BSc

Agriculture with Animal Science

Agriculture with Animal Science Code 53CF Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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Key Facts

53CF

  • UCAS Tariff

  • Course duration

    4 years

Available for September start 2025

Further details on entry requirements

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On the BSc Agriculture with Animal Science degree at Aberystwyth University you will establish a firm foundation of practical skills and subject knowledge in agriculture and agricultural production systems. Alongside this core knowledge, you will immerse yourself in the science, production and management of livestock, benefitting from the insights of our active researchers. With this skill set you will be ready to tackle the challenges of livestock production and be primed for success in your agricultural career. 

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 Animal Science (53C8). 

Alongside Aberystwyth University’s credentials in agriculture, you will benefit from expert teaching by active researchers and from a range of well-equipped teaching and research laboratories. Your specialism in animal science will cover aspects of nutrition, reproductive physiology, animal health, and animal breeding, as well as emerging animal biotechnologies. 

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 throughout the UK 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
Animal Breeding: Genetics and Reproduction BR25220 20
Applied Nutrition of Livestock, Horses and Companion Animals BR20720 20
Livestock Production and Management BR28020 20
Research Methods * BR27520 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Agronomy and Crop Improvement * BR27620 20
Farm Business Management and Appraisal BR21020 20
Food, Farming, Technology and the Environment BR29020 20
Immunology BR22220 20
Veterinary Health BR27120 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Advances in Agriculture * BR39920 20
Livestock Production Science BR30820 20
Critical Review BR36320 20
Research Project * BR36440 40

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Advances in Crop and Grassland Production BR37220 20
Behaviour and Welfare of Domesticated Animals BR35120 20
Farm Planning and Advanced Farm Management BR31620 20
Veterinary Infectious Diseases BR34120 20
Veterinary Pharmacology and Disease Control BR36820 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Our graduates lead successful careers in many areas of agriculture and agriculture-related industries, including livestock enterprise management, consultancy, animal health, welfare and nutrition, and administrative and sales careers with a wide range of agricultural supply companies. Throughout your training you will develop a wealth of skills that can be easily transferred into almost any graduate or professional employment situation.  

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 our Year in Employment Scheme. 

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn? 

In the first year you will study foundation modules which will prepare you for the study of agriculture during the next three years of your degree.

In the second year you will be introduced to the technologies that are increasingly being developed for and adopted by the agricultural industry. You will examine the major farm animal production systems, agricultural grassland and cereal crops as well as the factors that underpin a range of cropping strategies. You will investigate the factors that influence land use and will gain useful business management skills, including the preparation of farm budgets and the analysis of commodity markets. 

In the third year you will look at the factors that influence animal productivity, health and welfare, efficiency of resource use, financial performance and product quality. You will focus on animal nutrition, anatomy and physiology. 

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 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.

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? 

This course will be delivered through a programme of lectures, seminars, workshops and field visits. You will have numerous opportunities to apply your academic learning in practical activities and workshops. 

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

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

I love the practical aspect of the Animal Science course as well as the interesting lectures. Being able to choose a pathway means we are able to specialize and study what we are most interested in. Being based in Aberystwyth means there is plenty of scope for lambing and farm work alongside my studies. Lewis Wescott

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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