FdSc Agriculture with Mechanisation

The course

If you are interested in agricultural machinery and technology and see your career focusing on the management and application of farm machinery, rather than engineering, this is the route for you.

The first part of the course provides a general introduction to agriculture in terms of animal and crop production, underpinning biological and environmental science, an introduction to farm business management and marketing and agricultural mechanisation.

In the second part of the course you start to specialise in the area of mechanisation studying areas such as farm machinery technology, hydraulics and electrics, and mechanisation aspects of soil and farm infrastructure. The mechanisation aspects are studied alongside more general aspects of agriculture such as crop production and science, farm business management and people management. In addition, in the final year, you will also complete a Professional Project aligned to your interests and ambitions.

The principles of mechanisation are developed in an applied way without the use of complex mathematics.

Following completion of the FdSc Agriculture with Mechanisation programme, subject to performance, you can top-up to a Pass Degree or a full Honours Degree in Agriculture with Mechanisation.

The Harper Advantage

• In choosing Harper Adams, you are choosing a trusted name with an outstanding reputation in the agricultural sector, a large agricultural student cohort that allows you to build your network from day one, plus extensive industry connections to support your career development.
• A full placement year in industry as part of your degree, enabling you to put knowledge into practice, develop your network and discover your future ambitions.
• More than 20 placement-scholarships open to students on Agriculture routes – offering guaranteed placement year job and additional financial support, plus a range of non-placement scholarships.
• Our far-reaching academic and industry experience and active involvement in applied agricultural research and delivery of professional training to industry, ensures the course is vocationally relevant and up to date.
• 494-hectare farm on the campus – so you will have direct, access to a commercial farm and agricultural engineering facilities.
• Access to subsidised practical skills training and industry recognised certification through the Land Based Skills Programme.
• Study at the forefront of agri-tech. Harper Adams is home to the School of Sustainable Food and Farming, Hands Free Farm and the Agri-EPI Centre Midlands Innovation Hub, where industry and practitioners are working together on the latest precision arable and livestock systems. Scope for student projects related to agri-tech grows every year.
• Common first year means you can change direction in year 1 if you wish, and subject to performance in year 1 can transfer to a BSc Honours programme.
• Access to Agriculture programme to enable new entrants to the agricultural sector to qualify alongside those from more rural/agricultural backgrounds without disadvantage.

Work experience

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

Access to Agriculture Programme

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.

Duration

3 years (full-time) including a one-year work placement. A two 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.

Careers

The skills you will develop will be useful throughout the industry, whether managing large, highly mechanised farms, running a successful contracting business or working in the agricultural machinery sector. Harper Adams graduates have a long history of successfully finding employment within all of these areas of work.

Entry requirements for 2023

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.

Course fees

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.

Teaching and learning

What you study

All agriculture students share a common first year, studying the same modules; this allows students to change course during the first year.

In the first year of the course the focus is on practice i.e. what goes on on-farm, and underpinning science and business principles. Areas of study include animal and crop production systems, agricultural science, an introduction to farm business management and marketing, and agricultural mechanisation. In the final year of the course you start to specialise in the area of mechanisation studying areas such as farm machinery technology, hydraulics and electrics, and mechanisation aspects of soils and farm infrastructure. The mechanisation aspects are studied alongside more general aspects of agriculture such as crop production and science, farm business management and people management. In addition, all students undertake a professional project in their final year in a subject area of interest to them.

The principles of mechanisation are developed in an applied way without the use of complex mathematics.

Teaching and learning

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 methods

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.

Work placement

FdSc students undertake placement in their second year. You will enjoy a year of paid employment in a business related to your career aspirations and experience. Recent placement employers have included machinery dealerships or manufacturers such as John Deere, Claas, JG Paxton and Sons Ltd, Kubota and Burden Brothers, in roles as machinery demonstrators, dealer technicians, machinery testing or sales.

You will have a dedicated Placement Manager, support officer, and tutor to visit you whilst on placement. You will usually undertake paid employment for at least 12 months on modern progressive farms or in the agricultural support industries. 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. 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.