Agriculture

Agriculture is the oldest and most fundamental of human technologies, the organised production of food, fibre and other biological materials from the land. Modern agriculture is a science-intensive, commercially demanding and increasingly environmental-management-focused enterprise, requiring practitioners who understand soils, crops, livestock, business economics and the ecological systems within which farming takes place. It is also a sector facing profound challenges and transformations, from climate adaptation and biodiversity loss to food security and the integration of digital technology.

Nottingham Trent University offers this programme with a foundation year, making it accessible to students who need additional scientific and academic grounding before the main degree content begins. The foundation year consolidates the biological sciences, chemistry and academic skills that the full degree requires, and from there you will study crop science, animal science, soil science, agricultural business management, machinery and technology, environmental management and the policy context of agriculture in the UK and internationally. NTU has a strong applied and practical tradition in its agriculture provision, with farm-based learning and industry connections that bring the academic content into contact with real agricultural practice.

Agriculture develops scientific understanding of biological systems, practical technical skills, commercial awareness and an appreciation of the complex relationship between food production and the natural environment. The discipline asks you to hold together biological, economic and environmental thinking simultaneously.

Graduates pursue careers as farm managers, agricultural consultants, agronomists, livestock specialists, land agents, rural surveyors and in a range of roles in the food and agricultural supply chain, agri-tech sector, conservation and rural development. Many also pursue professional qualifications through bodies such as the Royal Agricultural Society or the Institute of Agricultural Management, and postgraduate study in agricultural science, rural land management or related fields is available for those seeking specialist or research careers.