BSc (Hons) / BSc Agriculture with Farm Business Management (Top-up)

The course

Having completed a Foundation Degree or HND programme in Agriculture you may wish to top-up to either a BSc or BSc (Hons) degree, by studying full-time for a further academic year to specialise in the area of farm business management.

Entry requirements

• Top-up applicants must have achieved an average of 55% in their Foundation degree to apply for BSc non-honours and 60% to apply for BSc Honours.
• Applicants must have completed a full year’s placement as part of their course of study or two years of full-time relevant employment out with the family business after their course.
• In addition to meeting the foundation degree requirements, applicants must also satisfy the GCSE and Level 3 entry requirements of our own Foundation degree courses.

Course fees

The latest fees for this course can be found in our fees and funding section. You will also find course related costs, specific to this course in this area.

Teaching and learning

What you study

Top-up programmes are structured around lectures, tutorials and practical classes designed to augment material covered in previous studies and allow students to develop the subject expertise and depth of knowledge required at BSc and BSc (Hons) degree level.

Teaching and learning

The Agriculture with Farm Business Management Top up course at Harper Adams involves a combination of lectures, tutorials, and use of the University farm where appropriate, to demonstrate the application of technological and business principles to commercial farm business management. In addition, the university has extensive links with other agricultural and food related businesses, and external visits and outside speakers are integrated into the programme. Students are expected to apply the skills acquired to solve real-life problems, such that on completion they are able to demonstrate both academic ability and commercial application, which is a combination highly valued by employers. As part of the programme students undertake a dissertation in a subject area of their choice.

Assessment methods

Assessment is via a balance of course work and examination; this allows individuals to play to their strengths if they are better at course work than examinations or vice versa. Types of assignment include appraising production systems on the University farm, whole farm business case studies, and literature based reviews. Format of assignments varies and includes written reports, essays, technical notes, presentations and oral examinations. Students receive written feedback on all course work to help them improve.