BSc (Hons) Rural Entrepreneurship & Enterprise
If you are interested in starting, developing or diversifying a business or social enterprise but need to develop the knowledge, skills or mindset to make this a reality then the BSc (Hons) Rural Entrepreneurship and Enterprise is the degree you have been searching for. Over the course of the degree you will come to understand how to start and operate successful ventures in a wide range of contexts. All the while you will receive guidance from specialist lecturers, practising entrepreneurs, and industry mentors.
Course overview
The BSc (Hons) in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise will help you to build highly effective enterprises which focus on the development of value for your consumers.
Taught elements of the degree will give you a solid grounding in the fundamentals of operating a business, with a focus on the entrepreneurial and the strategic skills needed to realise ideas in dynamic, international markets. Practical components will focus on teaching you how to design, develop and finance your venture and give you opportunities to put this learning into practice.
All of which means that you will graduate with the ability to start your own company in a wide range of markets or bring entrepreneurial thinking to an established organisation.
As a Centre of Excellence for Entrepreneurship, the University has a long history of supporting entrepreneurs, especially within the rural economy. This means that students will have access to our award-winning extra curricula Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme, funding to start their businesses, mentoring and hot-desking space to help them get started.
You will attend networking events, gain contacts through our alumni network, and have the opportunity to take part in a range of trips and activities to broaden your perspective.
Upon successful completion of the degree you may also receive the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 6 Diploma in Management and Leadership and the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) Professional Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. Also, annual membership to CMI is free for one year after graduation.
Work placement
In the second year of the degree programme, you will apply and develop your expertise during a 15-week work placement. Not only could you find yourself working for prestigious companies in the UK or across the world, you will also develop your confidence and make a range of industry contacts.
Start-up Visa
The Royal Agricultural University is an endorsing institution under the Home Office’s Start-up visa route. The Start-up visa is for graduates who demonstrate high entrepreneurial potential and wish to start a business in the UK for the first time.
The Start-up visa is administered by the University’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme and facilitated by School of Business and Entrepreneurship. To be endorsed for the Start-up visa by The RAU, you must be an RAU student or graduate, and have taken part in the University’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme. Contact enterprise@rau.ac.uk for further information.
Accreditations and partnerships
We are delighted to work with a wide range of businesses, partners, and accreditation organisations, some of which are shown below:
Course content
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).
Modules are assessed through a blend of examinations and coursework, including real-life case studies, presentations and reports. This course is professionally accredited by the Chartered Management Institute.
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.
Year one
- 1033 Business Finance
- 1236 Entrepreneurship in Action
- 1400 Developing Academic Skills
- 1414 Principles of Marketing
- 1415 Global Business Environment
- 1416 Idea Development and Validation
- 1417 Business Informatics
- 1418 People and Organisations
Year two
- 2023 Financial Management
- 2032 Marketing Management
- 2267 Introduction to Research Skills
- 2316 Personal and Professional Development Skills
- 2317 Industry Placement
- 2344 Professional sales practice
- 2347 Venture Growth and Development
- 2350 Business Strategy
Year three
- 3082 International business issues
- 3328 Business Transition Strategy
- 3300 Dissertation
- 3314 Strategic management
- 3315 Managing Innovation
- 3316 Changing Consumer Behaviour
Plus a choice of TWO electives selected from:
- 3041 Corporate Finance
- 3242 Negotiation in Business
- 3317 International Marketing
- 3318 Inspiring Change in Policy and Practice
- 3323 Food Ethics and Governance
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
- Business development
- Business management
- Sales executive
- Commodity trading
- Supply chain manager
- Data analyst
"If you are a young person thinking about university, I would definitely recommend the Royal Agricultural University. Students here have great mentors and teachers - it starts here."
Levi Roots, Founder, Reggae, Reggae Sauce, Guest Speaker
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 CCC) – minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points (to include at least two A-Levels or equivalent qualifications)
- C&G Advanced Technical/BTEC - Level 3 Extended Diploma (1080) at Merit-Merit-Merit
- C&G NPTC/C&G Advanced Technical/BTEC - Level 3 Diploma (720), Extended Certificate (360) and 90-Credit Diploma (540) acceptable when accompanied by other Level 3 qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: 26 points
- Access to Higher Education: 45 credits at level 3, of which a minimum of 15 must be awarded at Distinction and 15 at Merit or higher (Pass at Functional Skills level 2 are accepted in lieu of GCSE English & Mathematics)
Other level 3 qualifications will be considered.
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.
If you don't meet the entry requirements of this degree, you may be eligible for one of our Foundation degree courses or another related degree course.
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.