The Course

The agricultural industry is changing rapidly and in recent years advances in technology have led to an abundance of food production in the western world. This success has affected farm incomes, the countryside, rural communities and the public purse. Increasingly farmers are looking to diversify their businesses and find alternative uses for rural land.

Farmers and managers of rural estates need to be familiar with the wider context within which their businesses operate, to understand the options available and have the business management skills to lead on these developments.

After the core period of agricultural study you will progress with a wide range of Land and Farm Management modules, including Farm Business Management and Policy, Farm Business Law, Rural Business Opportunities and Agricultural Business Development. Optional modules include Wildlife and Conservation Management, and Alternative Crops. The course therefore integrates academic study with sound technical practice.

Students interested in this course are also advised to consider BSc REALM.

The Placement

Placement usually takes place in an agricultural business such as a large integrated farm business. There are also some placement opportunities in the farm business consultancy sector. You will be able to put your earlier studies into practice, and use your experiences for case studies later in the course. Harper Adams’ excellent graduate employment record shows how employers value the skills, contacts, knowledge and confidence students develop during placement.

The Future

This course provides the business managers of the future with the diverse skills required for a career in land and farm management. It is likely to be particularly attractive to students who wish to manage large farms or small estates or for those who wish to go into agricultural consultancy work (e.g. Promar, Andersons, ADAS) where an appreciation of the wider rural environment is important.