Agriculture foundation degrees

It's important to consider why you have selected to attend Harper Adams before choosing it for your degree program. It's a small, specialist university but there's a reason we've won these awards! The academic, research, and tutor/supervisory support I have received is unmatched. It's a friendly campus and I have met many lovely people who feel strongly about the university. The campus is in a rural area, meaning if you're looking for a constant ambient nightlife or social scene, you may not find it here. There is a reliable shuttle service to and from Newport and the Telford campus, however the timetable can be limited depending on time of year. Getting around may be a struggle if you cannot drive or do not own a car - or have ride-sharing friends/colleagues. Finding accommodation in Newport is very challenging, BUT I only looked at flats I could let alone. I enjoy the location and campus so my ratings reflect my preferences. As a postgrad, I have not engaged with the SU and therefore cannot accurately rate it. I haven't engaged with the student life offerings much either, but I am aware there are quite a few clubs and groups to join! (Attending uni can be challenging, but it's a great opportunity to step outside your comfort zone!) The student support is where I unfortunately have not had positive experiences - as a more "mature" postgrad student, I felt the Wellbeing team couldn't really relate to my problems and background very well which didn't result in the support or outcomes I was hoping for. I imagine they may be much better equipped to support undergrad students but as I don't have those experiences at Harper, I cannot confirm. That said, I did feel heard when I spoke with them, but ultimately the support I needed came from elsewhere on campus. In short, I am quite happy with Harper. Finding the right fit for you is important though, so I'd encourage a visit and arranging time to speak with lecturers in your topic area if you can.

There is a great atmosphere on campus, everyone is friendly and supportive, the facilities are amazing especially the new science and research centre. Smaller class sizes gives it a more personal approach to university life. There is an amazing support network to help you progress through your degree.

I study on Loughry Campus, Cookstown. It is not located in a city and is a rural location, which I understand may put some people off. But the education programme here is second to none. Staff offer all the support you need and more, and as they are industry expects. The ability to network, liaise with industry professionals, gain experience and learn for working life via practical means allows for almost 100% of Loughry students to be employed by the time they finish final year. The rural position of the college isn’t something to see as negative, as the student council organise events, bus trips and lifts to all the bars, clubs, party nights happening all over the country. There is something to get involved in weekly. If you see something you’d like to attend, they are usually more than happy to organise a trip there! Everyone’s so friendly. In terms of facilities, Loughry has everything a food technology student needs, whether on a science lab front for food micro or chemical analysis to actual state of the art food production facilities. Loughry is a DAERA site also, so industry professionals are on campus regularly, trying out new recipe formulations where students and staff participate in taste panels to gauge the acceptability of new products to the market. If not trailing recipes, professions come to Loughry to seek advice on food production, new product development, packaging and marketing. Again, all the lecturers at Loughry are industry professionals so you feel like everything you learn is completely relevant, and again, it’s great for networking. I’ve loved my time at Loughry, and I may be biased but I can honestly say from my experience that I have been well and truly set up for a career in the food industry. I graduate in June 2022 and have already secured a full time job in the industry.

The SU and student life were probably the weakest parts of my university experience, but this is likely in part due to the small size of Aberystwyth. There were a range of societies but many stopped and restarted at various points. The campus has a great atmosphere and is just the right size!