Bsc Hons Agriculture

Agriculture

BSc (Hons) Top-up Level 6

You’ll join the final year of the BSc (Hons) Agriculture course, building on your previous knowledge. Top-up courses are equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree and allow you to 'top-up' an existing qualification into a full honours degree.

If you want to progress into an agricultural management career, helping to find solutions to the world's most pressing issue of food production and land use, then this is the ideal course for you. You'll learn how to build a productive, resilient and sustainable industry - whether as a farm manager, agronomist, economist, policymaker, researcher, scientist or consultant – career opportunities are diverse.

Key Information

Course Duration: One year full time
UC UCAS Code: D416
Part or Full Time: Full Time
Level of Study: Top-up Level 6
Typical Offer: A pass at foundation degree or HND in agriculture or a related subject

The extensive industry experience of lecturers, an on-campus commercial farm that supplies Müller, AVP, and RJ Kerr, as well as our £2 million Agri-Tech Centre, will prepare you to make that positive impact on the future.

You'll have access to 400 hectares of commercial farmland, real-world business briefs and industry placements. You’ll benefit from up to 980 hours working and applying your knowledge as part of your degree. This includes a supported work placement during each year of study that counts as credits towards your degree meaning you'll graduate ready for employment.

Academic requirements 

  • A pass at Foundation Degree or HND in Agriculture or a related subject 
  • We welcome students with equivalent qualifications; please contact us to discuss 

 

Non-academic options 

  • Direct entry into Level 6 can be subject to interview and approval of prior content covered 
  • Previous learning towards a university-level qualification or relevant work experience may count as credit for this course 

 

International students 

  • We welcome applications from international students and accept international qualifications at equivalent levels to the above 
  • You may also need to evidence proficiency in English language 

 

Please contact us for further information. 

Email us

Field trips and guest lecturers

Field trips and industry professionals in lectures form an important part of your learning, enabling you to experience different businesses, careers and best practices.

Recent field trips have included trips to Somerset and Devon, ADAS and Agrii field trials, livestock farms, dairy tech and crop-tec. Extra fees are required – please see the fees tab.

Recent guest lecturers have included plant breeders, grain marketers, livestock nutritionists and agricultural managers within the banking and supermarket sectors.

Graduate destinations

As a Hartpury agriculture graduate, you could progress into a range of careers including:

  • Agronomy
  • Livestock nutrition
  • Biosecurity
  • Agricultural policy
  • Research
  • Farm manager
  • Food security and safety
  • Agricultural consultancy
Success Stories

Your support network

You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) centres.

Academic support

You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.

Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.

Your learning experiences

You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.

Your career

Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career. The course is taught in English.

Course information

Overview

The extensive industry experience of lecturers, an on-campus commercial farm that supplies Müller, AVP, and RJ Kerr, as well as our £2 million Agri-Tech Centre, will prepare you to make that positive impact on the future.

You'll have access to 400 hectares of commercial farmland, real-world business briefs and industry placements. You’ll benefit from up to 980 hours working and applying your knowledge as part of your degree. This includes a supported work placement during each year of study that counts as credits towards your degree meaning you'll graduate ready for employment.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements 

  • A pass at Foundation Degree or HND in Agriculture or a related subject 
  • We welcome students with equivalent qualifications; please contact us to discuss 

 

Non-academic options 

  • Direct entry into Level 6 can be subject to interview and approval of prior content covered 
  • Previous learning towards a university-level qualification or relevant work experience may count as credit for this course 

 

International students 

  • We welcome applications from international students and accept international qualifications at equivalent levels to the above 
  • You may also need to evidence proficiency in English language 

 

Please contact us for further information. 

Employability

Field trips and guest lecturers

Field trips and industry professionals in lectures form an important part of your learning, enabling you to experience different businesses, careers and best practices.

Recent field trips have included trips to Somerset and Devon, ADAS and Agrii field trials, livestock farms, dairy tech and crop-tec. Extra fees are required – please see the fees tab.

Recent guest lecturers have included plant breeders, grain marketers, livestock nutritionists and agricultural managers within the banking and supermarket sectors.

Graduate destinations

As a Hartpury agriculture graduate, you could progress into a range of careers including:

  • Agronomy
  • Livestock nutrition
  • Biosecurity
  • Agricultural policy
  • Research
  • Farm manager
  • Food security and safety
  • Agricultural consultancy

How you'll study

Your support network

You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) centres.

Academic support

You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.

Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.

Your learning experiences

You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.

Your career

Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career. The course is taught in English.

Modules

What you'll study

This Level 6 top-up degree covers a broad range of fundamental agricultural topics through core modules. Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands -you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modulesbefore deciding which ones to study.

Module credits

On successful completion of your modules, you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain in your second and third years may contribute towards your final degree classification.

