Agriculture (top up: ordinary) BSc - Clearing

Having completed a Foundation Degree or HND programme in Agriculture or Agriculture with Mechanisation you may wish to top-up to either a BSc or BSc (Hons) degree by studying full-time for a further academic year.

You may choose to top-up to a general agricultural degree, or specialise in an area such as animal science, crop management, farm business management or mechanisation.

How will I be taught?

Top-up programmes are structured around lectures, tutorials and practical classes designed to augment material covered in previous studies and allow students to develop the subject expertise and depth of knowledge required at BSc and BSc (Hons) degree level.

Teaching and learning

Top up courses at Harper Adams involve a combination of lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions as appropriate for the subject area, together with use of the University farm 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. 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. As part of the programme students undertake a dissertation in a subject area of their choice.

Assessment methods

Assessment is via a balance of course work and 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.