Precision Agriculture

UCAS code: PA21

Here's what University Centre Bishop Burton says about its Precision Agriculture course.

The BSc (Hons) Precision Agriculture programme will prepare you to be a farmer or agricultural technologist of the future. You will gain the skills and knowledge required to develop and manage adaptable, innovative, sustainable and successful business ventures within the agriculture sector.

By studying a broad spectrum of modules, you will have the key attributes to go into higher level graduate roles, including the opportunity to tailor your learning to your career goals with option modules.

You will learn how to operate key software packages such as Farmplan, Gate Keeper and Livestock Manager, which is utilised within 80% of UK farming businesses in the UK, enabling them to evaluate farm data to reduce inputs and improve outputs on the farm, which is seen as a key outcome for any farm business manager.

What will I study? Year 1 • Academic, Employment and Professional Skills • Fundamentals of Business Introduction to Research Skills • Livestock Production • Mechanisation • Plant and Soil Science • Crop Production • Industry Skills

Year 2 • Agriculture and the Environment • Financial Management and Planning • Enterprise and Entrepreneurship • Research Methods and Analysis • Introductory Research Analysis • Precision Technology in the Wider Sector • Agronomy • Livestock Science

Year 3 • Dissertation • Sustainable Food Production • Rural Strategic Business Management • Option modules: Advanced Agronomic Technology, Advanced Livestock Science, Rural Operations Management and Rural Marketing Management (Option modules will run where there are sufficient student numbers, otherwise an alternative option module may be offered.)

Learning and Teaching Approach The programme is delivered with a variety of learning and teaching approaches. For all modules, there are theory lectures delivered, aimed to deliver the core content, provide the underpinning knowledge and facilitate further expansion of such concepts by the students, through independent study.

To complement the theory lectures, students have group seminars that are used to reinforce those concepts delivered theoretically. The seminars focus on delivering using a student-centred approach to enhance the independent learning that takes place outside of the classroom Practical sessions both at the Bishop Burton Farm are also incorporated into a range of modules on this programme making it extremely applied and prepares students effectively for the workplace. The academic curriculum provided by the programme is supported throughout by the extensive practical facilities offered at the college’s farm.

Contact Time Contact time includes approximately 16 hours a week to include lectures, seminars, practicals and tutorials. Students are also expected to carry out a significant amount of independent study in addition to contact time (approximately 25-30 hours a week). Independent study includes reading around the subject, preparing for tutorials and seminars, preparing for, and completing, module assessments and revision; forming an essential part of a student’s learning journey.

Career Opportunities Careers in farm management, machinery dealerships, as technology programmers and trainee agronomists.

Assessment methods include written assignments, case studies, practical assessments, presentations, project based assessment, time constrained assessments, invigilated exams. Opportunities for feedback on assessments are available prior to the final submission to support your development and achievement. Staff aim to return assessed work within a 20 working day timeframe (not including holidays) so that you can most benefit from the feedback.