Compulsory Modules

Animal and Agriculture Dissertation OR Investigative Skills for the Successful Undergraduate AND Applied Research Project

Animal and Agriculture Dissertation

This module involves independent research and analysis in an animal or agriculture‐related field with one-to‐one support from an academic.

Investigative Skills for the Successful Undergraduate

You will advance your ability to undertake a research project, from reviewing existing knowledge to developing your own research proposal.

Applied Research Project

You’ll undertake an independent research project and supply a detailed analysis of the findings with one-to-one support from an academic supervisor.

Agricultural Social Licence (One Health)

The module investigates the concepts of social licence and one health within the agricultural industry and their impact on all stakeholders and decision making related to sustainability.

Developments in Crop Science OR Developments in Livestock Science
Students must achieve at least one from the following two modules:

Developments in Crop Science
The module will investigate a broad range of topics that will allow the student to gain further knowledge and understanding of the key scientific developments within sustainable crop production, crop protection and crop management and be able to critically analyse and evaluate the scientific impact of developments on all stake holders in the industry (producers, processor and consumers).

Developments in Livestock Science
The module will investigate a broad range of topics that will allow the student to gain further knowledge and understanding of the key scientific developments in sustainable livestock production and management and be able to critically analyse and evaluate development impact on all stake holders in the industry (producers, consumers and animals).

 

Optional Modules

Supply Chain Management

In this module students will discover the mechanisms by which the agrifood supply chain takes our food supply from farm to fork. They will discuss current research and contemporary issues affecting, the agrifood supply chain which will enable them to grasp current practices and trends and consider the impact these may have on the producer. They will learn about the relationships between actors in the agrifood supply chain and how these influence the business practices currently employed. They will analyse and evaluate supply chain management practices with a focus on the drive towards sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and the mechanisms by which this can be delivered. The module will also involve a non-assessed project that enables students to gain hands on experience within the sector. Previous projects have included the making of their own cider with a local cidermaker to be marketed by the students.

Strategic Management

This module allows students to explore the strategic practices and principles utilised by global companies. Through an appreciation key external and internal impact factors students will put theory into practice and create a new strategic direction for an allocated organisation.

Modules

Overview

What you'll study

This Level 6 top-up degree covers a broad range of fundamental agricultural topics through core modules. Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands -you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modulesbefore deciding which ones to study.

Module credits

On successful completion of your modules, you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain in your second and third years may contribute towards your final degree classification.

Level Six (year one)

Compulsory Modules

Animal and Agriculture Dissertation OR Investigative Skills for the Successful Undergraduate AND Applied Research Project

Animal and Agriculture Dissertation

This module involves independent research and analysis in an animal or agriculture‐related field with one-to‐one support from an academic.

Investigative Skills for the Successful Undergraduate

You will advance your ability to undertake a research project, from reviewing existing knowledge to developing your own research proposal.

Applied Research Project

You’ll undertake an independent research project and supply a detailed analysis of the findings with one-to-one support from an academic supervisor.

Agricultural Social Licence (One Health)

The module investigates the concepts of social licence and one health within the agricultural industry and their impact on all stakeholders and decision making related to sustainability.

Developments in Crop Science OR Developments in Livestock Science
Students must achieve at least one from the following two modules:

Developments in Crop Science
The module will investigate a broad range of topics that will allow the student to gain further knowledge and understanding of the key scientific developments within sustainable crop production, crop protection and crop management and be able to critically analyse and evaluate the scientific impact of developments on all stake holders in the industry (producers, processor and consumers).

Developments in Livestock Science
The module will investigate a broad range of topics that will allow the student to gain further knowledge and understanding of the key scientific developments in sustainable livestock production and management and be able to critically analyse and evaluate development impact on all stake holders in the industry (producers, consumers and animals).

 

Optional Modules

Supply Chain Management

In this module students will discover the mechanisms by which the agrifood supply chain takes our food supply from farm to fork. They will discuss current research and contemporary issues affecting, the agrifood supply chain which will enable them to grasp current practices and trends and consider the impact these may have on the producer. They will learn about the relationships between actors in the agrifood supply chain and how these influence the business practices currently employed. They will analyse and evaluate supply chain management practices with a focus on the drive towards sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and the mechanisms by which this can be delivered. The module will also involve a non-assessed project that enables students to gain hands on experience within the sector. Previous projects have included the making of their own cider with a local cidermaker to be marketed by the students.

Strategic Management

This module allows students to explore the strategic practices and principles utilised by global companies. Through an appreciation key external and internal impact factors students will put theory into practice and create a new strategic direction for an allocated organisation.

The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops and practical sessions. You are expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour. Your course may also include work placement learning as part of some modules.

Year Contact learning Placement learning Independent learning
Level six (year one) 21% 0% 79%

You’ll be assessed through a mixture of written exams, practical exams and written assignments. Many of the modules will be marked based on a mixture of assessment types, whilst others will be based solely on one type of assessment. Feedback will be given in person through individual 1:1tutorial, through group tutorials and online through the VLE.

