Programme Specifications

Agriculture (with integrated year in industry)


1 : Awarding Institution / Body
Aberystwyth University

2a : Teaching Institution / University
Aberystwyth University

2b : Work-based learning (where appropriate)


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

9 month work experience

3a : Programme accredited by
Aberystwyth University

3b : Programme approved by
Aberystwyth University

4 : Final Award
Foundation Degree in Science

5 : Programme title
Agriculture (with integrated year in industry)

6 : UCAS code
D403

7 : QAA Subject Benchmark


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Food and Consumer Sciences 2009



8 : Date of publication


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

September 2017



9 : Educational aims of the programme


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

Graduates with agricultural degrees will have a thorough understanding of crop and animal production methods and of the underpinning scientific, economic and business principles. In particular they will be able to:-
  • Identify technological and economic problems encountered in current production systems;

  • Evaluate new techniques and, where appropriate, apply them to commercial practice;

  • Identify, evaluate and apply relevant scientific principles to production systems;

  • Know how to organise and manage a business for profit;

  • Identify and evaluate public concerns over food production practices and

  • Evaluate the wider consequences of agricultural activities.

The Foundation Degree will have built into its modular structure a number of options that allow for Welsh Medium teaching that meets the need of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

This Foundation degree has an extended work experience placement that allows students to experience the full seasonal nature of agricultural productivity and develop employability skills.

Subject specific skills
  • Apply the skills needed for academic study and enquiry.

  • Evaluate research and a variety of types of information and evidence critically.

  • Critically analyse information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of theory and practice, synthesizing and summarizing the outcomes.

  • Apply strategies for appropriate selection of relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge.

  • Apply knowledge and understanding to address familiar and novel problems.

  • Design an experiment, investigation, survey or other means to test a hypothesis or proposition.

  • Utilise problem-solving skills.

Generic and graduate skills

The following transferable skills will be developed and assessed as part of the course:-

  • Problem solving

  • Research skills

  • Communication

  • Improving own learning and performance

  • Team work

  • Information technology

  • Application of number

  • Personal development and career planning



10 : Intended learning outcomes


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

Overall aim of the scheme To provide students with subject specific, vocational, practical, academic and transferable skills required for a career in Agriculture. To provide an appropriate foundation for progression to a related BSc scheme in Agriculture.

10.1 : Knowledge and understanding


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific factors influencing crop and livestock production

  • Understand how production systems can be improved by manipulation and management and recognise and address the ethical and environmental implications of production systems

  • Understand the policy and socioeconomic factors which form and influence systems

  • Describe and evaluate a wide range of economic and business management theory and techniques relevant to agriculture

  • Apply and evaluate a range of specific scientific and technological processes relevant to the on-farm physical and/or financial environment

  • Apply the principles of a safe working environment and underline importance of health and safety at work

  • Demonstrate a range of transferable skills including initiative, independence and commercial awareness

Learning and Teaching

Lectures; tutorials; 9 month industrial placement; field based excursions; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; field based and laboratory practicals; role play; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; and either an investigation leading to a research proposal or advanced practical skills leading to certification by a relevant lead body.

Assessment Strategies and Methods Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a research proposal; assessment based on real life problems with employer involvement.


10.2 : Skills and other attributes


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

10.2.1: Intellectual Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

  • Apply the skills needed to contextualise academic study and enquiry within a vocational career

  • Select and use appropriate and relevant information from a wide range of sources in order to gain an understanding of theory and practice.

  • Undertake investigative case studies to evaluate issues and changing situations.

  • Apply knowledge and understanding to address and solve problems.

  • Demonstrate experience of working in a professional environment.

Learning and Teaching

Lectures; tutorials; 9 month industrial placement; field based excursions; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; field based and laboratory practicals; role play; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; and either an investigation leading to a research proposal or advanced practical skills leading to certification by a relevant lead body

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a research proposal; assessment based on practical problems with employer involvement.

10.2.2: Professional practical skills (where applicable)

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

  • Design, apply and interpret the outcomes of a range of study techniques.

  • Plan, conduct, and report on investigations, including the use of secondary data.

  • Collect, record, summarise and interpret data from GIS, laboratory or field work/excursions using appropriate techniques.

  • Plan and manage practical work in the field with due regard to health and safety.

  • Apply appropriate agricultural solutions to a range of situations.

