Extended Foundation Degree ProgrammeAgriculture

The course

Harper Adams has specialised in providing higher education in agriculture for more than a century, producing highly capable graduates to drive this large and dynamic industry forward through an exciting range of career opportunities. If you are in any doubt as to the importance of the industry in the UK, remember about 75 per cent of the land area is used for agriculture! There are around 400 students here studying agriculture at degree or foundation degree level, either as a single subject or combining it with a related area such as engineering, animals or business. Agriculture students – or ‘agrics as they like to be known – arent just farmers sons and daughters. They come from many different locations and backgrounds, both urban and rural, and their reasons for studying agriculture are as diverse as their career plans.

Choosing Agriculture (with Year 0) will lead to either a foundation or bachelor's degree in Agriculture, depending on how well you perform during your first year. Please note that you will need to have some relevant work experience.

Entry requirements

You must be at least 17½ years old, and have 6 GCSE passes at grade C/4 or above, to include English language, maths and science (or 5 GCSE passes at grade C/4 or above, to include English language, maths and science if you also have a level 3 qualification such as A level or BTEC) . The required GCSEs must be completed prior to application.

Suitable applicants will be invited to attend an interview where they will be able to discuss their course choice in more detail. Interviews will take place either on campus or virtually taking into account any Covid-19 restrictions or government advice in place at the time.

For the Agriculture route you need at least 10 weeks relevant work experience.

For the Agriculture route there is a requirement for all applicants to have completed a minimum of 10 weeks work experience on a commercial farm by the 1st September of year one. 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. Applicants admitted with less than 10 weeks practical experience must have completed this by 1st September of year one in order to progress on the course. For applicants 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 the work experience requirement 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 Access to Agriculture.

Teaching and learning

Eight specially selected modules in the first year will provide you with the academic and study skills you need to prepare for the rest of your higher education qualification. There are four entry routes to choose from, each of which, upon successful completion of the preparatory year, Year 0, will lead to a foundation or honours degree, depending on the percentage mark you pass with .

We have given examples of foundation or bachelor’s degrees you could consider, but as long as you meet the required percentage mark, the specific work experience needed, and have studied the relevant modules at Year 0, you will be considered for many of our courses (subject to course manager’s approval). You must pass all modules (earning 120 credits) to pass the first year.

* 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

Assessment is via a balance of coursework and examination. Weighting is typically 50 percent course work and 50 percent exams, although certain modules, such as Academic Skills are 100 percent coursework assessed. Environmental Engineering Science and Mathematics Applications and Statistics are assessed 100 percent by examination.

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: