Harper Adams University

Harper Adams University has been providing world-leading, specialist education in the fields of agriculture, farming, and animal science for 120 years. It is now the UK’s market leader, by share*, for postgraduate degrees in agricultural and veterinary subjects.

It offers Masters programmes developed in conjunction with industry in a range of topics related to agricultural production, agri-tech, food industry management, global agri-business, ecology, conservation, forestry, land management, rural law, veterinary professions, mechatronic engineering and data science. Several routes are unique to Harper Adams in the UK, including entomology and plant pathology.

Postgraduate courses are heavily influenced by the unique, world-leading research being conducted at the university.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, more than half of Harper Adams’ research was considered ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Students have access to a wide range of study facilities, on a campus that has seen investment of more than £45 million over the last decade.

 In the Complete University Guide 2021 league tables, Harper Adams was placed 1^st in the UK for facilities spend and was the highest ranking post-92 university and the highest ranking specialist higher education provider in the overall table.

*By share of volume of students. HESA 2018

Harper Adams has very close links with industry and works with more than 700 businesses.

With a focus on applied science, students are supported to gain real-world skills and experience.

In addition, the Careers Service at Harper Adams provides excellent employment support to all students both during and after their studies, including:

• One-to-one and group career planning, CV writing, and interview workshops
• Annual careers fair, with national and international agri-business employers in attendance
• Online job-search service with career opportunities

Students on research degrees are also fully supported through a Professional Development Programme. Specialist advisors will be on hand to provide training in presentation and communication skills, time, and project management skills, and to give career planning and networking support.

Postgraduate taught routes include PgC, PgD, MSc, MEng, MProf and MRes qualifications. A full-time student can achieve their Masters degree in one year, a part-time student can expect this to take a little longer, dependent on how many modules are completed each year.

The part-time option is popular with students wishing to fit study around work and personal commitments. But full-time works for those with commitments too. Postgraduate degrees at Harper Adams are delivered through ‘block-based study’, with each module being delivered in blocks of on-campus, face-to-face teaching that last one or two weeks. In addition to this, students will be required to conduct further self-study away from campus. They will be fully supported via ‘The Learning Hub’, the university’s interactive virtual learning environment which has a range of learning aids.

There is an MRes option on most subjects, combining taught modules with an in-depth research project, for students who wish to enter research-based careers. The university also offers a number of MPhil and PhD opportunities across all departments.

All courses are underpinned by Harper Adams University’s extensive research and long-standing collaborations with other research institutes in the UK and abroad. Many are also accredited by relevant professional associations, such as: the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; the Institution of Agricultural Engineers; and the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

The Harper Adams Students’ Union is run by a student-elected team of student officers, whose mission is to uphold the values of the university, create a united student body, and ensure the student voice is heard on important university matters. They also provide friendly, non-judgemental, and confidential support to students on a variety of issues.

The SU also manages the university’s sports clubs and societies and arranges a varied programme of activities and events throughout the year.

Postgraduate students can move into campus accommodation for the duration of their study or book a place only for block delivery weeks, subject to availability.

For students who don’t wish to live in university accommodation, there are plenty of private accommodation options in the nearby town of Newport or the village of Edgmond. The university’s accommodation team has a list of accredited landlords in the local area and will be more than happy to help postgraduate students find somewhere safe to live.

Harper Adams comes equipped with all the facilities needed to support world-class learning and research.

In addition to the commercial farm, which includes dairy, pig, beef, sheep and arable enterprises, there is the Crop and Environment Research Centre, which allows students and research staff to replicate and study natural environments. The Jean Jackson Entomology building provides Controlled Temperature and Lighting rooms (CTL). The Elizabeth Creek Building provides laboratories for anatomy, microbiology, agricultural and environmental study and the Weston building provides a state of the art lecture theatre and seminar rooms, a stone’s throw from the laboratories and the Engineering facilities, including workshops and clean engineering labs for mechatronics.

The Postgraduate and Professional Development Centre features teaching, IT and social spaces specifically for postgraduate students. The Bamford Library provides access to about 40,000 books, over 50,000 online journals and a range of other resources. It also contains group and individual study rooms.

Finally, the Faccenda Centre provides a place where students can relax and socialise away from the classroom. It is home to a café, a fully-equipped gym and student support services.

Harper Adams is nestled in the glorious Shropshire countryside, close to the historical market town of Newport. In Newport, students will find picturesque streets lined with a mix of high street shops and independent boutiques, alongside plenty of quaint cafes and restaurants. For those who crave a little more entertainment, the bustling Telford – with its IMAX cinema, ice rink, and shopping centre – is also close by.

For students who want to soak up the region’s deep history, it’s a short drive from the university to Ironbridge, which was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Students can check out the famous Ironbridge Gorge - a world heritage site – and various museums. Or there is Shrewsbury, a beautiful town on the banks of the river Severn that’s famous for being the birthplace of Charles Darwin.

For students who want to keep active, there are plenty of walking, hiking, cycling, and other outdoor pursuits to try – all amongst some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside.

