Rural StudiesBSc Honours

UCAS code D4523 Years

www.ncl.ac.uk/ug/D452Printed from the web page above on 03/09/2018

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Rural StudiesBSc HonoursUCAS code D4523 Years

This degree is ideal if you're interested instudying the social, economic and politicalsystems we use to manage the countryside andsupport rural businesses and communities.

You focus on rural development and resource management,studying diverse topics from landscape management tosocial geographics, and from crop and livestockproduction to marketing.

You'll visit various rural enterprises and sites throughout thecourse. These introduce you to a range of countrysideprofessions and equip you with insight into the challengesfaced by today's rural businesses.

You can boost your employability and professional skills withan optional placement year in industry or the commercialsector.

You also benefit from:

• access to our two University farms for hands-onexperience

• training in key business skills to enhance youremployability

• expertise at our Centre for Rural Economy, recipient ofthe Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and FurtherEducation in 2014

Highlights of this degreeQuality and ranking• 5th in the UK – Guardian University Guide 2018

(Agriculture, Forestry and Food category)

What you will studyYou explore rural studies from a wide range of perspectives,and study core modules covering elements of:

• rural development• environment and land use• marketing and business management• land law and research methods• landscape management

You have a wide choice of optional modules, allowing you totailor the degree to your specific interests - see the CourseDetails section for more information.

You also choose a Career Development Module, designedto enhance your employability.

Independent research and project work is important andgives you the chance to explore an area of interest in detail.Previous projects have explored:

• wind farms in rural development• the future of market towns• biofuel production

Field visitsField visits are an important part of your degree, giving youthe chance to apply your newly acquired knowledge in apractical context.

At Newcastle University, you will benefit from our position inthe beautiful and varied landscape of North East England.

You will have the chance to take part in a wide variety offield visits exploring the rugged beauty of Northumberland,County Durham and Cumbria’s varied landscapes andhabitats.

There is easy access to fantastic countryside including:

• Northumberland National Park, home to Hadrian's Walland the Cheviot Hills

• Kielder, home to Northern Europe's largest man-madelake and England's largest forest

Visits to various rural enterprises throughout the yearintroduce you to a range of countryside professionals. Thisgives you the chance to experience management in action,as well as providing insight into the challenges facingcountryside businesses.

Boost your employability with a work placementApply to spend a year on a work placement betweenStages 2 and 3. You can apply to spend your placementyear with any organisation.

You'll receive support to apply for a suitable placement. Thisincludes help to write your CV to send out to our wide rangeof industry contacts.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in theenvironmental sector. If you impress your host company, itcould even result in a job offer on graduation.

It will extend your degree by a year and is subject toavailability.

Find out more about Work Placements.

Study abroad (optional)You may choose to undertake an optional work placementabroad, through the Erasmus scheme. You will gain aninternational perspective on your studies and seeenvironmental science practice in another country.

We have well-established exchanges with many EuropeanUniversities, including in:

• France• Spain• Germany• the Netherlands• Hungary• Estonia

Find out more about international opportunities on our studyabroad pages.

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Facilities and supportThis degree is run by the School of Natural andEnvironmental Sciences.

FacilitiesYou'll have access to:

• an experimental station providing field laboratories forevaluation and testing of ecologically friendly pesticidesand biocontrol agents

• well-equipped modern laboratories• two University farms, used for research, teaching and

demonstration: The Farms and NU-Farms Research

SupportYou'll have an academic member of staff as a personaltutor throughout your degree, who can help with academicand personal issues.

The student-staff committee gives you a say in how yourdegree works.

You'll have access to a peer mentor in your first year – afellow student who can help you settle in and answer anyquestions you have.

Social activitiesYou will join a friendly cohort of students and can take partin regular social events organised by the student-led AgricSociety.

The Robinson Library is at the heart of campus.

Course Details

Modules for 2018 entry

Please noteThe module and/or programme information below isfor 2018 entry. Our teaching is informed by research andmodules change periodically to reflect developments inthe discipline, the requirements of external bodies andpartners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers ofstudents interested (in an optional module). To find outmore read our terms and conditions.Module/programme information for 2019 entry will bepublished here as soon as it is available (end of May2019).Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts foran academic year and you need to complete modulestotalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Furtherinformation, including the credit value of the module, isavailable in each of the module descriptions below.

