Agriculture (Top-up)

What Makes This Course Unique?
Exceptional facilities, industry connections and immersive learning environment:

• Access to over 300 hectares of farmland, extensive range of livestock and pioneering agri‑tech including new robotic dairy and vertical farming facility.

• New and innovative degree course established in 2020 based on the needs of the industry to adapt to a changing world.

• Extensive practical learning and farm visits.

• Opportunity to gain a range of industry‑recognised certificates of competency including PA1, PA2, Telehandler, Animal transport and Safe use of veterinary medicines.

What makes UCS special?
As a nation we have become acutely aware that agriculture plays a major role in our society. University Centre Sparsholt utilises our extensive industry network, pioneering agri‑tech and wide‑ranging farming enterprises to develop you into a future-focused, innovative farmer. We have delivered agricultural programmes for over 125 years, and established our agriculture degree courses in 2020 based on the needs of the industry to be able to innovate and adapt to a changing world. We have embedded sustainability through all modules on the degree and the course content is continuously adapted according to sector demands. We aim to future‑proof agriculture through understanding how to more sustainably and regeneratively work with nature to produce food and other critical products and services, enabling the next generation to make a real impact in farming and agri‑tech businesses. Agriculture students have access to over 300 hectares of farmland providing an excellent range of learning opportunities – 126 hectares on campus incorporating grazing pastures and dairy, sheep, pigs and arable enterprises and 175 hectares of sustainable arable production at a nearby site, including 67 hectares in Agri‑Environment Schemes.

What will I learn?
You will gain a deep understanding of the fundamentals of agricultural production, the underpinning science and the ability to apply this knowledge to practice. We investigate a range of practices, focusing on sustainable and regenerative agriculture but also comparing to more traditional techniques, as well as debating and critiquing the ever‑changing legislation that has shaped, and continues to shape, UK agriculture. Farm business management is embedded throughout to ensure that you have all the ability required to run a profitable and sustainable business:

• Industry-relevant skills to ensure you graduate job‑ready

• Farm business management utilising mapping software including ArcGIS and Omnia Digital Farming

• Livestock handling and management

• Arable crop rotation and integrated crop management (ICM)

• Farm environment and habitat management including regenerative and low‑carbon agriculture

• Utilising government and private/third party funding for sustainable and profitable farming

• Research project management

How will I be assessed?
Our assessments mirror the challenges you will face in your career, combining academic depth with practical application:

• Academic debates

• Farm management plans and investment appraisals

• Practical skills assessments

• Presentations including posters, talks and vlogs

• Scientific reports and portfolios

• Open and closed book exams

Focused on your Future:
This course will equip you with the knowledge, practical skills, and adaptability to be able to navigate a range of roles in Agriculture, or you can progress onto postgraduate study.

How our graduates are shaping the future:

• Working on local farms and further afield

• Farm management

• Farm advisory roles

• Postgraduate study in farm

• Business management

LEVEL SIX
Dissertation,
Sustainable Agricultural Systems,
Agricultural Business Development,
Recent Developments in Agriculture,
Advanced Crop Production (Optional),
Advanced Livestock Production (Optional),
Further Statistics,
Professional Industrial Development.

Final and in-session assessments feature in this programme, allowing you to develop research and study skills as well as technical and expert knowledge. Assessments include completion of a research dissertation, written assignments, presentations, project reports, practical based and online portfolios and examinations.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS