BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Business Management (Foundation Year)
Become a multi-skilled graduate with a thorough grounding in agricultural and equine developments, equine science, business including marketing, finance, law and negotiating skills.
Course overview
This degree course with a foundation year incorporates an extra year of study at the start of your course, so that you can progress with confidence. It will develop the skills you need for your later studies. It is particularly suitable if:
- You don’t have the grades for immediate entry onto a three-year course
- You have non-traditional qualifications or experience
- You’re starting university after some time away from education
- You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study
You will also delve into the changing dynamics of the UK horse industry, the second largest economy in the rural sector. Throughout the degree you will benefit from internationally recognised visiting speakers from all areas of the equine industry, and gain knowledge in international equine business and science, covering Northwest Europe, and the USA.
With a work placement built into the course and our powerful network of graduates it’s no wonder our students have gone on to secure work in the UK and abroad at prestigious companies such as Weatherbys, Volac International Dairy Nutrition, Haygain and Horse and Hound.
Work placement
You will complete a 15-week work placement in the third year of the course which develops key transferable skills and helps you to gain industry contacts even before you graduate. This is an excellent opportunity to develop a range of links within the growing equine, agriculture and business industries.
Please note that a foundation year is not the same as a foundation degree (FdSc). A foundation year will usually lead onto a three-year degree course, whereas a foundation degree is a standalone qualification generally studied for two years.
Course content
Our students have benefitted from trips to leading racing businesses and organisations locally, in Southern Ireland and North West Europe gaining insight directly from the mouths of world-leading organisations.
More locally students have also taken advantage of equine organisations such as the famous Cheltenham Racecourse, and the Blue Cross Rescue Centre.
Being based in Gloucestershire you will be able to tap into a wealth of equine companies right on your doorstep and within the UK such as the British Racing School, Newmarket Equine Hospital, Kubler Racing, and the Blue Cross Rescue Centre.
Timetables
Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and societies activities.
Modules
Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Each credit equates to 10 hours of total study time. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.
Full-time students normally take modules worth 60 credits per 15 week semester but this can vary depending on your elective choice. Part-time students taking proportionally fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for your degree is based on marks obtained for modules taken at level 5 and level 6 (weighted 30:70 accordingly).
The modules available for this degree 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.
Foundation year
The Foundation year will provide a common core of academic and study skills sufficient to prepare you for subsequent study and academic success at undergraduate level. It will give core underpinning knowledge, skills and understanding in key areas of contemporary issues, provide underpinning subject-related skills and knowledge in key areas required for undergraduate study, including Mathematics, Numeracy and IT. It will also provide generic skills and academic knowledge to support your confidence and discipline as appropriate for higher education study and give subject-specific grounding, in terms of research topics and study focus, to support progression into degree level study in your chosen degree.
- 0IFY1 Managing Landscape
- 0IFY2 Digital Skills
- 0IFY3 Rural Business Skills
- 0IFY4 Land Related Studies
- 0IFY5 Change in the Countryside
- 0IFY6 Enterprise and Marketing
- 0IFY7 Environment and Conservation Data Handling
- 0IFY8 Agriculture and Farming
Year one
- 1005 Livestock Science
- 1007 Soil and Environmental Science
- 1010 Equine Industry 1
- 1033 Business Finance
- 1054 Introduction to Food Production
- 1248 Equine Bioveterinary Science 1
- 1400 Developing Academic Skills
- 1415 Global Business Environment
Year two
- 2019 Farm Enterprise Management
- 2069 Rural Business Enterprise
- 2166 Equine Business Finance and Taxation
- 2231 International Agri-Business Marketing
- 2316 Personal and Professional Development Skills
- 2317 Industry Placement
- 2319 Equine Law, Ethics & Research
Plus a choice of ONE elective selected from:
- 2253 Equine Bioveterinary Science 2
- 2254 Equine Nutrition and Training
Year three
- 3003 International Equine Industry
- 3006 Emerging Agri-food Issues
- 3036 Advanced Equine Business Management
- 3241 Advances in Equine Science & Industry Developments
- 3300 Research Project / Dissertation
Plus a choice of TWO electives selected from:
- 3020 Advanced Crop Production
- 3034 Marketing Communications
- 3058 Equine Behaviour and Welfare
- 3059E Equine Genetics
- 3078 Equine Performance Nutrition (only if 2254 was studied in Year 2)
- 3081 Consumer Behaviour
- 3200 Equine Health
- 3206 Equine Breeding Management
- 3240 Contemporary Media Studies
- 3242 Negotiation in Business
- 3325 Rural Entrepreneurship
The availability of electives to individual students will be dependent on timetabling considerations and on sufficient students electing to take part.
* Optional additions to the course will incur additional charges
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
- Bloodstock agent
- Event manager
- Equine journalist
- Racehorse trainer
- Farm quality control officer
- Equine insurance
"I remember doing exercises where we took old farm yards and thought how could we develop this as an equestrian business and that's something I've actually gone on and done".
Dan Kubler, Graduate
Entry requirements
Typical offers
Required: GCSE minimum five GCSEs at Grade C/4 including English Language and Mathematics (or Maths Numeracy for Welsh applicants) plus satisfactory level 3 qualifications:
- A-Level: (Example grades EEE) – minimum of 48 UCAS tariff points from level 3 qualifications
- C&G Advanced Technical/BTEC - Level 3 Extended Diploma (1080) at Pass-Pass-Pass
- International Baccalaureate: 24 points
- Access to Higher Education: Pass course with 45 credits at level 3 (Pass in Functional Skills level 2 are accepted in lieu of GCSE English & Mathematics)
Visit the UCAS website to calculate your UCAS Tariff points from the qualifications and grades achieved.
You may also be eligible for a contextual offer if you’re from one of our link colleges, have been in care, from a non-white ethnic background, live in an area with low progression rates to university or you are a veteran/child of an armed forces family.
Flexible entry
The University welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. A wide range of qualifications and experience are accepted in order to join University degree programmes. The University always considers evidence of personal, professional (APL) and educational experience, (APEL), which show an ability to meet the demands of their intended programme of study.
Further information
Alternative entry routes are available for a range of other qualifications. Prior experience is also considered, subject to approval by the programme manager and admissions staff.
Read more general information about our entry requirements.
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.
For any further help, please contact our admissions team:
- Email: admissions@rau.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)1285 889912
Fees
2023-24 Applicants
For the academic year 2023-24 the tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,250 per year | £13,900 per year |
For part-time study, please contact admissions@rau.ac.uk for further information.
Please also refer to the funding your time at university page.
Tuition fees may be subject to an inflationary increase each year as set out in our Access and Participation Plan 2019/20.
If you are an Irish national you can check if you meet the requirements for Home Fees. Please visit the UKCISA website and consult the pdf guide “England HE – who pays Home Fees”. First check category ‘3 years in Republic of Ireland/UK/Islands, settled in UK’ or ‘Brexit temporary offer for courses starting before 2028: Irish citizens with residence in Europe or overseas territories’. You will possibly need to be fee assessed when you submit an application for study to the RAU.
Scholarships
The University offers a wide range of generous fee waivers and bursaries. To find out more about the these, please visit the bursaries, awards and scholarships page.
Ready to take the plunge? Apply now
Applications should be made by the UCAS deadline to ensure we are able to offer you a place on your first choice course. However, if you have missed the deadline please contact Admissions@rau.ac.uk as there are usually places available.
If you would like to apply during UCAS Extra or Clearing, please check that we have places available.
Applicants wishing to study on a course on a part-time basis will need to apply directly to the RAU.
Please contact admissions@rau.ac.uk to discuss your requirements and obtain an application form.