
Next start date:
- September 2025
UCAS Institution name and code:
- NEWC / N21
Course overview
You study a wide range of agriculture topics in Stages 1 and 2, exploring plant biology, soil science, nutrition, management, accounting and law. In Stage 3, you'll specialise in farm business management. You'll explore management techniques used for decision-making in agricultural businesses. The core modules will 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 the 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 and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions
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, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Quality and ranking
Professional accreditation and recognition
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
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
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Crop Health | 10 |
| Introduction to Business Management | 10 |
| Agri-Food Supply Chains | 10 |
| Animal Health | 10 |
| Sustainability in Practice | 20 |
| Introductory Business Economics | 10 |
| Academic and Professional Skills | 20 |
| Introduction to Sustainability | 20 |
| Plants, Environment, Agriculture | 10 |
You'll 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 can choose 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 |
|---|---|
| Law and Land Use | 10 |
| Farm Business Consultancy | 20 |
| Applied Farm Business Management | 20 |
| Dissertation | 30 |
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2024-25.
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
Apply your practical skills, increase your confidence and gain real-life work experience to accelerate your career. Take a 9-12-month industrial placement in the UK or abroad. Work placements usually take place in stage 3 of your studies and extend your degree by one year.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
The Agriculture Building is the home of Agriculture and Animal Science, based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, and located on our vibrant, city-centre campus. Here some of our state-of-the-art facilities include laboratories, plant growth incubators and vertical farming units.
During your studies, you'll have access to Newcastle University Farms. NU Farms encompasses mixed animal, arable and biomass operations, with a commercial dairy and beef herd and a planned bed-and-breakfast pig enterprise. The farms are used for commercial, teaching and research purposes where you develop skills relating to data gathering and analysis, soil sampling, animal and plant health, pests and weed identification. At NU Farms we promote innovation to shape policy and support scientific research. We have extensive collaborations including:
- UK Agri-Tech Centre with on-site facilities
- Fera Science (Fera)
- Institute of Agri-Food and Rural Innovation (IAFRI)
- Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF)
With a focus on sustainability, input from industry and research-driven teaching led by top academics we will prepare you for a successful career in agriculture, animal science and related fields.
We have extensive links with other farms, businesses and animal enterprises to broaden and deepen your understanding.
Animal Science students will also be interested in the high tech gait lab; our laboratories for dissections, microscope work etc and the UK's first our mobile dog behaviour research pod.
Support
We take your health and wellbeing seriously and are committed to supporting you throughout your studies so you can fulfil your potential at university. This support includes:
- your degree welcome event where, in small groups, you get to know those on your course
- a personal tutor who is an academic member of staff who can help you with academic and personal issues throughout your degree
- a peer mentor scheme which pairs you with a current student from your course to help you navigate your first year at university
- a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works
- support, treatment and guidance on mental and physical health from our wellbeing team
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.
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
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 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 and offers below apply to 2025 entry.
| A-Level | |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | |
|---|---|
Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications
Contextual Offers
Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language 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.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees for academic year 2025-2026
See our ‘Home Fee Students’ and ‘International Fee Students’ information below for more information on tuition fee levels, fee status and inflationary fee increases.
| Qualification: BSc Honours | |
|---|---|
|
Home students full time 3 years |
Tuition fees (Year 1)
£9,535 |
|
International students full time 3 years |
Tuition fees (Year 1)
30600 |
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.
Scholarships
Find out more about:
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Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.
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How to apply
Apply through UCAS
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- 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.
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