BSc (Hons) Agriculture

a minimum of 220 UCAS Tariff points achieved by two or more A Level passes (A2 level subjects or a double award Advanced VCE) (Advanced Higher and Highers for Scottish students) or a BTEC National Diploma with a Merit profile or a BTEC National Certificate with Distinctions.

The College also welcomes applications from students on Level 3 Diploma programmes (with a Distinction profile) and Level 3 Extended Diploma programmes (with a Merit profile), introduced as part of the recent nationwide ‘QCF’ curriculum restructure.

For Irish students, 4 grade 'B' and 'C' Highers in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent.

Transferable/Key Skills, AS levels and Scottish Intermediate 2s may be used to contribute to entry requirements but they are not sufficient for entry on their own. Alternative equivalent qualifications will also be treated positively.

Consideration will be given to non-traditional qualifications and relevant work experience. Applicants are encouraged to produce evidence of their potential to benefit from the course. Applicants who believe they may be eligible for Accreditation of Prior Certificated and/or Experiential Learning (APCL/APEL) for certain modules will be considered on an individual basis.

First Year

• Animal Science: Physiology, anatomy, behaviour and health of livestock. 
• Essential Soil Science: The module provides the underpinning knowledge and understanding of soil science, sufficient for students who do not progress to a further study of soil science, to be able to recognise soil properties (in both soil samples and in the field) and their influence on plant growth and development. 
• Essential Plant Biology: This module aims to provide students with the essential knowledge of plant biology needed to allow successful management of their growth and development. 
• UK Agriculture: The present situation and systems used in the UK for agricultural production. 
• Animal Health: This module introduces the principles of animal health and what the implications of health are for their welfare state. 
• Livestock Production: This module will provide students with a sound technical base of livestock production techniques. 
• Principles of Crop Production: Gives an introduction into the principles of growing a range of agricultural crops covering the establishment, nutrition, protection, harvesting and storage of crops. 
• Data Handling: This module is intended to introduce students to scientific methodology, experimental philosophy, writing styles, data collection and handling, results presentation techniques and some key statistical methods.

• Farmland Ecology: Ecology of animals and plants and strategies for their conservation. Looks at the impact of agriculture on farmland biodiversity. 
• World Food Supply and Production: Investigates the current position of food supply in the world, the long term implications to UK agriculture and the range of farming systems used throughout the world. 
• Business Planning: Develops a working knowledge of techniques used to enable appropriate decisions to be made within the areas of finance, human resources and marketing. 
• Research Methods: The module will examine, experimental design, the validity of the findings, who is carrying out research and into what areas. Experimental design will be taught so that data and observations can be assessed for accuracy and reliability. The appropriateness of investigational methods will be explored together with suitable data analytical techniques. Methods of reporting the results of scientific investigations will be appraised. 
• Alternative Forage Crop Production: This module explores some of the issues and techniques used to manage this resource to benefit both farmers and wildlife. 
• Breeding and Genetics: Principles of animal breeding and genetics. 
• Animal Nutrition: Principles of animal nutrition.

• Research Project: (double module) An in-depth research investigation. An opportunity to use the theoretical, laboratory design and analysis and information gathering skills developed throughout the course. 
• Advances in Sustainable Land Use: This module will explore the issues surrounding the production of alternative resources that modern society requires and critically evaluate the impacts that changes in rural land use has on environmental change. 
• Rural Issues and Policy: Will enable students to investigate ways of enabling rural businesses to be sustainable within the maelstrom of government legislation. 
• Development in Livestock Technology: Recent advances in breeding and manipulation, health enhancement and technologies associated with livestock production.
• Feeding for Profit: Looks at ways of maximising the nutritional input to dairy cows whilst minimising the costs.