  • Applying Agriculture principles, methods, approaches, concepts, skills and/or theories in a professional context, as well as understanding the challenges of working in a professional environment

Learning and Teaching

Professional skills are acquired and developed during the mandatory work experience period. Additional skills are addressed in the Science and Technology in Agriculture module as well as during practical work, field visits, class activities and the optional Advanced Practical Skills module where standard industry certification body qualifications are undertaken. Students spend time on an extended work experience placement that allows for additional professional training and certification to take place.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Coursework, the submission of reports, business management plans, feed analysis, crop management reports, practical precision farming exercises, and in media such as posters, leaflets and worldwide web sites. Students will be provided with real life scenarios that include crop plots where critical management decisions are taken as a pedagogic tool. Students are expected to make critical reference to the application of practical skills in their written examinations. The research proposal (optional) should develop skills in conceiving and planning laboratory/field investigations or case studies, in the collection and recording of library, laboratory or field data and how to summarise it using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative techniques.



10.3 : Transferable/Key skills


Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

  • Communicate to a range of different audiences, including academics, practitioners, special interest groups and the wider public using a range of communication techniques.

  • Undertake practical work and show an awareness of the health and safety issues related to working in the agricultural industry.

  • Apply information technology, numeric techniques and analysis of data to a variety of tasks.

  • Analyse problems and develop appropriate solutions.

  • Improve their own performance and plan their personal development.

  • Professionalism and an understanding of commercial pressures

Learning and Teaching

Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and related to relevant assessments as appropriate. Students further learn and develop skills through tutorials / seminars; problem-based learning scenarios; practical workshops; self-directed learning, oral presentations, continuous assessment of practical skills and team work in the field, and work experience. Employability related skills are developed during the work placement period.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and related to relevant assessments as appropriate. Students further learn and develop skills through tutorials / seminars; problem-based learning scenarios; practical workshops; self-directed learning, oral presentations, continuous assessment of practical skills and team work in the field, and work experience.



11 : Program Structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards



FDSC Agriculture (with integrated year in industry) [D403]

Academic Year: 2023/2024Foundation Degree scheme - available from 2012/2013

Duration (studying Full-Time): 3 years

Part 1 Rules

Year 1 Core (120 Credits)

Compulsory module(s).

Semester 1
RD11400

Business, Economics and Land Use

RD17000

Introduction to Livestock Science and Production Systems

RD18000

Crop, grassland, soil and agricultural land management

RD18400

Agricultural Technology and Farm Safety

RD18800

Skills for the Agricultural Industry

Semester 2
RD11420

Business, Economics and Land Use

RD17020

Introduction to Livestock Science and Production Systems

RD18040

Crop, grassland, soil and agricultural land management

RD18420

Agricultural Technology and Farm Safety

RD18820

Skills for the Agricultural Industry

Part 2 Rules

Year 2 Core (120 Credits)

Compulsory module(s).

Semester 1
RDW0000

Sandwich Year

RDW0100

Sandwich Year

Semester 2
RDW0060

Sandwich Year

RDW0160

Sandwich Year

Final Year Core (120 Credits)

Compulsory module(s).

Semester 1
RD20700

Science and Technology in Agriculture

RD22500

Business Budgeting and Appraisal

RD23400

Livestock Production Systems

RD27500

Research Methods

RD27600

Agronomy and Crop Improvement

Semester 2
RD20420

Food, Farming and the Environment

RD20720

Science and Technology in Agriculture

RD22520

Business Budgeting and Appraisal

RD23420

Livestock Production Systems

RD27520

Research Methods

RD27620

Agronomy and Crop Improvement


12 : Support for students and their learning
Every student is allocated a Personal Tutor. Personal Tutors have an important role within the overall framework for supporting students and their personal development at the University. The role is crucial in helping students to identify where they might find support, how and where to seek advice and how to approach support to maximise their student experience. Further support for students and their learning is provided by Information Services and Student Support and Careers Services.

13 : Entry Requirements
Details of entry requirements for the scheme can be found at http://courses.aber.ac.uk

14 : Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of teaching and learning
All taught study schemes are subject to annual monitoring and periodic review, which provide the University with assurance that schemes are meeting their aims, and also identify areas of good practice and disseminate this information in order to enhance the provision.

15 : Regulation of Assessment
Academic Regulations are published as Appendix 2 of the Academic Quality Handbook: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/aqro/handbook/app-2/.

15.1 : External Examiners
External Examiners fulfill an essential part of the University’s Quality Assurance. Annual reports by External Examiners are considered by Faculties and Academic Board at university level.

16 : Indicators of quality and standards
The Department Quality Audit questionnaire serves as a checklist about the current requirements of the University’s Academic Quality Handbook. The periodic Department Reviews provide an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of quality assurance processes and for the University to assure itself that management of quality and standards which are the responsibility of the University as a whole are being delivered successfully.