Rural Land and Business Management (QA only), BSc (Plumpton College)
This accelerated degree offers routes to rewarding careers within rural business, land management, consultancy and valuation within the rural sector.
This vocational program offers an alternative pathway to becoming a rural chartered surveyor and agricultural valuer. It is structured to attract individuals committed to joining the profession, including those already working in the field.
The course aims to equip learners with comprehensive knowledge and a practical understanding of resource use and key rural economy industries. It also focuses on developing strong technical skills in essential areas such as valuation, law, finance, business appraisal, and building construction. Additionally, it enhances effective consultancy skills to identify and address client issues, providing solutions to property and business challenges. The program supports learners in working towards personal, academic, and career goals, including achieving full membership in both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).
This accelerated BSc programme offers the ideal opportunity to qualify and gain valuable experience at the same time. Fully endorsed by the CAAV and key land agency stakeholders, it is designed to equip graduates with career ready skills.
UCAS points
104 (full requirements below)
Course/institution codes
N230
Location
Duration
2 years blended learning
Start month
September
Fees information
For fee information related to this course, please see fees section below
What you should know about this course
* Fees for this programme are being reviewed by the partner college and may be subject to change for 2025-26 up to a maximum of £9,535 per year.
What you will study
Validated / Quality Assured (QA) Programmes: these are programmes approved (‘validated’) and quality assured by the University of Greenwich for delivery by one of our Partner Colleges. They lead to a University of Greenwich award.
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
- Introduction to the Rural Economy (15 credits)
- Introduction to Farming Systems (15 credits)
- Building Construction & Management (15 credits)
- Introduction to GIS (15 credits)
- Integrated Project 1 (30 credits)
- Valuation Principles & Practice (15 credits)
- Applied Valuation (15 credits)
- Integrated Project 2 (30 credits)
- Property Agency & Marketing (15 credits)
- Rural Property Law (15 credits)
Year 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
- Sustainable Business Management (15 credits)
- Business Planning & Performance (15 credits)
- Rural Property Taxation (15 credits)
- Infrastructure & Compulsory Purchase (15 credits)
- Advanced Valuation (15 credits)
- Management of Environmental Resources (15 credits)
- Project Investment & Feasibility (15 credits)
- Strategic Rural Asset Management (15 credits)
- Research Methods and Statistics (15 credits)
- Honours Project (30 credits)
- Rural Planning & Development (15 credits)
About the course team
You will be taught by an expert team whose experience and knowledge closely reflects the course modules. The team consists of leading academics, and experienced industry professionals, along with diverse industrial networks to external international experts who deliver guest lectures on individual modules, and career guidance.
Entry requirements
We consider a wide range of Level 3 qualifications with UCAS Tariff points, specifically:
- A Level: three subjects (BCC)
- BTEC National: Extended Diploma (DMM)
- International Baccalaureate: 26 Points overall
- Access to HE in Chemistry and/or Biology: 104 Points
We also consider alternative qualifications at Level 3, such as OCR Cambridge Technical, AQA Tech-Level, and a range of international qualifications at Level 3 equivalent.
We also consider applicants with relevant industrial experience if over 21 years of age.
We expect a minimum of five GCSEs, including Mathematics and English at grade 4 or above (grade C or above under the A*-G system).
Students with English as a second language will be required to have gained IELTS at 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
We welcome applications from mature students.
For more information, contact the HE team (HEoffice@plumpton.ac.uk).
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use Prior Learning?
Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.
How you will learn
Learning experience
Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.
You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.
Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
Depending on your course, class sizes vary by module. Students have opportunities for 1 to 1 contact time with an academic tutor throughout their studies. This course provides a unique opportunity for those wanting to study while gaining work experience.
Independent learning
At university, you must develop the ability to work more independently than you have done before. In the early stages of the degree, you will receive a higher level of support from module leaders and personal tutors. In years 2 and 3, you will need to demonstrate an increasing ability to build upon material delivered in lectures and practice through independent reading. Greenwich graduates should be able to think and work independently, analytically and creatively to solve problems.
Overall workload
You should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15 or 30 credits. These represent around 150 or 300 study hours respectively. If you receive 100 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 200 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.
Assessment
You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.
Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assignments taken at the college and to release examination results within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The academic year runs from September to June.
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, contact the HE team (HEoffice@plumpton.ac.uk)
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
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* Fees for this programme are being reviewed by the partner college and may be subject to change for 2025-26 up to a maximum of £9,535 per year.
Funding your study
There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.
EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.
Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Any costs associated with work placement/experience, travel and accommodation will be the student’s responsibility and is not included within the tuition fees.
There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, depending on your situation including hardship funding.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
Rather than attending a separate module for work experience this accelerated degree embeds industry work placement activities as part of the curriculum. The result being that students are ‘learning on the job’ and therefore boosting their graduate opportunities. These hours of industry work placement will be completed across the three weeks (of the four) where students are engaged with online, distance learning.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
The course is designed to fill a particular need in the training of rural property and business advisors who wish to qualify as Chartered Surveyors and Fellows of the Association of Agricultural Valuers. The demand for these skills has risen significantly in recent years and professional firms in these sectors are facing a challenge in recruitment exacerbated by the lack of training opportunities.
The degree has been developed with reference to the requirements necessary for individuals to pass the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence and the Fellowship examinations of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).
Do you provide employability services?
Plumpton College has a dedicated Careers team ready to assist students both on campus and online.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
Students have access to academic tutors on campus and online throughout the duration of their course. Additionally, students who have a learning difficulty, disability and/or ongoing health condition may be able to access reasonable adjustments to support their studies. Support is available to help students apply and access Disabled Student Allowance through either the Inclusive Learning and Development Department or the HE Office.
Support from the department
The Library boasts a collection of over 8,000 books, covering a range of key subject areas within land-based curriculum. The Library also provides students with access to a variety of magazines, periodicals and academic journals through online databases.
Mode of study
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