Extended FdSc Agriculture

Course Details

  • Department

    Agriculture
  • Qualification

    Level 5
  • Course Type

    Full Time
  • Length

    3 Years
  • Location(s)

    York

Course at a glance

This introductory year will get you ready for level 4 study within the agricultural industry and is ideal for career changers, applicants who are just getting started in the agriculture sector or if applicants do not meet the entry requirements for the FdSc programme.

UCAS Code

D4U7

Awarding Body: Askham Bryan College

Centre Code

A70

What you will learn

The course will provide learners with underpinning knowledge of livestock husbandry, environmental conservation, and business. There will be an emphasis on the development of communication, academic writing and teamworking skills, and practical skills such nutrition formulation and welfare assessment. Work placement forms an essential part of the course allowing on the job training and development of further skills to make students more employable.

University Centre Askham Bryan has access to the 238-hectare Home Farm, which houses a milking herd of 200 cows, which are milked through a rapid exit parlour and a DeLaval Robot, a state-of-the-art high welfare precision beef facility in which students will actively participate in the use of the latest precision-livestock equipment, research, and industry engagement and a commercial flock of 200 breeding ewes.

Crops grown on the grade 2 arable land, include wheat, sugar beet and maize, using the latest precision field technology and variable rate application techniques and software to maximise arable returns and the production of high-quality forage to improve the performance and returns of the dairy and livestock enterprises.

The Farm also features a new £2.4 million Agri-Tech Innovation Centre dedicated to advanced agricultural and engineering training, the DeLaval Digital Farm and robotic milker which provides live data for analysis and interpretation of dairy cow performance.

On-farm data from the different enterprises is also drawn together using the latest Map of Agriculture software to provide live updates on what is occurring on the farm, the level of inputs and physical performance of the different enterprises’ adding to the learning experience and knowledge of the students on the EFdSc Agriculture Course.

 

 

 

 

Cattle Unit

Year 1 Modules

  • Introduction to Animal Health
  • Fundamentals of Biological Sciences
  • Principles of Laboratory Work
  • Introduction to Research
  • Academic and Professional Skills
  • Introduction to Agri-Business

Year 2 Modules

  • Introduction to Agri-Business
  • Environmental Management in Agriculture
  • Agricultural Mechanisation
  • Livestock Health
  • Crop Production
  • Academic Writing and Research

Year 3 Modules

  • Research Skills – Agriculture
  • Applied Agri-Business
  • Livestock Production
  • Crop Production Management
  • Continuous Professional Development

Level 5 Options (Choose one):

  • Livestock Feeding
  • Agronomy

Key Information

Applicants should have achieved 5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English and Maths. In addition, applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of one year of Level 3 study and/or have significant industry experience. Equivalent qualifications in lieu of GCSEs may be considered. Consideration is also given to applicants who have significant industry experience, but have no formal qualifications. Applications from mature candidates are welcomed.

 

Applicants without formal qualifications may be asked to undertake an initial assessment of literacy and numeracy as part of the interview process. Further information on student fees and finance can be found at www.slc.co.uk

On successful completion of the FdSc Agriculture, students may wish to consider progressing on to the University Centres BSc (Hons) Agricultural Management Top Up. Allowing students to graduate with a BSc (Hons) Degree.

Alternatively, students may wish to consider careers in a variety of industries focused on livestock health and management as well as crop health and management.

Alternatively, students may wish to consider careers in a variety of industries focused on livestock health and management as well as crop health and management.

UK, Isle of Man and Channel Isles Students on BSc Honours Degree/ BSc Ordinary Degree/ BSc Top up/ Foundation Degree/ Extended Foundation Degree – £9,000

Please note that the fee status of each applicant will be assessed prior to any offer being made (Home Fee or Overseas/International Fee). Where required further information may be requested ensure the correct fee status is allocated. For further information about on studying in the UK and fee status, please visit UKCISA

Non-Home (Overseas Students) on Honours Degree/ Ordinary Degree/ Foundation Degree/ Extended Foundation Degree – £14,000

This programme requires students to undertake 300 hours of work placement, with 150 completed each academic year.

Work placement is completed with an external employer which is arranged by the student. Such placements include farm hand, NFU, trainee agronomist, auction mart, feed mill etc. All work placements are subject to a health and safety check by the college to ensure that placements are suitable and safe. Support can be made available via the module tutor to help locate a suitable placement.

If you are already working in the sector, it may be possible to APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) this element of the course. Evidence of such employment will be needed, outlining duties etc for consideration at the APL panel, where applications will be considered on an individual basis. If you have any queries in relation to this, then please contact the University Centre team directly.

Assessment

 

Assessments will be designed to give students the opportunity of performing tasks that they would be asked to do in employment.

 

In addition to tuition fees and accommodation if applicable. Students will need to budget for some extra costs as part of this course, which you will need to pay for yourself.

Below is a link to a list with approximate additional course cost to help with your budgeting.

Additional Course Costs (UCAB)

International Trip Opportunities

Our students get great opportunities for study trips abroad to experience some amazing places such as Borneo, South Africa, Bangkok, Tenerife and even sunny South Wales.

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