Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Technology
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
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 and enable them to cope with ongoing challenges and changes within the industry 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.
The course has been developed to meet industry needs with a particular emphasis on developing initiative and the flexibility to adapt to different employment situations, to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to enter the industry at trainee manager/supervisor level. Successful students will be well prepared for employment leaving with skills in production agriculture, business management and science and technology.
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 may have the opportunity to apply for entry to Honours Degree programmes.
There are career opportunities in farming and enterprise management as well as 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.
How to apply
To apply to study full-time on the Foundation Degree please follow this link to the UCAS website
To apply to to study part-time on the Foundation Degree please follow this link to the CAFRE online application system.
UCAS Course Code
Institution code: A45 Course code: 004D
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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Shaping the future of Higher Education with:
Danielle Connolly
Student
"Through the course I am learning about new technologies, farming practices and developing livestock management skills. It is also been a great benefit studying locally, as it has also allowed me to stay close to home and to continue to working on the family farm while studying for my degree."
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