Year Written exam Practical exam Coursework
Level six (year one) 6% 54% 40%

Each year of this course is taught over two semesters, normally consisting of 12 weeks of scheduled teaching and then assessment weeks, with an overview below: 

  • Scheduled teaching takes place between 8:30 to 20:30 Monday to Friday
  • Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities
  • Work placements may entail different days and hours
  • Part-time students may need to attend learning activities five days each week, depending on modules selected
  • Timetables are available during enrolment week
View term dates

Please visit our student finance page for information on tuition fees and student loans, as well as non-repayable grants, bursaries and scholarships, eligible to different groups, to support with study costs.

Clothing and footwear (circa £100) 

You’ll need to purchase appropriate clothing and footwear before you enrol, or during enrolment week. We’ll let you know exactly what you need to purchase in your enrolment guide – everything is available from our supplier’s online shop for approximately £100.

Optional field trips 

Students are encouraged to engage in various trips and visits as part of the programme. While many of these are included in the course fees, there is the opportunity to engage in additional study tours with additional costs involved. In year one the sustainable agriculture field trip will cost in the region of £40 per student.  

Short Courses 

Hartpury also subsidises optional short courses for a reduced cost that allows students to gain relevant experience and qualifications prior to graduation. Short courses include PA1, PA2, PA6, All Terrain Vehicle training, chainsaw maintenance and basic operations and Telescopic Handler (RTTLT Loadall). 

Performance Sports Academy membership

Find out costs and details for joining one of our performance Sports Academy teams.

Accommodation and living costs

Please visit our student accommodation page for details.

Hartpury gym

Find out about costs and details for joining the Hartpury gym.

Fees & Finance

Our Resource Library is where you'll find all the essential details about Hartpury University's courses. It includes Programme and Module Specifications, along with Course Information Sheets for every course. You can easily download a complete revision history for each of these, clearly showing the dates changes were made.

Course Information Sheets: These are PDF versions of the course webpages. They provide an overview of the course, what to expect during your studies, and the topics covered.

Programme Specifications: These are detailed, validated documents containing academic specifics for each programme. They include descriptions of the programme, its aims, learning outcomes, year and module structure, as well as teaching, learning, and assessment strategies.

Module Specifications: Each Programme consists of several Modules. Our Module Specifications outline the topics covered and the expected outcomes for students studying each Module.

Resource library

Accommodation

Settle into an accommodation option to suit your taste and budget – at Hartpury University, undergraduate students can choose to live on-campus surrounded by Gloucestershire’s beautiful countryside or off-campus in the heart of Gloucester City centre. Enjoy the best of both worlds.

Hartpury University Accommodation

Finance

We can help you understand how it all works, and what you need to do next. Find out everything you need to know about tuition fees, student loans and bursaries and scholarships. In 2021/22, we provided assistance to over 1/3 of our students through bursaries, scholarships and grants, totalling a little under £1million.

Hartpury University Finance

Support

When you become a student at Hartpury, you become part of our community. As a small university, we provide personalised support based on your individual requirements and aspirations. Our teams cover wellbeing, achievement and success, learning support, careers, and more. From wellbeing, safety and employability, to finance, accommodation and IT, our staff will answer your questions or get you set up with someone who can.

Hartpury University Student Support
Gold Gold Gold 01

TEF Gold

Our undergraduate provision has been awarded Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold in all aspects - Overall, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes.

GUG 2025 Top 10 Teaching Quality Landscape

Teaching quality

Ranked in the top 10 universities for teaching quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).

Graduate Outcomes Singe Logo (1)

Graduate employability

97% of our graduates are in employment, further study or other purposeful activity (Graduate Outcomes, 2024). 

Nss 2024 Top 10 Academic Support

Academic support

We’re a top 10 university for academic support (NSS 2024, UK universities).

Ralph Dalu
“I’ve been able to develop my business alongside my studies, thanks to the fantastic support I’ve received from the Enterprise Hub and Innovation, Careers and Enterprise team. I even reached the Enterprise Awards finals, which has given me the funds to develop further.”
Ralph Dalu
BSc (Hons) Agriculture

Important information

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are reviewed and developed regularly. Changes or cancellation of courses may be necessary to ensure alignment with emerging employment areas, to comply with accrediting body requirements, revisions to subject benchmark statements or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make necessary changes and will notify all offer-holders of changes as and when they occur.

Male And Female Student And Lecturer Checking Crop Health

Meet our academic team

Get to know our dedicated and passionate teaching staff who’ll help you achieve your very best. We’re proud to have been awarded Gold in all three areas of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF): Overall, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes. This places Hartpury University in the top 15% of published institutions in England. Plus, we're ranked sixth in the UK for Teaching Quality, in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.