Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Technology

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Agriculture > Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Technology

Course Duration

Full-time: 2 years or 3 years including work placement

Full-time: 2 years or 3 years…Full-time: 2 years or 3 years including work placement

Course Location

Greenmount Campus

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Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Technology

This course, validated by Ulster University, aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills base to allow them to pursue a successful career in the agri-food sector. It will enable graduates to adapt to changing industry needs, whilst ensuring that they are both technically and practically competent. This Foundation Degree is available to study on a full-time or part-time basis.

This course is available to study full or part-time. Part-time students will study the same compulsory modules and select from the same optional modules as per full-time provision.

Course content

The course has four key themes: agriculture production; business management; science technology and mechanisation and work-based learning employability.

Modules (Level 4:Year 1)

Academic and professional skills
Animal science
Arable crop studies
Enterprise studies
Grass forage production and mechanisation
Livestock husbandry health and welfare

Modules Level 5: Year 2

Developments in agriculture
Financial management on the farm
Introduction to organic production
Work-based learning
Plus two module options*:
Farm buildings and mechanisation*
Sustainable pig and poultry production*
Sustainable ruminant production systems*
Sustainable crop production systems*

Work placement

All students are required to undertake a work-based learning placement during which students develop technical and commercial expertise within the agrifood industry. Students have the option to either take a full year out on work-based learning or they can undertake a short placement which is achieved through a period of relevant work amounting to at least 400 hours.

Placement opportunities are available in the UK, Ireland and overseas for example: New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada.

Part-time students must also complete a placement but may be eligible to apply for accredited prior learning (APL).

Course Progression

Students who meet the necessary requirements can apply for entry on to the final year of the BSc (Hons) Degree in Sustainable Agriculture at CAFRE, following the successful completion of a Bridging Studies programme. Students may also be eligible to apply to other BSc (Hons) Degree courses.

There are career opportunities in farm management, marketing, sales, contracting and consultancy.

Fees and funding support

For information about fees and funding support click here.

Course Entry Requirements

Students should normally have at least 48 UCAS tariff points at A2 Level (including a Science subject)* plus four appropriate GCSEs or equivalent, including English Language and Mathematics at Grade C or above.

*A-Level Chemistry or Biology are preferred but Geography and Technology and other cognate subjects are acceptable, if a Grade C or higher has been achieved in Double Award Science at GCSE level, or a Grade C has been achieved in two separate science subjects at GCSE.

Applicants are normally required to have at least three months relevant practical experience to include livestock husbandry skills and operation of farm machinery in an agri-business.

Students entering with a BTEC qualification should normally have achieved a Merit overall and at least one Distinction achieved in a final year subject.

In addition to meeting the course entry requirements applicants must also meet the General Entrance Requirements for Ulster University

Enhanced entry criteria may be applied subject to demand for this course.

For other qualifications, including Irish Leaving Certificate, please consult the UCAS website Tariff Tables.

Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Foundation Level are not considered as meeting entry requirements for CAFRE programmes. If you require guidance on entry qualifications please email the Key Contact for this course.

How to apply

To apply to study full-time on the Foundation Degree please follow this link to the UCAS website

To apply to study part-time on the Foundation Degree please follow this link.

UCAS Course Code

Institution code: A45 Course code: 004D

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Greenmount Campus

Greenmount Campus is the centre of all things green – that’s agricultural, horticultural and environmental providing an idyllic rural setting for your land-based studies.

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Accommodation

Agriculture facilities

Horticulture facilities

Land-based Engineering facilities

Veterinary Nursing facilities

Floristry facilities

This course is validated by:

For information on student bursaries:

Shaping the future of Higher Education with:

Adam Sossick
Student

"I live on a small holding and have my own batch of Texel crossbred store lambs. I fatten them over the winter months, which assists with my grassland management strategy for the farm. Studying at Greenmount Campus is enabling me to develop my knowledge to grow my career opportunities both on and off the farm".