Graduate Diploma in Agriculture
This intensive course in agriculture is unique to the Royal Agricultural University and provides an opportunity for graduates or professionals in other disciplines to re-direct their careers towards agricultural and associated rural industries.
Course overview
This is a unique opportunity to create your own bespoke, agriculture focussed, course in a way that will help you realise your ambitions, whether you are a student who has already graduated or a professional with plans to advance your career in the rural industries.
Not only will you gain a detailed understanding of the UK agricultural industry, you will be given practical rural skills training.
It is likely that you will have already acquired elsewhere a range of intellectual and transferable skills. However, this programme enables you to:
- Demonstrate your commitment to the notion of continuing learning
- Utilise your existing skills in pursuit of new knowledge and understanding
- Develop new professional skills applicable to agriculture, farming and land management
While many graduates find work as farm managers, farm assurance scheme officers and agricultural consultants, to name a few, others wish to progress onto a Masters course.
Read more about the farms that we learn from.
Course content
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.
Here at the RAU we are always looking for ways to better support our students. We recognise that a number of our students may be working or have caring responsibilities alongside studying which can sometimes make it difficult to attend every teaching session in person. As such we have the ability for you to join lectures and seminars through an alternative digital format in prior discussion with your programme leader. Please note that for international students on a student visa you are expected to attend your classes in person. Remote delivery is not an UKVI authorised mode of attendance for the taught element of your course and therefore non-attendance would affect your student visa.
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: Explore the basic principles of animal and crop anatomy, physiology and nutrition required for product yield and quality
- 2372 Animal Health and Welfare: Learn how animal health and welfare can be scientifically assessed using frameworks and assessment tools to compare different UK animal agriculture systems
- 2373 Agronomy: Discuss the agronomic factors which are involved in the production of crops in regenerative, integrated, conventional and sustainable farming systems
- 3337 Sustainable Farm Management: Create a farm system in accordance with a specific agricultural approach
Students must then select four further level 6 modules from the selection below:
- 3090 Forestry and Woodland Management: Explore the significance of forestry in climate mitigation, timber production and farm diversification
- 3098 Countryside & Environmental Management: Review and evaluate the scale and rates of change in the countryside/land management sector
- 3239 Crop Health and Protection: Understand the impact that climate change has on natural resources like water, soil and biodiversity internationally
- 3323 Food Ethics and Governance: Explore different ethics frameworks and how they inform decision making about food
- 3329 Climate Change and Natural Resource Challenges: Understand the impact that climate change has on natural resources like water, soil and biodiversity internationally
- 3330 Technology and Agroecology Innovation: Explore the role of technology, innovation and agroecology in addressing sustainability challenges on farms and throughout the supply chain
- 3331 Food Supply Systems and Policy: Look at the influence of consumers on food systems and the role of policy
- 3333 Wildlife Behaviour & Evolution: Understand the basic principles of animal evolution
- 3338 Agronomy Challenges and Solutions: Discuss opportunities and challenges in the cropping sector through study visits and talks from industry leaders
- 3339 Livestock System Challenges and Solutions: Review livestock farming systems and their impact on the economy, society and the environment
- 4744 Organic and Regenerative Systems: Understand the agroecological principles and practices of organic and regenerative systems
- 4727 Managing Global Soils in a Changing Environment
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.
Careers and graduate destinations
- Farm managers
- Agricultural commodity sales/trading
- Agricultural consultants
- Agricultural research/trials officer
- Farm assurance scheme officers
- Livestock feed analysis
- Crop agronomy
"We need to change our food and farming systems in the face of climate change. The GDA programme at the RAU is a perfect opportunity to embark on a career in this space. It is a fascinating, intense and immersive experience."
Brad Currin, Student
Entry requirements
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.
Fees
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.
2025-26 Applicants
For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for this course are:
UK | Overseas** | |
---|---|---|
Full-time | £9,535 per year | £16,950 per year |
Part-time | £4,768 per year | N/A |
** 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 and are subject to Government and regulatory body conditions.
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.
Apply now for September 2025 entry
Applications to study for postgraduate degrees need to be made directly through the University using the online application form via the website.
Alternatively, if you are unable access the online form you can call Admissions on 01285 889 912, or email admissions@rau.ac.uk.
We recommend applicants keep a copy of the completed form for their records.
Application deadline, September entry:
- EU and overseas applicants should submit their application by 30 June 2025 at the latest
- UK applicants should aim to submit their applications the latest by 1 September 2025
Results deadline, September entry:
- EU and overseas applicants will need to meet their conditions by 1 August 2025
- UK applicants will need to meet their conditions by 15 September 2025
If you are applying for a 2025 Chevening Scholarship you can submit your scholarship application prior to receiving a course offer. Further details can be found on the application timeline and eligibility criteria sections on the Chevening website.
Applicants will be notified via email once a decision has been made and decision letters will be emailed to you. If there is a deadline by which applicants must accept an offer of admission or pay a deposit, this will be stated in the offer letter.
Requests to defer the year of entry will be considered only when an applicant holds an Unconditional offer and need to be submitted in writing to the admissions team. We cannot guarantee that requests will be granted. Decisions on deferral requests are considered:
- For September entry at the end of August
If the deferral request is granted applicants will receive a new offer letter with tuition fees which are applicable to their year of entry, at the opening of the next admissions cycle.