Agriculture with Mechanisation

Harper Adams University

United Kingdom, Aberdeen

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Harper Adams University

United Kingdom , Aberdeen

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

D492

Campuses

Harper Adams University campus (and location of work placement)*

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2023

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 4 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 13,250 / year

Next Intake September-2023

Agriculture with Mechanisation

About

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.

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 waste management, crop production and science and farm business management.

In the final year the specialisation in mechanisation is developed further, studying areas such as science technology and information systems, measurement and control systems, applied mechanisation projects in association with industry, and a research project with a mechanisation focus. The mechanisation modules are studied alongside crop production and crop protection modules.

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

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 â€“ 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 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 â€“ 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 practitioner 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.
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

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.

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.

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 soils and farm infrastructure. The mechanisation aspects are studied alongside more general aspects of agriculture such as waste management, crop production and science, and farm business management. In the final year the specialisation is developed further, studying areas such as machinery technology and information systems, measurement and control systems, applied mechanisation projects in association with industry, and a research project with a mechanisation focus. In the final year students study mechanisation modules alongside crop production and crop protection modules.

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.

* During the Covid-19 Pandemic the University is delivering blended learning. Government guidance is being constantly reviewed to establish the learning events which can be delivered face to face. Please refer to our frequently asked questions for further details.

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.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Offers tend to be in the region of 28 points with relevant subject at level 5 or above

There is a requirement for all applicants to have completed a minimum of 10 weeks work experience on a commercial farm by the 1st August. This can be part-time work, accumulated over weekends and vacations, and does not have to be completed as a 10 week block. Gaining the relevant practical experience in advance of the start of the course is preferable. However, for applicants applying for our BSc (Hons) Agriculture programmes, who do not come from a farm background and who do not have the relevant contacts necessary to complete the work experience, we recognise that this may be difficult to achieve. Applicants who are assessed to be in this position, following interview, will be offered the opportunity to enter the course via the Access to Agriculture programme, where help to gain the relevant practical experience is provided during the first year of study.

4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English Language, Maths and a Science

Applicants can expect to receive offers including specific grades in specific subjects (for example, a B or C at A level, or an M or D for BTEC modules)

Where an applicant was not given access to GCSE Science, a BTEC level 2 in Science will be accepted as an alternative at a grade M. Confirmation will be required from the school/college that GCSE Science was not an option.

Biology A Level (or equivalent) preferred (but not mandatory)

When combining qualifications no more than one Subsidiary Diploma or Diploma (or comparable qualification such as an Extended Certificate) will be considered alongside A levels (two A levels for BSc)

Overseas applicants please check our English Language Requirements

Interviews will take place on an ad-hoc basis should the Course Manager wish to discuss any aspect of your application and for all potentially suitable applicants who require visa sponsorship.

More information about the work experience required for this course can be found by clicking the link below

Find out more about work experience

We have developed a range of measures and initiatives to give everyone the best chance to access our undergraduate degree programmes. The main feature of Access to Harper is our contextualised offer scheme. A contextualised offer is an offer which is reduced, by one grade or more from the standard entry requirement and is made to those applicants who may have experienced personal circumstances which put them at a disadvantage during their education, such as attending a low achieving school, living in an area of low participation in Higher Education or being a Care Leaver. The aim of this is to make the University more accessible for those applicants who may not have previously thought that they were eligible to apply. We have also introduced reduced entry requirements for those applicants who are over 21 years of age and further initiatives to make the application process easier for those applicants who need it.

To check if you qualify please visit the Access to Harper page.

English Program Requirements

If you need a visa for undergraduate or postgraduate study, you must show evidence that your English Language skills are at B2 level on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).

This can be demonstrated by obtaining any of the following qualifications for direct entry on to undergraduate, postgraduate or research qualifications:

Career

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.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 13,250 / year

How to Apply

Applying for university as an international student is similar to the process that UK students follow, but there are a few extra steps.

These include:

taking an English language test.
applying for a visa.
attending a pre-sessional course.

To understand the general steps for applying to study one of our courses, take a look at the How to apply pages.

Before you apply

To study on a course at Harper Adams, you will need to meet the entry requirements listed on the course page. You will also need to meet our English language requirements and you may need to take an English language test.

Like UK students, if you are applying for one of our undergraduate courses, you will need to apply through the UCAS website. If you are applying for a postgraduate degree course, you can complete an application form.

After you apply

We will look at your application and decide if you meet the entry requirements. We may ask to interview you. We will keep you updated about the status of your application by email or post.

If we accept your application, we will send you either an unconditional or conditional offer. Unconditional offers mean you have been accepted to study on a course without any other requirements. A conditional offer means you will have to give us some additional information or prove a qualification.

Before you arrive

Depending on where you are coming from, you will need to apply for a visa before you arrive in the UK. Take a look at the visa pages to find out more.

As part of the visa application process, you may need to submit a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number or a similar letter that says you've been accepted to study here.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number

If you meet all of the conditions of your offer by the deadline printed on your offer letter, we will give you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number. You will need your CAS number to apply for your visa.

Your CAS number is unique to you and your place at Harper Adams. It can not be transferred to any other university. If you decide to withdraw your application, you must let us know so we can cancel your CAS number.

Short-term study visa letters

If you are applying for a course that requires a short-term study visa, and you have met any offer conditions we have set, we will give you a letter that confirms we have accepted you. You will need to submit this with your visa application. You may also need to show it when you enter the UK.

Applying for accommodation

You will need to apply for accommodation before you arrive in the UK. We will send you details of how to do this along with your offer letter. You will need to tell the university in advance if you are bringing family to live with you.

When you arrive

We will let you know the date that you need to arrive by in your offer letter. You will need to make arrangements to travel to the UK and get to Harper Adams by this date.

When you first arrive in the UK, you will need to go through immigration controls. To help you get through immigration as quickly and easily as possible, you should:

not arrive before the start date of your visa.
make sure you have filled in a landing card (if required) and included details of a UK contact - this can be the university's address or the address of a landlord.
have your passport, CAS or offer letter, details of where you will stay and proof that you have enough money to study here ready to show immigration officers.
make sure you know the conditions of your visa, when it expires, and the number of hours you are allowed to work.
declare any sums of cash over €10,000 (or equivalent in your currency).

To avoid any issues at immigration, you should not:

bring food or drink (such as meat, dairy products, fish, eggs, honey, fruit, vegetables or plants) with you.
bring counterfeit goods, firearms, weapons or indecent/obscene material with you.

More information on travelling through the UK border visit the Gov.uk Guide to faster travel through the UK border webpage.

After you arrive

On your first day at Harper Adams, you will need to bring your passport and visa (as well as any certificates or documents we have requested) so we can make a copy for our reference.

Advice and guidance

We are here to help at every stage of the application process - from when you decide on a course, all the way to your first day at Harper Adams and during your time at the university. Take a look at the Contact Us page to find out who to contact about any questions you may have.