Agriculture NC

What is special about this course?

If you’re looking for a hands-on job and have a passion for working outdoors with crops and livestock, a career in agriculture could be for you.   

We will provide you with a good all round learning experience of up-to-date farming methods. You will learn about on-farm quality Scottish food production, both in the classroom and on a working farm.   

The course includes practical work (either in blocks or weekly, depending on your location) and you will get involved with Spring crop work, gain experience operating machinery, and provide care for the animals all year round, especially during lambing season.   

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course however we expect that you will have an interest in farming and enjoy working outdoors in all weathers!   

  • Accident Prevention and Emergency Procedures  
  • Livestock Reproductive and Digestive Systems  
  • Dairy Production  
  • Farm Maintenance  
  • Soils and Fertility  
  • Grassland Production  
  • Forage crop Production  
  • Combinable Crop Production  
  • Milking  
  • Beef and Suckled Calf Production  
  • Calf Rearing  
  • Sheep Production  
  • Information and Communication Technology  
  • Tractor Driving  
  • Tractor Operations and Attachments 

Equipment

Your bursary (for full time students) will cover the costs of personal protective clothing which will be supplied at the start of the course.  

How will I study my course?

  • Full Time

Your course will generally be a mix of scheduled connected learning time, and flexible learning time. You need to commit to both, but you can choose when to complete flexible learning to fit around work, caring and personal commitments.  

The practical unit will be taught in-person in Campbeltown, and you may also be asked to join your lecturers and fellow classmates at a scheduled time in an online classroom.  

You will attend class for approximately 3 days per week, one of which will normally be on a farm. You may be asked to undertake your practical days in a ‘block’ rather than one day per week, depending on your location. If you carry out your practical work as a block this will be done at a farm in Campbeltown. 

Find out more about how you will learn with us.

 

How long will my course last?

9 Months

Where can I study my course?

    • Arran Learning Centre
    • Campbeltown Hazelburn Learning Centre
    • Dunoon Learning Centre
    • Helensburgh Learning Centre
    • Islay Learning Centre
    • Lochgilphead Learning Centre
    • Oban Learning Centre
    • Rothesay Learning Centre
    • Tobermory Learning Centre

Start date

Late August

Fees

Most full-time students will automatically have their course fees paid for this course.   

If you have recently moved to, or do not normally live in Scotland, you may need to pay £5,970 in course fees, these can be paid in instalments. Families of Armed Services personnel are subject to different fees regulations and may also have to pay course fees. If you think this may apply to you, please contact us and we can advise you. 

This course is not available to students who require a Tier 4 Home Office visa to study in Scotland (international or EU). 

Part-time FE students who are on low incomes or in receipt of certain benefits may also have their course fees paid for them. Please refer to page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide to see if you are eligible.  

Each single SQA unit costs £90. You may be able to apply for an Individual Training Account (ITA) to cover up to £200 of part time fees. 

Funding

Bursary for Living Costs 

If you are 18 years of age or over on the start date of your course and will be studying full-time you may be eligible for bursary funding, depending on your household income. Our bursary fund is finite and is allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis so it’s important to make your application for bursary as soon as the application process opens in July. You will need to have accepted our offer before you apply. 

If you are under 18 you may be eligible for EMA. EMA is paid at a rate of £30 per week dependent on your total household income.  

Please see page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide for full details of Bursary and EMA.  

You may also be eligible for assistance with travel and childcare, and we have discretionary funds for those students in need. You can find all the information you need in our funding pages. 

What can I do on completion of my course?

When you’ve successfully completed this course, you can move on to study at a higher level with courses such as: 

  • HNC Agriculture   
  • Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture   

Employment options in this sector could include:  

  • Stocksperson, which could progress to Livestock Manager  
  • Tractor Operator   
  • Contract farming work   

Is there more information available online?

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I really enjoyed the course, especially dealing with the variety of sheep and cattle. Dehorning and tagging calves was something I had never done before so I found it interesting to learn how to do it. I also enjoyed learning about the many parts of a tractor, and how to fix parts of it, which will allow me to help with our own at home.

Heather, 2020/21

Apply for Agriculture NC

We are no longer accepting applications for 2023/24

I want to start in 2024/25

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at UHI Argyll. UHI Argyll operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion and/or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.