BSc

Agriculture with Business Management

Agriculture with Business Management Code D4NF Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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Key Facts

D4NF

  • UCAS Tariff

  • Course duration

    4 years

Available for September start 2025

Further details on entry requirements

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The agricultural industry is becoming more and more complex. Changes in support mechanisms and pressure to diversify and manage the environment have meant that success in the farming sector is increasingly dependent on high quality business management skills.

The BSc Agriculture with Business Management degree at Aberystwyth University is designed to meet the strong demand for graduates who want to develop a firm understanding of both agriculture and business management and will provide you with expert training in business management to complement your study of agriculture.  

This course includes an integrated foundation year.

Course Overview

This four-year course includes an integrated foundation year, after which the syllabus follows that of the standard three-year course, BSc Agriculture with Business Management (D4N2).

BSc Agriculture with Business Management will provide you with a thorough grounding in practical skills and theoretical knowledge in both farming and commerce. This degree is appropriate for applicants with little or no farming background as well as those who already have knowledge of agriculture, since it provides a firm grasp of agricultural systems alongside the principles and practices of business.  

You will benefit from teaching by expert staff from Aberystwyth Business School, as well as the Farm Business Survey for Wales, the most authoritative source of financial information on farming businesses. The Farm Business Survey is a tool which will be invaluable in your future employment situation, allowing you to compare your farm’s performance and profitability to other farms in the UK and EU. 

Aberystwyth is surrounded by a great diversity of farmland and agricultural terrain. The 800 hectare commercially managed university farms provide the setting for your practical learning. This is supplemented by field visits to farms and agricultural and food businesses that are industry leaders in innovation and technical expertise, which will reinforce your academic learning. 

Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff in the Department of Life Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry. The Department has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Communication Skills BR01520 20
Molecules and Cells BR01340 40
Organisms and the Environment BR01440 40
Practical Skills for Biologists BR01220 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Agronomy and Crop Improvement * BR27620 20
Farm Business Management and Appraisal BR21020 20
Livestock Production and Management BR28020 20
Research Methods * BR27520 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation AB25220 20
Food, Farming, Technology and the Environment BR29020 20
Human Resource Management * AB25420 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

The combination of knowledge and skills that this degree offers is much sought after by agri-business employers and a number of other professions, including advisory and consultancy services and farm and estate management, as well as agricultural financing. This is also an excellent qualification for a career in other businesses such as in the rapidly growing agri-food sector. 

What work experience opportunities are available to me while I study?  

Find out about the various opportunities that our Careers Service offers. Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and our Year in Employment Scheme. 

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn? 

In the first year you will be introduced to the technologies that are increasingly being developed for and adopted by the agricultural industry. You will investigate the factors that influence land use and explore the primary resources required to operate a rural business. You will gain useful business management skills, including the preparation of farm budgets and the analysis of commodity markets. 

In the second year you will examine British livestock industries, crop production systems and strategies, and will learn how to analyse, budget and appraise a farm business. 

In your final year you will explore the way in which research is used to develop more efficient animal production systems. You will consider agriculture and agricultural issues from a range of specific, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives and gain an understanding of the relationship between policy, socio-economic factors, agricultural practices and the rural economy. A compulsory research project in your final year will allow you to perform in-depth research under the guidance of a supervisor. Your project may be based on laboratory experiments or fieldwork exercises, comprise a computer modelling exercise or involve data analysis.

Optional modules in marketing principles, marketing management, entrepreneurship, human resource management, strategic leadership, digital marketing and digital business allow you to choose the business elements that are of most interest to you and tailor your course accordingly.

Visits to farms, research stations, rural businesses and organisations involved in the regulation and management of the countryside are an integral part of the course and will highlight the key issues at stake and enable you to see the practical business applications of your theoretical and academic learning. 

How will I be taught? 

You will be taught through a balanced programme of lectures, seminars and tutorials, workshops, practicals, study tours and demonstrations. 

Assessment 

You will be assessed through a range of methods including essays, practical reports and exercises, oral presentations, exams, plans, worksheets, field notebooks and case studies.

Student Testimonials

The Agriculture course has a great mix of modules which has opened my eyes to many other aspects of agriculture. The information given in lectures on important subjects is usually simple but thorough which makes work easy to both understand and remember. Farm visits are also enjoyable as it gives you a chance to observe and understand different systems. It's also interesting to hear the views of the farmers and the different ways they implement systems to suit their business. Aled Rhys Lewis

Business & Management provides academic insight to firm behaviour within internal and external business environments enabling individuals to fully comprehend the wider context of operations within a global context in an informative yet interesting manner. It’s diverse as it examines a variety of business topics. Students get to experience economics, accounting, and marketing providing a sound grounding in wide variety of business areas that may be extended in the second and final years. The modules set individuals in good stead for understanding a variety of business functions. Andrea Jane Phillips

Studying Business and Management at Aberystwyth University has enabled me to develop my understanding, and better appreciate the world in which we all live and work. With a limited understanding of Business and Management prior to studying, I have benefited greatly from this course, and the ability to select and choose which route I best want to follow. Through a range of in-class and interactive learning sessions my passion for the subject has flourished. The degree has fuelled my desire to pursue education to the next level in order to ascertain a more thorough understanding of the business environment. Peter Hamilton-Gray

What do I love about Agriculture at Aberystwyth University? The people - students from a wide range of backgrounds, all getting together, sharing experiences and learning together; lecturers with a passion for their subject, who are down to earth and approachable. The place - the green hills, quiet woods, impressive views, and the sea. The course - learning about a topic which is foundational to society; stretching my mind with new knowledge, and shivering out in freezing farmyards (yes, even that has a kind of pleasure to it!). That's what I love about agriculture here. Benjamin David Latham

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff

A Levels Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh, Mathematics and Science (minimum grade C/4)

BTEC National Diploma:
Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

International Baccalaureate:
Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

European Baccalaureate:
Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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