Agri-Business Management BSc Honours

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050, or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000.

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

This is an applied course where you will learn about the management of businesses operating from the farm gate to consumer plates. Along with business management skills, you will learn and be able to reflect on the key challenges of securing a sustainable food supply for this and future generations.

The agri-food chain is one of the world's largest industries. It involves the delivery of products from farms to worldwide markets.

Key topics covered in this course are:

• food economics and management of agri-food businesses
• food policy and its implications for businesses and consumers
• gathering evidence through data analysis to support sound decision
• agriculture and food production and distribution
• consumer studies and marketing management

This degree could lead to work in a range of international business sectors, such as food markets and marketing, retail management, and business consultancy. 

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

In your first year, you will study foundation modules providing a comprehensive introduction to topics such as marketing and consumer behaviour, agri-food business management, sustainability, and economics. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Introductory Macroeconomics	10
Introduction to Business Management	10
Agri-Food Supply Chains	10
Sustainability in Practice	20
Introduction to Marketing and Consumer Behaviour	20
Introductory Business Economics	10
Academic and Professional Skills	20
Introduction to Sustainability	20

During your second year, you'll cover more complex topics, including agricultural economics and policy, marketing strategy, and agricultural markets. You'll also be able to choose from several optional modules. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Current Trends in Agricultural Markets	10
Marketing Strategy	20
Agricultural Economics and Policy	10
Qualitative Research Methods	10
Sustainable Business Practice	10
Dissertation and Research Preparation	10
Sustainable Solutions	10

Optional Modules	Credits
Interpreting Company Accounts	20
Human Resource Management	20
Introduction to Business Law	20
Arable Crops	10
Farm Business Management	10
Sustainable animal production systems	20
Consumer and Business Economics	20
New Food Product Development	20
Social Psychology	10

By your final year you will be studying advanced topics that have been designed to prepare you for your future career. As well as core modules such as food economics and marketing metrics, you'll be able to choose from specialist areas including applied animal nutrition, consumer psychology, and food innovation consultancy. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules

• NES3103 Advanced Agri-Business Management (20 credits)
• NES3106 Data & Marketing Analytics (10 credits)
• NES3107 Food Business Economics (10 credits)

You must take one of the following modules:

• NES3109 Agri-food Business Management and Marketing Dissertation (30 credits)

OR

• NES3113 Food Innovation Consultancy (30 credits)

Modules

Optional Modules	Credits
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship with Lean Innovation	20
Law and Land Use	10
Career Development for final year students	20
Applied Farm Business Management	20
Applied Animal Nutrition	10
Your Future - occupational awareness	10
Agri-food Business Management and Marketing Dissertation	30
Marketing and Public Policy	10
Communication and Behaviour Change	10
Sustainable Development and Environmental Valuation	10
Food Innovation Consultancy	30
Consumer Psychology	20
To Cheat or not to Cheat: The Evolution of Cooperative Behaviour	10

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

On average you will have around 14 contact hours a week. You'll learn through lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.

There will also be field trips, so you can see how your learning applies in a practical context.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Case studies

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Projects

Skills and experience

Practical skills

Your learning will be reinforced with practical experience and facilities, including:

• two university farms, located just a short distance from our campus
• well-equipped business and teaching labs
• visits to companies representing each part of the food supply chain

Business skills

You'll help solve a real-world problem for an external organisation. You'll do this during your Sustainable Solutions module and work in an interdisciplinary team.

In one of the optional modules, New Food Product Development, you'll create a food or drink product. You'll work with an industry partner from conception to commercialisation.

Our Sustainable Business Practice module will give you the skills to compete in a global business environment. You'll learn to balance conventional business objectives with challenges in:

• net-zero
• ethical supply chain management
• sustainable resource use

In your final year, you’ll use a business simulation to manage a virtual company in a competitive environment.

You can also put your learning into practice with an optional placement year.

Research skills

During your final year, you'll complete a dissertation or food innovation consultancy project. Both require advanced research. 

Opportunities

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

You can choose to spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas.

If you choose to study abroad, it will extend your degree by a year. 

Find out more about study abroad

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year.  Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

Agriculture is based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at our city-centre campus. During your studies, you'll have access to two commercial farms near Newcastle.

Our University farms, Cockle Park Farm and Nafferton Farm, will give you an insight into how real-world farms operate, so you're prepared for your future. Our farms are used for research, teaching and demonstration.

You'll have the opportunity to access modern laboratories equipped with industry-standard equipment. You'll also use NU-Food, our food and consumer research facility.

You'll be able to use our computing facilities, including computers running industry-standard software used in agriculture businesses, to help ensure you're career-ready.

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

There's also a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works.

Your future

With a degree in Agri-Business Management, you will have the opportunity to embark on a dynamic, rewarding career in the public or private sector. 

Having gained specialist knowledge and skills, as well as transferable business skills, you'll be prepared for roles in the food and retailing sector, as well as the land-based and business sectors. 

Industry links

Established over 100 years ago, our department has strong links with industry leaders,  including companies such as JR Holland, Asda, and Blagdon Estate.

You'll benefit from site visits, industry experts, and networking and professional development opportunities. 

Enterprising students

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Careers support

Our Enterprise Challenge gives students the opportunity to work with industry on a project that tackles real-world issues. Watch the above video to find out more.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: BSc Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 30600

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry

In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. It is expected that Parliament will approve the Government’s proposed increase in January and we intend to confirm our Home fees at this higher level following this.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

 

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages