BSc (Hons) Agriculture

Learn about the entire food chain from plough to plate, along with the skills you need for senior management positions within the agriculture industry.

Locations: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Barony
Study mode: Part time (8 years), full time (4 years)
Subject area: Agriculture
Start date: September 2025
Agency code: DN42

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Course overview

This course will teach you about every element of the food production chain, from plough to plate, while at the same time developing skills you can use in senior management positions in national and international agricultural, agri-business, or agri-food industries.

You'll learn how to collect, analyse and evaluate the information you need to tackle problems and make sound decisions. You'll gain an appreciation of the environmental, moral, ethical and legal issues relevant to the agricultural industry today, along with insight into how agriculture interrelates with society.

The degree is awarded by the University of Glasgow and part-time study is available.

Virtual Experience

Take a look around the SRUC Virtual Experience for lots of great student videos and examples of what it’s like to study our courses, along with campus and facility tours.

SRUC holds open days regularly. Visit our listings page for details of our up-coming events.

Entry requirements

Four Highers (BBCC) to include a science or geography.
National 5 (A–C) or equivalent pass in English and Maths.
Alternative entry qualifications, such as a related National Certificate, are also accepted.

Comparable Qualifications:

3 A-Levels BCC, including a science subject or Geography, with GCSE passes in Maths and English.

JCPA plus 4 Irish Leaving Certificate subjects at Higher Level at H3, H3, H3, H3, including a science subject or Geography.

What you'll learn

Tutorials and seminars with researchers and consultants are a key feature of this degree course. You'll study topical issues and the latest technological advances in agricultural science in modules like New Perspectives in Plant Protection and Animal Feed Technology.

As you progress, your interaction with specialist research and consultancy staff will increase. To provide an international perspective, you'll also undertake an overseas study tour based on a relevant theme.

In your fourth year you'll produce a research project in a subject of your choice, drawing together everything you've learned.

Example modules include:

Year 3:

Enterprise Appraisal and Development
Integrated Farming Systems
Economic and Rural Policy
Research Skills and Data Analysis
Professional Agricultural Investigation
Wildcard Elective

Year 4:

Honours Project
Professional Work Placement
Communication in Agriculture
Climate Change Solutions
Topical Issues in Agriculture
Wildcard Elective
Linked Course Elective

Student experience

Having grown up on her family farm in Argyll, Charlotte Mortimer knew her passion was in farming and expanding the business.

"My favourite module so far has been Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship," she says. "We were put into groups and had to create and present our own products and business plan as if we were on Dragons Den.

“I've also built friendships with my peers and lecturers. There has been such a good network of people, and the way the different course cohorts mix really adds to the experience.”

Entering her final year in 2021, Charlotte plans to continue on to a postgraduate qualification.

Overseas study tour

Research projects

"If you’re thinking about studying with SRUC, do it! This is a great degree and it can lead to so many career paths."

Charlotte Mortimer

Meet the lecturer

Craig Davidson

Masters of Science in Agriculture Education

Craig is a former student of Agriculture at our Aberdeen campus. He absolutely loved living on the estate and having the farms, woodland, and all the amenities at his fingertips.

Now based in the Edinburgh Kings Buildings, Craig lectures across our agriculture courses. He’s passionate about interactive, hands-on teaching and loves showing people with little agriculture background where food comes from as well as busting the many myths surrounding agriculture and food production.

View Craig's Pure profile

John Holland

A lecturer for 26 years, John's PhD was on plant herbivore interactions within a complex mosaic of grassland, mire and montane communities

John has always had an interest in and passion for ecology and natural history, particularly in mountain environments. His main research interests are in upland ecosystem services, hill grasslands, agri-environmental management, and farm woodlands and agroforestry.

A guest lecturer for various undergraduate and postgraduate courses, John lectures at the Riverside and Edinburgh campuses and to visiting students at the SRUC farm.

View John's Pure profile

Professor Davy McCracken

PhD in Agricultural Ecology, University of Glasgow, 1990

Davy is Head of our Integrated Land Management Department and Hill & Mountain Research Centre. Based out of SRUC Auchincruive, he regularly visits teams across multiple campuses.

For more than 30 years Davy has worked on farming and wildlife interactions at a European, UK and Scottish level. He is passionate about the essential role hill farmers and crofters have to play in helping to address the ongoing climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.

View Davy's Pure profile

Fees and funding

Eligible full-time students studying BSc (Hons) Agriculture should apply to SAAS for fees and funding. A student loan is also available to help students with living costs.

If you do not apply, you will have to pay your fees yourself and if you have studied at HNC/D/degree level before SAAS may not pay your fees.

More information about funding your course

Find out more about your payment options for this course in our fees and funding section

Fees & funding

Other possible routes to funding

Care experienced bursary: There are a number of bursaries available to care-experienced students studying full time. Find out more from our student funding teams at: registryfunding@SRUC.ac.uk
Discretionary fund
- SAAS student bursary
- Care Experienced Accommodation Grant
- Childcare
- Going further bursary
- RUK bursary (for students from outside Scotland)
- The Gregor Thomas Royan Lamb Bursary for Future Farmers
- Centenary bursary
- Change your path bursary

BSc (Hons) Agriculture

Apply now