Agriculture
Search through all of our courses to find what you're looking for. Our aim is to give you an outstanding time at Askham Bryan.
These courses are designed for anyone with a love of farming and interest in livestock, crop production or farm mechanisation.
Department Overview
You don’t have to be from a farming background to study agriculture at Askham Bryan College, in fact, students come from a variety of backgrounds and locations. We encourage students seek some form of work experience in the industry prior to starting the course as once you begin studies with us, you will hit the ground running learning practical skills and the bigger picture of the entire industry such as food production. You will explore agri-tech developments, environmental impacts in farming and improvements to farming techniques.
We have invested heavily in our farm resources and offer students the opportunity to put theory into practice to gain valuable experience in livestock; dairy, beef and sheep enterprises. In addition to our arable and grassland operations and management, our Agri-tech workshop facilities allow students to developed their practical skills in a well equipped workshop environment.
FACILITIES
The farms include Westfield Farm, based at our Askham Bryan Campus and Home Farm based in nearby Askham Richard.
Our farms are an integral part of each college; they are well equipped with a wide selection of machinery, alongside a state-of-the-art robotic milking parlour facilities for both commercial and educational purposes. Our high-welfare beef unit is equipped with the latest precision livestock technology for students to access and develop their agri-tech skills. We also have a newly built Bioelectric anaerobic digester, which converts organic waste from our dairy herd into renewable energy. Students gain hands-on experience by observing the entire process, from slurry collection to biogas production and the use of digestate as fertiliser, enhancing their practical knowledge for future careers.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Various options are available, please see our Student Finance section for more details.
Employer Information
Our Agriculture department works with a range of industry partners and allied businesses who provide work environments and experience for our students.
Partnerships
Askham Bryan College has strong links with a range of organisations and businesses, both in agriculture and with companies who supply products and services to the agricultural industry. As part of their studies, our Level 3 students take part in our annual Stockmanship Competition, showing either a beef, dairy or sheep animal. This competition is judged by successful farmers who are widely respected within their field. Stockmanship allows the students to put skills learned in the classroom into practice in a real-life situation.
Preparing For Your Course
Students studying agriculture courses will need PPE for practical sessions on our farm:
Steel toe cap boots
AND Steel toe cap wellies
Overalls
White lab coat (for science practical session and stockmanship)
Waterproof coat (highly recommended! we go out in all weathers)
Waterproof over trousers (optional but useful for milking and wet days)
The Farmers Weekly website and magazine is a great place to start your course pre-reading. If you are not from a farming background, or even if you are, it will give you a insight into all the latest news and views in industry. The Farmers Weekly do a great selection of podcasts on a range of useful course topics which are available online.
It is highly advised that if you have no prior work experience in the agricultural industry that you do make contact with a farm to gain some work experience. Even if its only a day every other weekend or a 2 week block over summer, it will stand you in the best stead for starting the course and you will know exactly what you are letting yourself in for!
Student Finance
– Degree level students (link to Student Finance England)
– Under 19s in full time education (FREE)
Work Placements
All students on Agriculture and Land & Wildlife programmes are required undertake a work placement one day a week. This placement can be done on your home farm if you’re from a farming background (it doesn’t have to be) or you can contact a local employer to see if they will take you on placement. We recommend students find their own placement by contacting local employers however our Employability Team at college do have contacts which we can use to help you find a suitable placement. Although most students undertake work placement on a farm (agriculture) or a shoot (land and wildlife), some other examples of current placements include butchers, farm shops, livestock markets, machinery dealerships, and hunt kennels.
All students must undertake a minimum of 150 hours work placement with many students demonstrating a further commitment and undertaking the extended placement certificate of 350 hours*. These hours can be done weekly throughout the year (one day a week) or some students choose to do them as a block in the holidays i.e. lambing or harvest time.
*Students working on family farms do not qualify for the extended placement hours certificate.
Learning Support
The college offers a range of assistance and guidance through our Assisted Services Team.