A wide range of sports clubs and special interest societies are available via the Students’ Union, from football, to music to the Christian Union. All clubs are open to all students – undergraduate or postgraduate – and membership fees are low. If students can’t find a society they want to join or have an idea for a society they’d like to start, the university’s students’ union will help them set one up.

There is a wide range of student support on offer at Harper Adams, both academic and welfare-based. If students are feeling stressed or finding university life difficult to cope with for any reason, they can visit the student wellbeing officer for confidential help and advice. The wellbeing officer can help identify any academic or disability support (such as extra time on assignments or exams) students may need and – for students struggling financially – can even give access to short-term loans.

They can also refer students to the university’s on-campus BACP-registered counsellors and mental health advisor, who provide both private sessions and group workshops on topics such anxiety management and resilient thinking.

There is also an on-campus chaplaincy service and an on-site doctor, who students can book appointments with during term time.

Postgraduate Certificate course fees range from £2,800 - £4,000 per year for UK students and £5,000 - £5,950 per year for international students.

Postgraduate Diploma course fees range from £5,600 - £9,200 per year for UK students and £10,000 - £16,300 per year for international students.

Master’s course fees range from £8,150 - £10,850 per year for UK students and £10,650 - £18,500 per year for international students.

MPhil/PhD courses range from £7,750 - £13,100 per year for UK students and £11,050 - £17,650 for international students.

Exact fees will depend on the course studied and whether its’ studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Full information can be found on the individual course pages on the university’s website.

Most of the university’s postgraduate courses are eligible for the government’s postgraduate loan, worth £10,906 in 2020 for English students, £17,000 for Welsh students, £10,000 for Scottish students, and £5,500 for students in Northern Ireland.

The university and industry partners or philanthropic donors offer a range of scholarships each year through the Harper Adams University Development Trust. Visit the website for full details.

Harper Adams University’s strengths lie in the fields of agriculture, agricultural technology and agri-food business. The university has been providing specialist education in the fields of agriculture, land and farm management, and animal production and welfare for nearly 120 years.

Harper Adams is a test bed for a range of agricultural and land management technologies, from agronomy drones to cattle movement sensors. A new programme in Data Science aims to enable agricultural professionals to make the most of these technologies as the sector drives forward.

Entry requirements vary from course to course, however for most taught postgraduate courses the minimum requirement is typically an honours degree at 2:2 or above (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. For some courses, a good HND, Foundation degree, or Graduate Certificate/Diploma may also be accepted, along with relevant professional work experience.

For some courses, students may have to undergo an interview and provide references for any work experience used as part of the application process.

For research degrees, students will need a minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor's degree and either further research experience or a Masters degree in a relevant subject.

Harper Adams offers Master of Research (MRes) courses covering subjects such as Applied Mechatronic Engineering, Entomology, and Ruminant Nutrition and more. These one-year courses combine a series of taught modules with a research project of the student’s choosing.

They also offer a number of two-year MPhil and three-year PhD opportunities, both university-funded (studentships) and self-funded, across all academic departments - giving researchers the chance to work on some of the world’s most ground-breaking and innovative agri-business research projects. Together students and staff are improving animal welfare, developing innovative farming technologies and tackling food scarcity and wastage in the food chain. A list of current PhD projects can be found on university’s website.

All MPhil and PhD students will be provided with their own office space. They will also have access to a wide range of state-of-the-art research and expert academic staff to full support their research.

In 2014, the Research Excellence Framework considered all of Harper Adams’ research to be of ‘international quality’, with more than half considered ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Taught postgraduate courses offered at Harper Adams, cover a wide range of agriculture, technology, food production, business, economics, environmental management and animal science subject areas. Courses have been designed to produce well-qualified, expert individuals who are highly employable throughout the food and agriculture industries or in government/policy-making positions.

Most courses have various study level options; students can choose between Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or a Master’s degree. Courses are offered on full-time or part-time basis, providing flexibility to those who wish to study around work or other commitments.

Courses are delivered via a unique ‘block based study’ programme, whereby each module is delivered in one/two week blocks of face-to-face teaching on campus, with additional self-study conducted by students away from campus, fully supported by the university’s interactive virtual learning environment, ‘The Learning Hub’.

Harper Adams offers a small number of courses that are delivered primarily through distance learning, with optional study days on campus where students can access practical classes to support their learning.

Students on these courses will be given access to The Learning Hub, the university’s interactive virtual learning environment, where they can access study notes, PowerPoint presentations, study tools such as quizzes and feedback tools.

Harper Adams’ vision is to fill the shortage of scientific and technological expertise in the agriculture and food production industries, with highly-qualified, work-ready graduates. Courses have been created to meet the demands of the agri-food chain industry and are heavily influenced by the world-leading research being undertaken on-campus.

Many are also accredited by relevant professional associations, such as: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; Institution of Agricultural Engineers; Institute of Chartered Foresters; and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Studying on a 627-hectare working farm, students have access to a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including: a £2 million Saputo Dairy UK Innovation Centre; cattle, sheep and pig farm units; engineering workshops, the food academy, and state-of-the-art science and environmental laboratories. There is even a dedicated Postgraduate and Professional Development Centre for postgraduate students.

All postgraduate students are fully supported by the university’s academic, career, and wellbeing teams throughout their studies.