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Agri-Business Management BSc Honours

  • UCAS code: N280
  • Full time
  • 3 years

This course will prepare you for an exciting career managing businesses involved in taking products through the supply chain, from farms to global markets.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2025


Next start date:

  • September 2025

Fees (per year)

  • Home: £9250
  • International: £30600

Entry requirements and offers

  • A-Level: ABB
  • IB: 32 points

UCAS Institution name and code:

  • NEWC / N21

Course overview

This is an applied course where you will learn about the management of businesses operating from the farm gate to consumer plates. Along with business management skills, you will learn and be able to reflect on the key challenges of securing a sustainable food supply for this and future generations.

The agri-food chain is one of the world's largest industries. It involves the delivery of products from farms to worldwide markets.

Key topics covered in this course are:

  • food economics and management of agri-food businesses
  • food policy and its implications for businesses and consumers
  • gathering evidence through data analysis to support sound decision
  • agriculture and food production and distribution
  • consumer studies and marketing management

This degree could lead to work in a range of international business sectors, such as food markets and marketing, retail management, and business consultancy. 

Students during a visit to a University farm

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 2024-25.

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

In your first year, you will study foundation modules providing a comprehensive introduction to topics such as marketing and consumer behaviour, agri-food business management, sustainability, and economics. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Introductory Macroeconomics 10
Introduction to Business Management 10
Agri-Food Supply Chains 10
Sustainability in Practice 20
Introduction to Marketing and Consumer Behaviour 20
Introductory Business Economics 10
Academic and Professional Skills 20
Introduction to Sustainability 20

During your second year, you'll cover more complex topics, including agricultural economics and policy, marketing strategy, and agricultural markets. You'll also be able to choose from several optional modules. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Current Trends in Agricultural Markets 10
Marketing Strategy 20
Agricultural Economics and Policy 10
Qualitative Research Methods 10
Sustainable Business Practice 10
Dissertation and Research Preparation 10
Sustainable Solutions 10
Optional Modules Credits
Interpreting Company Accounts 20
Human Resource Management 20
Introduction to Business Law 20
Arable Crops 10
Farm Business Management 10
Sustainable animal production systems 20
Consumer and Business Economics 20
New Food Product Development 20
Social Psychology 10

By your final year you will be studying advanced topics that have been designed to prepare you for your future career. As well as core modules such as food economics and marketing metrics, you'll be able to choose from specialist areas including applied animal nutrition, consumer psychology, and food innovation consultancy. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules

You must take one of the following modules:

OR

Modules

Optional Modules Credits
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship with Lean Innovation 20
Law and Land Use 10
Career Development for final year students 20
Applied Farm Business Management 20
Applied Animal Nutrition 10
Your Future - occupational awareness 10
Agri-food Business Management and Marketing Dissertation 30
Marketing and Public Policy 10
Communication and Behaviour Change 10
Sustainable Development and Environmental Valuation 10
Food Innovation Consultancy 30
Consumer Psychology 20
To Cheat or not to Cheat: The Evolution of Cooperative Behaviour 10

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

On average you will have around 14 contact hours a week. You'll learn through lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.

There will also be field trips, so you can see how your learning applies in a practical context.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

  • Case studies

  • Coursework

  • Dissertation or research project

  • Essays

  • Examinations – practical or online

  • Group work

  • Projects

Skills and experience

Practical skills

Your learning will be reinforced with practical experience and facilities, including:

  • two university farms, located just a short distance from our campus
  • well-equipped business and teaching labs
  • visits to companies representing each part of the food supply chain

Business skills

You'll help solve a real-world problem for an external organisation. You'll do this during your Sustainable Solutions module and work in an interdisciplinary team.

In one of the optional modules, New Food Product Development, you'll create a food or drink product. You'll work with an industry partner from conception to commercialisation.

Our Sustainable Business Practice module will give you the skills to compete in a global business environment. You'll learn to balance conventional business objectives with challenges in:

  • net-zero
  • ethical supply chain management
  • sustainable resource use

In your final year, you’ll use a business simulation to manage a virtual company in a competitive environment.

You can also put your learning into practice with an optional placement year.

Research skills

During your final year, you'll complete a dissertation or food innovation consultancy project. Both require advanced research. 

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.

Find out more about work placements.

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

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

With a degree in Agri-Business Management, you will have the opportunity to embark on a dynamic, rewarding career in the public or private sector. 

Having gained specialist knowledge and skills, as well as transferable business skills, you'll be prepared for roles in the food and retailing sector, as well as the land-based and business sectors. 

Industry links

Established over 100 years ago, our department has strong links with industry leaders,  including companies such as JR Holland, Asda, and Blagdon Estate.

You'll benefit from site visits, industry experts, and networking and professional development opportunities. 

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 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.

What is a contextual offer? Find out more and if you’re eligible for this or our PARTNERS Programme supported entry route.

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 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed.

Qualification: BSc Honours

Home students

full time 3 years

Tuition fees (per year)

9250

International students

full time 3 years

Tuition fees (per year)

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.

Find out more about:

Scholarships

Find out more about:

Open days and events

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 UCAS

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International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages

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