Graduate Diploma in Agriculture

You will complete four compulsory modules, followed by four modules selected from a wide range of undergraduate modules allowing you to tailor the course to meet your career aspirations.

As well as lectures, farm walks and visits, you will work on case studies, assignments, and management projects.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to complete pre-course reading in order to secure a minimum basic knowledge of agriculture and to highlight possible areas of weakness.

The in-person teaching sessions and study tour visit for core modules, for both full time and part time students, are timetabled on a Tuesday each week for the full year (both semesters).  This allows you to fulfil other commitments you may have, such as work, family and interests. 

The modules available for this course are shown below. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Modules

• 1125 Agriscience
• 2372 Animal Health and Welfare
• 2373 Agronomy
• 3337 Sustainable Farm Management

Students must then select four further level 6 modules from the selection below:

• 3090 Forestry and Woodland Management
• 3098 Countryside & Environmental Management
• 3223 Ecological Consultancy
• 3238 Advances in Livestock Nutrition
• 3239 Crop Health and Protection
• 3323 Food Ethics and Governance
• 3329 Climate Change and Natural Resource Challenges
• 3330 Technology and Agroecology Innovation
• 3331 Food Supply Systems and Policy
• 3333 Wildlife Behaviour & Evolution
• 3338 Agronomy Challenges and Solutions
• 3339 Livestock System Challenges and Solutions
• 4278 Organic Systems

The availability of electives to individual students will be dependent on timetabling considerations and on sufficient students electing to take part.

Disclaimer information

The University has established various rules and regulations that you must agree to and follow if you accept an offer to study with us. View our full disclaimer notice.

• Farm managers
• Agricultural commodity sales/trading
• Agricultural consultants
• Agricultural research/trials officer
• Farm assurance scheme officers
• Livestock feed analysis
• Crop agronomy

"It shows you there are ways of making money and ways of making a business work which aren't necessarily the ways you've been brought up with."

Jake Renwick, Student

The Graduate Diploma in Agriculture comprises a programme of study that requires graduate (Honours Degree) level entry or its equivalent, and has learning outcomes that match qualifications at Honours degree level. As a result, the programme is affected by the UK Governments’ policy on Equivalent and Lower Qualifications [ELQ] whereby such students are not eligible for funding support through the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Candidates will normally have a first degree from a discipline other than agriculture, awarded at 2:2 or above. Equivalent overseas and other UK qualifications may be accepted at the discretion of the University.

Applicants of 25 years and over may seek admission on the basis of a curriculum vitae, but evidence of ability to study at degree level, such as proven managerial level experience, is essential.

A period of relevant practical work experience within the agricultural industry is recommended as a means of enhancing understanding of the industry and the relevance of specific modules towards future career goals, but is not a prerequisite of joining the programme.

International students will also need to achieve IELTS Academic or equivalent at the appropriate level for your programme of study. English language requirements for international students.

Tuition fees cover the cost of a student’s academic studies. This usually includes teaching costs, registration and examination fees (not repeat or trailing module fees or dissertation extensions). Students may enter practical farming after completing the programme, although it should be noted that proven practical farming abilities may be required by some employers prior to engaging in direct production agriculture. This can be supported by accessing rural skills training at our John Oldacre Rural Innovation Centre.

2024-25 Applicants

For the academic year 2024-25 the tuition fees for this course are: 

** Please note: International students can study on a part-time basis only if they are in the UK with a different type of visa (other than Student Visa/Tier 4 General) that allows them to undertake part-time study and their visa does not expire prior to the end date of the proposed course of study.

Please contact admissions@rau.ac.uk before you apply to confirm your eligibility.

Tuition fees may be subject to an inflationary increase each year as set out in our Access and Participation Plan 2019/20.

For full details, please visit the fees and funding webpage.

Scholarships

The University offers a range of generous fee waivers and bursaries. To find out more about the scholarships, awards and bursaries available, please visit the scholarships webpage.