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Course overview

Agriculture has a vital role to play in global food production and security, climate change mitigation, environmental protection, water management and renewable energy creation. 

Our Agriculture with Farm Technology students are taught by lecturers with extensive industry and research experience to develop sustainable production systems integrating appropriate technologies to maximise economic, social and environmental security. You will be studying in a diverse range of learning spaces located at the heart of our University Farm alongside students from a wide range of rural and urban backgrounds, whilst establishing a life-long network of friends and professional contacts. 

You will soon be putting your learning into practice engaging with real-world scenarios and projects from day one. Supported by an integrated placement year in industry, you will be ready for your future career having developed a range of personal, technical and professional skills that today’s employers value. You will be well prepared for careers in the management of highly mechanised farms, dealership technical support and consultancy for the agricultural data industries. Additionally, your degree will equip you with the skills to continue in research or education.

Work Placement

BSc (Hons) students undertake placement in their third year. You will enjoy a year of paid employment in a business related to your career aspirations and experience. Recent placement employers have included machinery dealerships or manufacturers such as John Deere, Claas, JG Paxton and Sons Ltd, Kubota and Burden Brothers, in roles as machinery demonstrators, dealer technicians, machinery testing or sales. You will have a dedicated Placement Manager, support officer, and tutor to visit you whilst on placement.

You will usually undertake paid employment for at least 12 months on modern progressive farms or in the agricultural support industries. Agriculture students wishing to undertake a farm placement are required to work at least 50 miles away from home and are not normally permitted to return to previous employers.

Students also have the opportunity to access a range of overseas placements, with the support of supporting agents, where possible. Students may undertake placement in the USA, Australia or New Zealand, for example. Several commercial scholarship opportunities, linked to placement, are available to apply for, with sponsoring companies paying a significant amount towards the tuition fees of successful applicants.

Careers

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.