The course
Let us guide you to meet the increasing demand for highly-skilled farm business management practitioners with an understanding of the options available to meet the challenges brought about by new technologies, new policies and societal pressures.
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, together with changes in support mechanisms under the Agriculture Act, will affect farm incomes, the countryside, rural communities and the public purse. Increasingly farmers will need to maximise business efficiency and look to diversify their businesses and find alternative uses for rural land.
After a common first year, in your second year you will start to specialise in the area of farm business management, studying areas such as farm business management and economics, farm business operation and planning and market and supply chain considerations, whilst continuing to study more general aspects of agriculture, such as animal and crop production science, grass and forage production and waste management.
Following placement, in your final year specialisation in farm business management continues, studying farm business strategy, business diversification and people management. You will also undertake an Honours Research Project in a subject area that aligns to your interests and ambitions.
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 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.
- 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 practitioner are working together on the latest precision arable and livestock systems. The 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.
- Access to Agriculture Programme to enable new entrants to the agricultural sector to qualify alongside those from more rural/agricultural backgrounds without disadvantage.
- Consistently outstanding performance in the annual student Farm Planner of the Year competition in which students compete to demonstrate their farm business management knowledge and skills. The Harper Adams team won in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and were runners up in 2019.
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
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.