Agricultural Business Management

Overview

At the University of Reading studying the Agricultural Business Management degree is a multi-disciplinary degree programme combining the study of management with agricultural science. You will gain skills in critical observation and analysis of financial and business management systems to go along with practical knowledge and commercial expertise.

You will develop these skills through contact with a variety of industry professionals, with talks delivered by farm consultancies such as Savills, visits to a wide range of farming business and rural estates including Waitrose’s Leckford Estate and The Royal Farms. There are also opportunities to attend farming and rural conferences and seminars.

In one of our most popular modules you will provide strategic advice to farm businesses. The businesses do listen to your opinion, and take note of your recommendations. You will also complete a week-long study tour to a different part of the country to look at different farming enterprises as part of this degree.

In the final year, your dissertation allows you to choose a subject that inspires and interests you. This could involve a farm, including your home farm, research at the University or an enterprise that you’ve had contact with during the course.

Outside of the curriculum, the student-run Agri-club runs the UK’s largest student conference. It gives you the opportunity to debate key issues like food security and self-sufficiency and get your voice heard.

What career can you have?

The University of Reading has an outstanding reputation with employers, and graduates are headhunted for key management roles.

Graduates from this course become managers, trainee managers and employees in a range of farming enterprises. Graduates also work in agricultural contracting, land agency and farm consultancy, financial, accountancy and agricultural banking services, in the UK and overseas.

Graduates work with companies including AB Agri, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Savills, Strutt and Parker, MDS Ltd, The Farm Consultancy Group, Farmcare and Velcourt Farm Management. The Royal Farms have also taken a graduate from the University of Reading directly into a farm management role.