Watch our introduction to our farms...
Courses
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Middlesbrough,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
Wakefield, York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
3 Years, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
3 Years, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Middlesbrough,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
Wakefield, York,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
18 months, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Middlesbrough,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Middlesbrough,
-
Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
Wakefield, York,
-
Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
18 months, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
3 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
2 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
3 Years, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Middlesbrough,
Outstanding student experience
We are a specialist land-based provider developing talent for both college and university students
Apply now
Our facilities are better than ever
- Lecture rooms
- Dedicated animal science laboratories
- Institute of Technology - Precision Livestock
- Westerfield Farm
- Digital farm facilities
- State-of-the-art robotic milking parlour
- Traditional milking parlour
- 2.4m Agriculture and Engineering hub
- Beef herd
- 200+ Dairy herd
- 200+ sheep
- Arable land and production
Student Stories
Siobhan’s Story
“Askham Bryan College is a fantastic college. It has been a pleasure learning here. All the tutors are willing to go above and beyond to ensure you have the best knowledge possible. I would recommend this college to anyone wanting to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse. ”
Ryan’s Story
“Choosing the level 3 Arboriculture course was a big decision being a 31-year-old self-employed landscape gardener. I am now at the end of my first year and there is no looking back. I have come on leaps and bounds professionally. I have already expanded my business into arboriculture with the skills and knowledge I have learnt. Askham Bryan College has been an eye opener and I've learned skills that I will take through my entire life.”
Ellie’s Story
“I chose Askham Bryan College because I liked what the course covered especially Anatomy & Physiology and Coaching. I enjoy taking part in training and I am hoping to go on to further coaching courses in football at University. The course is great to prepare me for this career.”
FAQs
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What is a typical week like? How much time is practical? How much is theory?
Our courses at level 2 are 3 days and our level 3 courses tend to be 3 or 4 days in college plus work placement. It’s about 50/50 theory/practical in your first year and 70 theory and 30 practical in your second year, but we mix it up so you’re not in the classroom all day!
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Where have past students ended up? What jobs could I do?
About a third of our level 3 students go on to university, a third go straight into the work place and a third go onto Apprenticeships or travel/work abroad in agriculture. Jobs that previous students have gone on to include: Stockperson and Herdsperson, Arable Operators/Contracting services, Farm and Estate Management, Agricultural sales.
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How many hours work experience do I need to do? How do I find a work placement? Do you find it for me?
Students are required to complete 150 hours per year on work experience and you are usually expected to find your own placement, but if you’re having difficulties, don’t worry – our staff will be able to help and point you in the right direction and our Work Placement Co-ordinators are on hand to help too.
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What grades do I need?
For Level 2 courses you will need four GCSEs at grade 3 (D) or above, to include two from English, Maths and Science, with at least a grade 2 (E) in the remaining subject.
For Level 3 courses you will need four GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, to include two from English, Maths and Science, with at least a grade 3 (D) in the remaining subject.
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Are there any exams?
All level 3 courses have a mix of exams, coursework and practical assessments
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How many UCAS points would I get?
A full Level 3 Extended Diploma (2 years) with distinctions in every module is equivalent to 168 UCAS points or the same as 3 A-level grades at A* (56 UCAS points for one A*). Pass grades across all modules is equivalent to 48 UCAS points.
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What size are the classes?
The maximum number in a classroom is about 25 and the maximum for practical sessions is around 12. Some courses will have core subjects where students from different cohorts will be combined, so those groups will be larger, but most of our classrooms cannot seat more than 30 students. The specialised subjects will have smaller groups.
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What previous experience do I need?
About half of our students come from non-farming backgrounds. However you will ideally need some work experience on a farm prior to coming, and then that would definitely help decide if it’s right for you. We’ll teach you the rest!
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Is there a uniform? Is PPE provided?
There’s no uniform – most people just wear, jeans and jumper/rugby shirt. You will need to have your own overalls and suitable footwear for practicals, but any specialist PPE is provided.