HNC Agriculture

This is a husbandry-based programme in production agriculture which, in combination with practical experience, will enable you to take on the running of a farm.

Locations: Aberdeen, Barony, Oatridge, Edinburgh
Study mode: full time (1 year), Part time (2 years)
Subject area: Agriculture
Start date: September 2024
Agency code: 104D

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Course overview

This one-year course will develop your skills and knowledge in crop production, animal production and mechanisation, along with the ability to complete and maintain appropriate records and documents.

You'll also develop an awareness of health and safety, animal welfare and environmental issues directly related to agriculture.

Academic study is supported by practical experience, which will enable you to undertake the running of a farm enterprise as a manager or assistant manager.

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

Two Highers (CC) preferably including a science or geography.

National 5 (A–C) or equivalent pass in English and Maths.

Alternative entry qualifications like a related National Certificate are also accepted.

What you'll learn

The HNC qualification is designed to support learners now and in the future with skills to enable them to thrive in the 21st century workplace. These qualifications provide the adaptability and flexibility learners need to respond to a constantly changing employment and working environment, while supporting life-long learning and multiple career options.

The principle aim of the course is to provide the underpinning principles of modern production systems within farming in the UK. Students will achieve both specific farm practical skills and personal development skills to allow them to gain employment and start a career within the agricultural industry, at farm operator or junior level. This qualification will also allow progression on the pathway of higher level qualifications in Agriculture.

Example modules include:

Principles of Crop Production
Principles of Livestock Production
Professional Practice and Skills
Specialty Farming Systems
Diversified Farming Systems

Student experience

Despite not coming from a farming background, Lawrence Martin always dreamed of working in agriculture.

He studied for an HNC in Agriculture before going on to do a Modern Apprenticeship with Carbeth Home Farm in Balfron. The course gave Lawrence the fundamentals to work on a farm, which allowed him to put what he was learning into practice and gain first-hand experience.

He also says that being the only person in his class who wasn’t from a farming background made him extra keen to keep up and excel from his position on the back foot.

His best memory of his time at SRUC is being selected to show an Angus cow at AgriScot 2017.

Despite not coming from a farming background, Lawrence Martin always dreamed of working in agriculture

Meet the lecturer

Gemma Higgins

Lecturer

Gemma is one of the lecturers for Agriculture at the SRUC Barony Campus. Gemma has worked at the Barony Campus since December 2019 and teaches soils, crops and the environment as well as ICT. Gemma teaches NC, HNC and HND Agriculture students.

Before joining SRUC Gemma was a trials officer for Scottish Agronomy Ltd, a company who carry out trials on combinable crops as well as potatoes. This job involved field work (e.g. crop assessments and sampling, spraying), data entry and attending local RHET events to teach school children about crops.

Gemma has a degree in Agricultural Bioscience and is currently part way through a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary and Higher Education.

John Flanagan

Lecturer

John is Programme Team Leader for Agriculture at the SRUC Barony Campus and combines the role with being an SAC Consultant based in Dumfries.

Originally from Tipperary in Ireland, John has been in or around farming all his life. Before joining SRUC, he was a self-employed farmer, worked for NFU Scotland as a regional policy manager and various other farming positions. His areas of expertise and teaching are livestock health and welfare, Livestock production, grassland and forage production and business management.

John holds a TQFE from Dundee University; a BSc Agriculture (Animal Science) from Aberdeen University; a National Certificate Agriculture from Waterford Institute of Technology; and a LANTRA award in instructional techniques.

Wallace Currie

Lecturer in Agriculture

After graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture in 2018 Wallace decided to further his knowledge in global food production with a MSc in Food Security at Glasgow University, which he completed in 2019. Wanting to gain experience in sales and management he took up a role as management trainee at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

In his free time you will find him working alongside RHET, showing sheep at his local show and working on Rural2Kitchen, his Facebook page that aims to teach the public about food production, sourcing local and introduce you to the people in the sector through his R2Kast podcast.

He believes in integrating practical and theory together to form a ‘big picture’ before focussing in on the theory to really get down to the crux of the matter at hand.

Fees and funding

Eligible full-time students studying HNC 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

HNC Agriculture

Apply now