Agriculture

This rewarding and intensive course in agriculture is aimed at graduates or professionals in other disciplines to re-direct their careers towards sustainable agricultural and associated rural industries. It is unique to the Royal Agricultural University and provides the opportunity to create your own bespoke agriculture focused course.

The programme provides a baseline for a transition into the agricultural sector. On joining the programme, you will be expected to have already acquired a range of transferable skills in your previous careers and study. However, this programme enables you to

• Demonstrate your commitment to continuous professional development within agriculture, science and practice

• Develop your existing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in pursuit of new knowledge and understanding

• Develop professional leadership skills, specific to your areas of interest, applicable to a wide range of careers in agriculture

This programme enables you to take a deep dive into the agricultural sciences, as well as practice relevant rural skills and network with the industry. This programme will enable you to acquire up-to-date knowledge relating to your chosen interest areas, and start to apply that knowledge with confidence to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing industry.

While many graduates find work as farm managers, farm assurance scheme officers and agricultural consultants, to name a few, others wish to progress onto a Masters course.

The course may be studied full-time over one academic year, or part-time over two years.

You will complete three compulsory modules, followed by three modules selected from a wide range of undergraduate modules allowing you to tailor the course to meet your career aspirations.

As well as lectures, farm walks and visits, you will work on case studies, assignments, and management projects.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to complete pre-course reading in order to secure a minimum basic knowledge of agriculture and to highlight possible areas of weakness.

Course Modules

Core Modules:

• 4A005 Farming Systems and Sustainability: This module examines diverse farming systems including arable, livestock, mixed, organic, regenerative, and agroecological approaches. Topics include climate change, soil and water management, urban agriculture, and future farming scenarios. Students engage with farm visits, guest speakers, and case studies. Assessment includes a 10-minute recorded presentation and a 2500-word case study-based report. The module supports critical evaluation of sustainability challenges, system transitions, and agroecological practices across global and UK agricultural contexts.

• 5A003 Farm Business Planning and Food Supply Chains: This module introduces farm budgeting, financial planning, and supply chain dynamics. Topics include gross margins, cash flow, benchmarking, and food system integration. Students explore local and global supply chains and policy frameworks. Assessment includes two 2000-word reports: one on farm business planning and one on food supply chain strategy. The module supports critical evaluation of farm economics, resource use, and food security.

• 6A002 Agri-Food Systems and Policies: This module examines food systems through systems thinking and the One Health framework. Topics include food security, policy development, economics, and regenerative agriculture. Students engage with debates, case studies, and guest speakers. Assessment includes a 1000-word academic poster and a 2500-word literature review. The module supports critical evaluation of global food policy, health interconnections, and sustainable system design.

Students must also select THREE additional eelctive modules from the selection below:

• 6A001 Agroecological and Technological Solutions: This module explores global food system challenges and evaluates agroecological and technological solutions. Topics include climate change, biodiversity loss, animal welfare, and sustainable crop and livestock systems.

• 6A003 Advanced Farm Business Management: This module develops strategic planning skills for farm enterprises under economic and environmental pressures. Topics include financial forecasting, resource appraisal, compliance, and net-zero strategies.

• 6A004 Farm Business Consultancy: This module explores strategic consultancy for small and medium-sized farm businesses. Topics include financial analysis, investment appraisal, taxation, and feasibility planning.

• 6A005 Advanced Livestock Nutrition and Breeding: This module investigates sustainable breeding and nutrition strategies across livestock species. Topics include genomic selection, reproductive technologies, feed innovations, and precision nutrition.

• 6A006 Crop Health, Nutrition and Protection: This module examines sustainable crop management strategies. Topics include pest and disease control, crop nutrition, biosecurity, and integrated pest management.

• 6W001 Countryside and Environmental Management: This module addresses contemporary countryside issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and rural development. Students explore policy, land management strategies, and sustainability through field visits and case studies.

The availability of electives to individual students will be dependent on timetabling considerations and on sufficient students electing to take part.

https://www.rau.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/graduate-diploma-in-agriculture