BSc (Hons) Rural Entrepreneurship & Enterprise degree

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 wider 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.

To support your personal development the degree also includes a free international study tour to explore how businesses around the world are approaching the changing global economy.

In addition to this trip you will attend networking events, gain contacts through our alumni network, and have the opportunity to take part in a range of additional 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.

International study tour

As part of the first year, 'Entrepreneur in Action' you will be taken on a free international study tour. In the last three years students have visited Spain, Bulgaria and Germany. During these study tours you will visit agri-entrepreneurs and their businesses to learn about how they operate and explore their differing approach to business.

Accreditations and partnerships

We are delighted to work with a wide range of businesses, partners, and accreditation organisations, some of which are shown below:

School of Business and Entrepreneurship

The taught elements of this 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. This means that you’ll graduate with the ability to start your own company in a wide range of markets or, bring entrepreneurial thinking to an established organisation.

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. 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.

How Covid-19 will affect timetables and teaching in 2020.

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 as follows:

Year one

Year two

Sales Management
2023 Financial Management
2032 Marketing Management
2316 Personal and Professional Development Skills
2317 Industry Placement
2345 Venture Strategy
2347 Venture Growth and Development

Year three

Business Transition Strategy
3300 Dissertation
3315 Managing Innovation
3316 Changing Consumer Behaviour
3320 Organising and Organisation

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
3319 Managing Change and Crisis in Organisations
3321 Contemporary Challenges in Managing, Leading and Organising
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.

All the module sheets can be found here.

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.

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.

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.

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 [email protected] for further information.

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.

For any further help, please contact our admissions team:

Email: admissions @rau.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1285 889912

Tuition fees cover the cost of a student’s academic studies. This usually includes teaching costs, registration and examination fees (not repeat or trailing modules, re-sit fees or coursework resubmission). Any costs associated with work placements will be the student's responsibility.

Re-sit examination or coursework re-submission fees are £5 per credit (for a typical 15 credit module, this will total £75)

2021-22 Applicants

For the academic year 2021-22 the tuition fees for undergraduate programmes are:

	UK	EU	International
Full-time	£9,250 per year	£9,250 per year	£11,000 per year

For part-time study, please contact [email protected] 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.

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.

– **Lewis Steer**, Managing Director of The Dartmoor Shepherd Ltd.

Ready to take the plunge? Apply now

Applications to study at the Royal Agricultural University must be made through the UCAS system. This applies to all undergraduate courses.

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] to discuss your requirements and obtain an application form.

Apply for BSc (Hons) Rural Entrepreneurship & Enterprise

Course: BSc (Hons) Rural Entrepreneurship & Enterprise

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