The UK dairy industry is facing one of its most challenging periods to date. In order to run a successful business, modern dairy farmers need to combine scientific knowledge with practical and business management skills in order to produce high quality milk while minimising cost and safeguarding the environment. Ideally situated in the premier dairy county of Cheshire, Reaseheath has a national reputation for its delivery of quality training within the specialist field of dairy herd management. This unique course will enable you to develop an understanding of the technical, economic, legal and managerial principles relating to dairy farm businesses, identify the effects of environmental and ethical issues in the dairy industry and offer specialist practical skills associated with dairy farming. The course includes opportunities for practical skills work such as foot trimming, veterinary medicine training and on-farm practical demonstrations. Students undertake a minimum 10 weeks work placement and have the opportunity to go on farm visits and study tours in the UK and abroad.
The HE Agriculture Programmes are based within University Centre Reaseheath’s dedicated £2 million Higher Education teaching facilities and have direct access to Reaseheath’s specialist campus facilities which in recent years has seen over £80 million in investment, including:
• £8 million Advanced Engineering and Agri-Tech Centre
• £8 million National Centre for Horticulture, the Environment and Sustainable Technology, including an automated, LED hydroponic glasshouse and 2021 commissioned 200m2 Vertical Farming Centre.
• £7 million Food Centre featuring commercial dairy processing facilities, butchery and bakery
• Mixed commercial farm of 272 hectares of grass and arable land including grass, clover, maize, forage peas, wheat and barley
• Robotic milking facility (commissioned in 2021) consisting of two Lely A5 Automated Milking Robots, Lely Discovery slurry collector and Lely Juno silage pusher, milking approximately 90 pedigree Holstein cows
• Conventional 32/32 Rapid-Exit parlour system milking 120 cows pedigree Holstein cows
• Expanding Beef-from-dairy beef unit
• A commercial flock of 500 North Country Mule breeding ewes
• Anaerobic Digester
Course Details - Modules
Year 1 (Level 4)
• Biological Systems in Agriculture
• Agricultural Machinery and Technology
• Farm Animal Welfare and Building Design
• Dairy Production Systems
• Managing the Milk Supply and Enterprise Diversification
• Farm Animal Nutrition
• Academic Skills Development
• Fundamentals of Business and Human Resource Management
Year 2 (Level 5)
• Agriculture & the Environment
• Dairy Cow Genetics and Breeding
• Transition Cow and Youngstock Management
• Farm Animal Health
• Forage Production and Management
• Work Based Learning for Academic Credit
• Research Methods*
• Professional Project*
• Finance and Planning
*Denotes optional modules
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessments are designed to encourage both academic skills and skills valued in the workplace. They include a combination of coursework and timed assessments in both independent and collaborative formats. Coursework may take many forms including: essays, reports, data processing, presentations, academic posters, seminar discussions, interviews, critical reviews and portfolios of evidence. Timed assessments will vary depending upon the nature of the module but will be problem-solving tasks dealing with real-life industry issues which support the development of industry and life skills.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
D4N3
Institution code:
R14
Campus Name:
University Centre Reaseheath
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Year 2
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
A minimum of 64 tariff points from A and AS level to include Biology A-level
A minimum of 64 tariff points
in an Agriculture or Science related subject
in an Agriculture or Science related subject
Mature students (aged 21+) will be considered on an individual basis on their prior knowledge and experience. This may be assessed by interview, completion of coursework/essay or other methods. There may be a requirement for a formal qualification to be completed first e.g. Access to HE course.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course