
4 years (full-time) including a one-year work placement. A three year programme is available for applicants with at least two years, full-time relevant work experience, or all who have completed a 12 month placement as part of another approved course
September 2023
Harper Adams University campus (and location of work placement)*
96-112 UCAS points for A level students. See below for details of entry requirements for other accepted qualifications.
Study at the forefront of crop management with this industry recognised programme, informed by the latest research, extensive agri-sector networks and expert staff.
Efficient crop production remains key to sustained and effective use of rural resources. However, over recent years crop management systems have undergone considerable change. The emphasis has shifted away from purely commercial objectives to sustainable production systems, and modern crop managers must increasingly justify inputs and assess the impact of their activities on the environment. These new demands are challenging and complex and require highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals to manage them successfully.
After a common first year, in your second year you will start to specialise in crop science and agronomy, studying areas such as soil management and crop nutrition, crop protection, crop physiology and fresh produce production, whilst continuing to study more general aspects of agriculture, such as grass and forage production, waste management and farm business management and economics.
In the final part of the course, your specialisation becomes complete and the focus is on crop management, studying areas such as sustainable crop production, advances in agronomy, crop breeding, post-harvest technology and a research project focused on crop management.
Subject to academic performance, students passing this degree will be eligible to be entered for free FACTS and BASIS training following successful completion of their degree.
Work experience forms an essential part of our entry requirements for this course. Details of the experience we need you to have can be found within the entry requirements listed below.
Find out more about work experience
Applicants to Agriculture courses who are likely to meet the academic entry requirements, but who are identified as having minimal/no practical experience, and/or who are unlikely to meet the minimum practical experience requirements due to non-farm/non-rural background, and/or lack of appropriate contacts, can benefit from the Access to Agriculture Programme to gain the necessary practical experience in their first year of study.
4 years (full-time) including a one-year work placement. A three year programme is available for applicants with at least two years, full-time relevant work experience, or all who have completed a 12 month placement as part of another approved course. Please contact Admissions for further information on this option.
The applied nature of the course and practical experience gained during the placement period will give you skills the industry needs. You could choose from a variety of careers, working for a multi-national company or small rural business as an agronomist, technical representative or trainee arable farm manager, amongst others.
Use the drop-down tool to select the qualifications you have or are working towards to see what grades would be required for access to this programme. If you can’t see your qualification or would like any assistance with entry requirements, telephone the admissions team on 01952 815000, email admissions@harper-adams.ac.uk or complete a form to enable them to contact you.
The latest fees for this course can be found in our undergraduate fees and funding section. You will also find course related costs, specific to this course in this area.
Optional modules are indicative and may be subject to change.
Not sure which course is right for you? Try our Course Comparison tool to compare modules taught on different courses.
All agriculture students share a common first year, studying the same modules; this allows students to change course during the first year.
The first year of the course provides a general introduction to agriculture in terms animal and crop production, underpinning biological and environmental science, an introduction to farm business management and marketing, and agricultural mechanisation. In the second year of the course you start to specialise in the area of agronomy and crop management, studying areas such as soil management and crop nutrition, crop protection, crop physiology and fresh produce production, whilst continuing to study more general aspects of agriculture such as grass and forage production, waste management, and farm business management and economics. In the final part of the course your specialisation becomes complete and the focus is on crop management, studying areas such as sustainable crop production, advances in agronomy, crop breeding, post-harvest technology and a research project focused on crop management.
The course involves a combination of lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions, together with practical classes on the University farm designed to demonstrate principles in practice and the application of scientific, technological and business principles to commercial agricultural and food production. 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 where appropriate. Throughout the course 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. The proportion of independent study increases as the course progresses, particularly in the final year where students have the opportunity to undertake a dissertation in a subject area of their choice.
Assessment is via a balance of course work and examination. Weighting varies depending on course and year of study, but weighting is typically around 65 per cent on course work and 35 per cent on 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 case studies, laboratory based analyses 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. In addition, first year students undertake examinations in two subjects at the end of the first term to enable them to gauge how they are progressing and feedback is provided on these exams. Staff are able to provide advice and guidance on revision, and many modules include revision sessions.
In your third year you will enjoy at least 12 months of paid employment in a sector of agriculture or the ancillary industries, depending on your individual interests and skills. Placements may involve working for large integrated arable or fresh produce businesses, a crop processor, packer and distributor, or as a field trials officer for one of the major crop protection companies. Recent placement employers include G’s Fresh, Syngenta, UPL, KWS, and BASF.
You will usually undertake paid employment for at least 12 months. Agriculture students wishing to undertake a farm placement are required to work at least 50 miles away from home and are not normally permitted to return to previous employers. Students also have the opportunity to access a range of overseas placements, with the support of supporting agents, where possible. Students may undertake placement in the USA, Australia or New Zealand, for example. Several commercial scholarship opportunities, linked to placement, are available to apply for, with sponsoring companies paying a significant amount towards the tuition fees of successful applicants.
For course related enquiries please contact:
Admissions
Telephone: +44 (0)1952 815 000
Email: admissions@harper-adams.ac.uk
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Whilst every opportunity has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information on this course page, Harper Adams University wishes to emphasise that the content is regularly reviewed and is subject to change from time-to-time as required. Our courses undergo reviews to ensure they are flexible, relevant and as up-to-date as possible.
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