Sustainable Land and 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. Please contact our friendly advisers to find out if you’re eligible for a place. You can get in touch through our hotlines: 

• For domestic students please call us on 0800 073 5050
• 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 2025.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2025. 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

Your degree integrates elements from a range of subjects such as geography, business and estate management, ecology, law, agriculture, economics, and wildlife conservation and management. Topics include:

• rural development
• environmental and business management
• sustainability
• agriculture and land management

Newcastle is an ideal place to study, combining a city-centre university with access to fantastic countryside for fieldwork.

You can boost your employability and professional skills with an optional placement year in the industry or the commercial sector. You also benefit from:

• access to our two University farms for hands-on experience
• expertise at our Centre for Rural Economy, recipient of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2014

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 2025-26.

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

Stage 1 will lay the foundation for examining sustainable land management problems.

You'll be introduced to a range of topics including rural development, sustainability, environmental management, agriculture, economics, business management and marketing, 

geographical information systems, and plant science. 

You’ll also visit different sites across the region. This will help you get practical experience in land management.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Introduction to Business Management	10
Agri-Food Supply Chains	10
Sustainability in Practice	20
Introductory Business Economics	10
Academic and Professional Skills	20
Introduction to Sustainability	20
Plants, Environment, Agriculture	10

Optional Modules	Credits
Mapping the Earth: Location and Space	20
Introduction to Marketing and Consumer Behaviour	20

During this stage, you'll study more specialised topics in: sustainable land and business management, wildlife management, land law, research methods,

sustainable business practice, management planning and countryside heritage.

You’ll also have a choice of optional modules to choose from.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Law and Land Use	10
Landscape, Culture and Heritage	20
Site Management Planning	20
Qualitative Research Methods	10
Dissertation and Research Preparation	10
Sustainable Solutions	10

Optional Modules	Credits
Introduction to Non-Specialist Accounting and Finance	20
Arable Crops	10
Farm Business Management	10
Sustainable animal production systems	20
Marketing Strategy	20
Global Agri-Food Supply Chains	10
Soil and Ecosystem Science	10
Field Identification Skills	10
Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation	20

You'll study countryside management, environmental economics, and rural planning and politics. 

You'll also work on a research project. Recent projects have investigated:

• renewable energy production
• game management
• countryside tourism
• future-proofing rural estates
• agri-environment policy
• wildlife conservaion

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Countryside Management	20
Planning the Global Countryside	20
Dissertation	30
Sustainable Development and Environmental Valuation	10

Optional Modules	Credits
Interpreting Company Accounts	20
Environmental Law	20
Career Development for final year students	20
Global Agri-Food Supply Chains	10
Applied Farm Business Management	20
Your Future - occupational awareness	10
Global Food Policy	10
Agrifood Communication and Behaviour Change	10
Insight, Innovate, Impact	10
Biodiversity Science and Management	20
Current Research in Ecology	20

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 2024-25.

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

In Stages 1 and 2, you’ll spend half of your teaching time in classroom-based lectures or seminars.

The rest will include:

• field classes
• computer classes
• practical lab work

In Stage 3, we’ll focus more on project work. This is work towards your final-year project, based on a topic of your choice.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Projects

Skills and experience

Practical skills

Field trips form an important part of your degree, and give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a practical setting. 

With easy access to nearby countryside from our location in North East England, you'll benefit from visits to Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria to experience the varied landscapes and habitats.

Business skills

In your Sustainable Solutions module, you'll help solve a real-world problem for a real organisation. You'll work as a group during this project.

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

Research skills

In your final year, you'll work on an in-depth research dissertation. It can be on a subject of your choice. You'll be supervised by an academic staff member.

During stage 2, you will gain skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods to prepare you for your third year project.

Our staff, experts in their field, will support you throughout your degree.

Find out more about our research and the Centre for Rural Economy.

Opportunities

Study abroad

Gain a global perspective, enhance your academic profile and open doors to exciting new experiences by studying abroad for one semester or a full academic year at one of our partner universities overseas. Study abroad usually takes place in stage 3 of your studies and extends your degree by one year.

You'll have the choice to study at a leading international university, including:

• Monash University 
• University of Hong Kong
• University of Pittsburgh

You can also opt for short-term global opportunities like summer schools, virtual exchanges or internships that usually take place over the summer months.

Work placement

During your degree you can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an industry placement, in the UK or abroad. Your work placement is a great opportunity to gain practical experience, acquire key business skills and make industry contacts. You’ll get University support from our dedicated team. Work placements usually take place between Stages 2 and 3 and extend your degree by a year.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

The Agriculture Building is the home of our agri-food business and land management degrees, it is based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and located on our city-centre campus. Located within are state-of-the-art facilities including our test kitchen and the award-winning Centre for Rural Economy.

During your studies, you'll have access to two commercial farms, Cockle Park Farm and Nafferton Farm, where you can gain practical experience providing you with an insight into how real-world farms operate. Our farms are used for learning, demonstration and research. At NU Farms we promote innovation to shape policy and support scientific research. We collaborate with four key partners:

• Centre for Crop Health and Protection (CHAP)
• Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL)
• Fera Science (Fera)
• Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF)

You'll also gain hands-on experience with industry-standard software to prepare you for your future career.

Support

We take your health and wellbeing seriously and are committed to supporting you throughout your studies so you can fulfil your potential at university. This support includes:

• a personal tutor who is an academic member of staff who can help you with academic and personal issues throughout your degree
• a peer mentor scheme which pairs you with a current student from your course to help you navigate your first year at university
• a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works
• support, treatment and guidance on mental and physical health from our wellbeing team

Your future

Our graduates have found jobs in a range of sectors. These include national parks, public bodies, UK wildlife groups, surveyors, and land agents.

Organisations include:

• Natural England
• Met Office
• National Trust
• British Horse Society
• Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
• Savills
• Brown and Co.
• Galbraiths
• GSC Grays
• Defra

Our graduate careers include:

• chartered surveyors
• rights of way officers
• members of local conservation teams
• agricultural and environmental consultants
• environmental engineers
• national Park rangers
• sustainability officers/advisors
• countryside officers
• estate managers
• environmental educators

Sustainable solutions

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The Sustainable Solutions module at Newcastle University offers you the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals on projects that address real-world sustainability challenges. This hands-on experience enhances your problem-solving skills and prepares you for successful careers in sustainability-focused roles.

You'll have many opportunities to interact with industry through:

• guest speakers
• visits
• industry networking events
• opportunities to attend conferences

Careers support

Our 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 academic year 2026-2027

The 2026 entry home fees have not yet been confirmed.

Qualification: BSc Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (Year 1) Not set
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (Year 1) Not set

Home Fee Students

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course. £9,535 is the maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students for the academic year 2025-26. This is set by the UK government. This fee has not yet been confirmed for 2026-27.

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