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The agriculture sector is a key driver of economic productivity and growth in the United Kingdom. Recently, the UK government declared agriculture one of the fastest-growing fields. In the third quarter of 2024 alone, the UK’s GDP increased to £4242 million, as reported by Trading Economics.
The UK boasts a rich agricultural history and access to exceptional technical resources and is home to the best agricultural training institutes. These institutes offer specialised courses in the agricultural domain that take months to years to complete. As reported by Talent.com, agriculture grads from the top UK universities make an average annual salary of £35,000. These agrologists can work both in farming businesses and international agriculture research.
If you want to kick-start your career in agriculture in 2025, you should enroll yourself in an agriculture course offered by the universities we listed in this article.
A List of the 7 Best Agricultural Training Institutes in the UK
Working in agriculture can promise a fulfilling future for many people in the UK. As per SI-UK, around 20,000 students are studying agriculture-related courses as of now. This rise in agriculture studies is due to the industry’s insistence on lowering the average age of UK farmers from 59 to 58. That is why more and more younger people are being encouraged to enter the farming and agriculture sector.
Let’s now discuss the details of the trending institutes that offer exceptional courses in the farming, agriculture and forestry domain. All the statistics of this top list of agricultural colleges in the UK have been taken from the QS Top Universities:
1. University of Reading
Employer Reputation: 79.2
Academic Reputation: 77
International Research/Global Engagement: 63.1
Description
This is among the top 30 universities in the United Kingdom that offer all-encompassing courses in the field of agriculture and forestry to national and international students. The talented student community of this university usually earns the top earning positions in the country in the agriculture sector.
The B.Sc. agriculture degree offered by this institute studies production in the supply chain in detail. Furthermore, it prepares students for different senior roles in a wide range of agricultural enterprises.
Entry Requirements
The general entry requirements for students to be admitted to a BSc Agriculture degree at The University of Reading are mentioned below:
- A-level: BBB, there should be one science subject with an A
- IB Diploma: Must have 30 overall points and one acceptable scientific subject at a higher level
Since the entry requirements are a bit complicated, students find it hard to secure admission here. Even if they do, managing the grind of academic assignments becomes tough to manage. If you ever find yourself in this situation, feel free to ask for help the experts at an assignment writing service in the UK to manage your academic workload.
International Fee
£9,535 for UK and £29,950 for international students
2. University of Nottingham
Employer Reputation: 73.9
Academic Reputation: 58.8
International Research/Global Engagement: 71.7
Description
The University of Nottingham is a member of the Russell Group and is known worldwide for its top-notch research facilities. Its courses combine a core programme of animal and crop production with marketing and business management.
In the BSc agriculture degree offered by this university, the students can flexibly focus on their individual areas of interest.
Entry Requirements
The general entry requirements for students to be admitted to a BSc Agriculture degree at The University of Nottingham are mentioned below:
- IB Score: 30 (there should be a score of 5 in any of the higher-level science-based subjects)
- A-level: BBB also must include a science-based subject
International Fee
£9,250 for UK students and around £17,000 to £25,000 per year for international students
3. The University of Edinburgh
Employer Reputation: 74.5
Academic Reputation: 57.9
International Research/Global Engagement: 76.8
Description
This is a Scottish university with varied resources and excellent facilities currently benefitting a strong international community of around 13,000 students. In the agriculture and food security courses offered by this university, students generally learn how to address the challenges of achieving sustainable food security in the 21st century.
They can also learn with the exceptional scientific methods needed to learn the dimensions of varied food systems. Apart from all of this, they go through the socioeconomic theories needed to implement productive agricultural policy changes.
Entry Requirements
The general entry requirements for students to be admitted to a BSc Agriculture degree at The University of Edinburgh are mentioned below:
- A UK 2:1 honour degree in agriculture or equivalent
- A-levels: AVV
- IB: 32 points, and at HL, applicants should have 655
International Fee
£9,250 per year for national students while roughly between £26,500 and £37,500 for international students.
4. University of Leeds
Employer Reputation: 66.8
Academic Reputation: 53.5
International Research/Global Engagement: 67
Description
This is one of the top 100 universities in the UK, and it is renowned around the globe for its teaching style and research quality. The researchers at The University of Leeds are looking for ways to increase agricultural revenue in the changing environment. They also encourage students to write descriptive language on different research topics.
The courses offered by this institute are focused on reducing farmers’ reliance on nitrogen-based fertilisers. Also, you can learn about the development of Agri-systems for the navigation of complex agricultural situations.
Entry Requirements
The general entry requirements for students to be admitted to a BSc Agriculture degree at The University of Leeds are mentioned below:
- A bachelor’s degree with at least a 2:1 in honours degree or an international equivalent of the same
- At least grade A* to C/ 9-4 in English at GCSE or equivalent
International Fee
£9,250 for UK students and £14,850 for international students
5. University of Aberdeen
Employer Reputation: 59.4
Academic Reputation: 55
International Research/Global Engagement: 66.7
Description
If you are interested in the fragility, complexity and potential of soil and plants, then pursuing an agriculture course at the University of Aberdeen is the right choice for you. This is the only program in the UK that focuses on the fascinating world of soil and plants.
Here, you can primarily study the relationship between the fundamental working of biology and specialist training in plant and soil science. You will also be able to learn about the manipulation of plant genomes and increasing their tolerance of pollutants.
Entry Requirements
The general entry requirements for students to be admitted to a BSc Agriculture degree at The University of Aberdeen are mentioned below:
- Standard: AABB or more
- Adjusted: BB and meeting one of the widening criteria for access
- Minimum: BBC or more
- IELTS: A score of 5.5 for speaking, listening and reading and 6.0 or above for writing
International Fee
£9,250 per year for UK students and around £24,800 for international students
6. Harper Adams University
Employer Reputation: 98.8
Academic Reputation: 59
International Research/Global Engagement: 53.4
Description
Harper Adams University is a higher education institute that specialises in rural and agricultural studies. It offers various research opportunities in fields such as animal sciences, environmental management, agriculture, rural estate management and food sciences.
You can also study at the learning spaces located at the Future Farm of the university. Students can establish a life-long network of professional contacts and friends here. This university offers over 50 undergrad, postgrad and foundation degree programs.
Entry Requirements
The general entry requirements for students to be admitted to a BSc Agriculture degree at Harper Adams are mentioned below:
- A-level: 96-112 UCAS points
International Fee
£9,250 per year for UK students, and for international students, it is around £16,500 per year.
7. Newcastle University
Employer Reputation: 66.1
Academic Reputation: 53.5
International Research/Global Engagement: 60.5
Description
Newcastle University is considered a global leader in health and agriculture studies. Their agricultural programs are committed to creativity, innovation and excellence. An agricultural course from this university can provide you with a broad overview of the specialised areas of agriculture, such as animal production sciences, farm business management and agronomy.
Furthermore, the rich curriculum of this university covers a broad range of topics including soil science, nutrition management and plant biology.
Entry Requirements
The general entry requirements for students to be admitted to a BSc Agriculture degree at the Newcastle University are mentioned below:
- A-level: ABB
- IB: 32 points
International Fee
£30,600 per year
Conclusion
We have explored all the details about the 07 best agricultural colleges in the UK for the years 2024-2025. These colleges represent some of the best courses for quality academic training in the field of agriculture. From these institutes, you can earn a degree which can be relevant for getting surveyor, agricultural finance and agrochemical jobs.
Just make sure that you have read the entry requirements and eligibility details of these institutes before you apply for an agricultural course. In case you need help with writing impressive academic projects during the completion of your degree at these universities, hire London-based assignment writing firms. The expert writers can make it a breeze for you to fulfil the requirements of the academic workload you have to deal with.
Lastly, keep yourself prepared to go through the tough selection process of these universities once your application process is over. A degree from these institutes can land you a profitable career in the UK agricultural industry.