Stage 1

Compulsory modulesACE1000  Introduction to Marketing and ConsumerBehaviourACE1006  Introductory Business EconomicsACE1008  Environment and Land ResourcesACE1040  Academic and Professional SkillsACE1041  Investigating Agri-food Systems from Farm toFolkACE1045  Investigating Rural LandscapesACE1047  Introduction to Agri-Food BusinessManagement

Stage 2

Compulsory modulesACC1000  Introduction to Non-Specialist Accounting andFinanceACE2003  Landscape, Culture and HeritageACE2061  Environmental Management SkillsACE2066  Academic and Professional Skills 2LAW2053  Law and Land UseOptional modulesYou choose 30 credits from the following modules:ACE2000  Marketing Strategy: Concepts andApplicationsACE2006  Agricultural Economics and PolicyACE2010  Agricultural Markets

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Stage 2

ACE2018  Arable CropsACE2020  Introduction to Farm ManagementACE2064  Sustainable Livestock SystemsBUS2000  Human Resource ManagementGEO2110  Social GeographiesNCL2007  Career Development for Second YearStudents*NCL2100  Developing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship andEmployability**You may opt to take only one of NCL2007 orNCL2100Other optional modules may also be available,with approval of the Degree Programme Director.

Work Placement (optional)

You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optionalwork placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can applyto spend your placement year with any organisation andwill receive University support to do so. It will extend yourdegree by a year and is subject to availability. Find outmore on about Work Placements.

If you choose a Careers Placement year, you completethe following compulsory module:

NCL3000  Careers Service Placement Year Module

Stage 3

Compulsory modulesACE3016  Countryside ManagementACE3017  Rural Planning, Politics and SocietyACE3093  Special StudyACE3207  Sustainable Development and EnvironmentalValuationOptional modulesYou take 40 credits from the following list:ACE3000  Globalisation: Patterns, Processes andChallengesACE3036  Farm ManagementACE3201  Marketing and Public PolicyACE3202  Communication and Behaviour ChangeBUS3000  Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for LeanInnovationLAW3015  Environmental LawNCL3007  Career Development for Final Year Students*NCL3008  Advanced Career Development*SOC3098  Community and Conflict in the CountrysideSUG3500  Creativity and Market Research in Science andEngineering**You may opt to take only one of NCL3007 or NCL3008or SUG3500Other optional modules may also beavailable, with approval of the Degree ProgrammeDirector.

Teaching and assessment

Study at the cutting edgeResearch-informed teaching plays an important role atNewcastle, meaning you study the most up-to-date theoriesand discoveries in your subject. You will have theopportunity to conduct your own research through a specialstudy in Stage 3. This may be linked to a vacation project orwork placement.

Agriculture Research in the School of Natural andEnvironmental Sciences is organised into five researchgroups:

• Animal Sciences• Crop & Soil Sciences• Food Quality and Health• Food and Society• Rural Studies & Resource Economics

Teaching methodsIn Stages 1 and 2 just over half of your teaching time will bespent in classroom-based lectures or seminars. Theremainder will be made up of field classes, computerclasses, and practical lab work. In Stage 3 greater emphasisis placed on project work, culminating in a final-year projectbased on a topic of your choice.

Assessment methodsAssessment is based on a combination of:

• field assignments• group projects• oral presentations• essays• problem-based assignments• traditional examinations

Find out moreVisit our Teaching & Learning pages to read about theoutstanding learning experience available to all students atNewcastle University.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis.

If your qualifications are not listed here, please see ouradditional entry requirements web pages to find out whichother qualifications are considered.

The entrance requirements below apply to 2019 entry.

A LevelsABB-BBB. GCSE Mathematics (minimum grade C or 4)required.

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Scottish QualificationsAABBB-BBBBB at Higher Grade. Mathematics required atNational 5, minimum grade C (or Standard Grade orIntermediate 2 equivalent). Combinations of Highers andAdvanced Highers accepted.

Scottish qualifications can be taken in more than one sitting.

International Baccalaureate32-34 points with Mathematics or Mathematical Studiesgrade 4 at Standard Level if not offered at Higher Level.

Irish Leaving CertificateH1H1H2H2H3-H2H3H3H3H3 at Higher Level. OrdinaryLevel Mathematics required at grade O2 if not offered atHigher Level.

Access Qualifications30 level 3 credits at Distinction, and 15 level 3 credits atMerit. Credits in science and social science related subjectsare desirable.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National ExtendedDiploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3Extended DiplomaIn a science or land and environment-related subject atoverall DDM-DMM.

Cambridge Pre-UD3,M2,M2-M2,M2,M2 in Principal Subjects. GCSEMathematics (minimum grade C or 4) required.

Extended Project QualificationWe welcome applications from students offering anExtended Project and value the skills of research andindependent learning that it is designed to develop.  If youoffer an Extended Project, it will be taken into account aspart of your application profile, but we will not usuallyinclude it in offer conditions for this degree programme.

PARTNERS - A LevelsBBC. GCSE Mathematics (minimum grade C or 4) required.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

PARTNERS - Pearson BTEC Level 3 NationalExtended Diploma/OCR Cambridge TechnicalLevel 3 Extended DiplomaIn a land and environment-related subject at overall MMM.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

English Language RequirementsApplicants whose first language is not English require aminimum score of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

If you need help to meet our English Languagerequirements, we can provide support with extra tuition.

