Foundation Certificate Agriculture Part Time

The course is delivered at University Centre Myerscough and awarded by the University of Central Lancashire.

Everybody eats, and to help grow food the agriculture industry requires an estimated additional 60,000 highly skilled and qualified people over the next ten years. With the impact of Brexit, and a growing population farming and food will play a vital role in feeding a world population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 (source UN).

Our Foundation Certificate course is designed to develop technical, practical and employability skills to enable you to meet the demands of the agricultural employers in this growth sector. We will make use of our Farming and Food Innovation and Technology Centre to explore maximised yield from farms and the science underpinning this, in addition, the course will build the foundations to progress onto the final year of the FdSc Agriculture course, which can be completed either by full-time or part-time study. The Certificate consists of six modules, of which a maximum of four can be taken in an academic year, therefore the course will require a minimum of 18 months to complete.

5 GCSE passes at Grade C (4) or above (including Maths and English or equivalent)

Plus 48 UCAS Tariff points from one or more of the following:

2 A-levels (A2), at least one at C or above

BTEC/C&G Level 3

2 Scottish Highers at C or above

3 Irish Highers at C or above

International Baccalaureate at 24 points

NVQ Level 3 in a relevant discipline

AS levels, BTEC Subsidiary Diploma and Scottish Intermediate 2s may be used to contribute to entry requirements but they are not sufficient for entry on their own. Alternative equivalent qualifications will also be considered positively.

Applicants who believe they may be eligible for Accreditation of Prior Certificated and/or Experiential Learning (APCL/APEL) for certain modules will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for whom English is a second language must be able to demonstrate proof of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at level 6.0 (with no component score lower than 5.5) or equivalent.

All offers may be subject to successful interview

Extra Costs:

Additional costs for items that are essential for the course:

• Approx £100 - Waterproofs, safety boots, wellingtons and overalls

Additional costs for opportunities and items that are optional for the course include:

• Approx £1200 – Study tour (previous visits: Ireland, USA and Canada)
• Approx £150 – conferences (some are free).

You must be able to demonstrate proof of your English language skills by showing that you have a minimum of CEFR level B2 in each of the four components of language learning; reading, writing, listening and speaking. If you are applying with a visa then in most cases, you will require a UKVI version of an authorised test at an approved centre. You can find more information on the Government website. Depending on the test you take, there will be a comparison guide on the test centre website to show which score is required to ensure you meet the B2 CEFR level.  

Graduates will be in a position to apply for posts available in the agricultural industry (and other related industries) including:

Herdsperson (dairy/beef)

Livestock Specialist

Farm Contractor

Feed Sales Advisor

AI Technicians

Shepherd