Read more about UK visas and immigration requirements.

Other International QualificationsABB at A level is typically the minimum required for entry toan undergraduate course. You can check the equivalentgrades for qualifications offered in your country.

We will also consider your application if you have lower ornon-standard qualifications.

International Foundation ProgrammesIf you are an international student and you do not meet theacademic and English language requirementsspecified above, you should consider a preparation courseat INTO Newcastle University. Based on the Universitycampus, INTO Newcastle University offers a range ofcourses, including International Foundation Programmes,which will help to prepare you for study on one of ourdegree programmes.

Undergraduate Admissions Policy

See our 2018 Admissions Policy (PDF: 185 KB).

See further policies related to admission.

Careers

Rural Studies careersThe environmental sector has grown rapidly over the lastdecade. Increasing environmental legislation means thereare many new employment areas in industry and the publicsector. Employers value the range of practical andacademic skills you gain through the duration of ourdegrees. Our graduates have gone on to work for a widerange of organisations including the European Parliament,Meteorological Office and Oxfam.

Our Countryside Management and Rural Studies graduatesmost commonly end up in land-based and environmentalcareers such as chartered surveying, as a rights of wayofficer or part of a local conservation team working forcharities and pressure groups. Additionally, governmentorganisations and private firms provide openings foragricultural or environmental advisers.

Graduates with an environmental science background findemployment with conservation bodies such as NaturalEngland, the Environment Agency, water companies, localgovernment environmental health departments and otherenvironmental protection agencies, undertaking roles asvaried as environmental consultancy and environmentalengineering.

Because of the scope and flexibility of our degrees, thereare many opportunities open to you for postgraduatetraining at Newcastle University and other researchinstitutes. Our graduates have also successfully pursued

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careers in teaching, and non-environmental careers such asaccountancy, banking, retail and personnel management,the armed forces, the police force, the Inland Revenue andother Civil Service departments, journalism and publishing.

Find out more about the career options for Environmentaland Rural Studies from Prospects: The UK's Official CareersWebsite.

What our graduates go on to do:employment and further studychoicesSee what our recent graduates went on to do and viewgraduate destinations statistics. These statistics are basedon what graduates were doing on a specific date,approximately six months after graduation. Take a look atthe most recent data available for our graduates.

The destination data is available in varying levels, beginningwith the University and moving through Faculty and Schooldown to individual course reports. This final level may giveyou some useful ideas about possible options after yourcourse or a course you are considering.

Careers and employability atNewcastleNewcastle University consistently has one of the bestrecords for graduate employment in the UK.

96% of our 2017 UK-domiciled UG/PG graduatesprogressed to employment or further study within sixmonths of graduating.

85.5% of our graduates are in graduate level employment orfurther study within six months of graduating.

We provide an extensive range of opportunities to allstudents through an initiative called ncl+. This enables youto develop personal, employability and enterprise skills andto give you the edge in the employment market after yougraduate.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest andbest in the country, and we have strong links withemployers.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees (UK students)

2019 entry*:£9,250

Tuition Fees (UK students)

For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.2018 entry*:£9,250For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.*Please note:The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for UKstudents is set by the UK government.As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Tuition Fees (EU students)

2019 entry*:£9,250 You will pay the same tuition fees as UK studentsfor the duration of your course.For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.2018 entry*:£9,250. You will pay the same tuition fees as UK studentsfor the duration of your course.For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.*Please note:As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

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Tuition Fees (International students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£16,800 per year*Please note:You will be charged tuition fees for each year of yourdegree programme (unless you are on a shorterexchange programme).If you spend a year on placement or studying abroad aspart of your degree you may pay a reduced fee for thatyear.The tuition fee amount you will pay may increase slightlyyear on year as a result of inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Scholarships and Financial Support (UKstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support (EUstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support(International students)

We offer our Vice-Chancellor's InternationalScholarships and Vice-Chancellor's ExcellenceScholarships to eligible international students.We also offer International Family Discounts which areavailable for all international students with a close familymember who has graduated from or is now studying atNewcastle University.Some of our subject scholarships and sportsscholarships are also available for international students.

Apply

Applying to Newcastle Universitythrough UCASTo apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you mustuse the online application system managed by theUniversities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

UCAS codes for Newcastle University

• institution name - NEWC• institution code - N21

UCAS buzzwordAsk your teacher or adviser from your school or college forthe UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when youregister on the Apply system. This makes it clear whichschool or college you are applying from.

All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU andinternational establishments are registered with UCAS.

If you are applying independently, or are applying from aschool or college which is not registered to manageapplications, you will still use the Apply system. You will notneed a buzzword.

Making your applicationOn the UCAS website you can also find out more about:

• application deadlines and other important dates• offers and tracking your application

Application decisions and enquiriesFind out more about our admissions process and who tocontact if you need help with your application.

Our attractive campus has lots of green spaces whereyou can relax.