Harper Adams University

Harper Adams is a single campus university offering a range of qualifications for the agri-food chain and rural sector. This university in rural Shropshire may be small but it performs very highly, winning in three categories at the 2018 Whatuni Student Choice Awards, and coming second place in the University of the Year.

Harper Adams offers undergraduate qualifications in the following areas:

• Agriculture
• Animal Studies
• Business and Agri-food
• Countryside, Environment and Wildlife
• Engineering
• Food Studies
• Geography
• Rural Estate, Property and Land Management
• Veterinary Nursing and Veterinary Physiotherapy

Harper Adams has its very own commercial farm that extends to more than 550 hectares of land and contains both arable and livestock enterprises.

Most recently Harper Adams was awarded the title of Modern University of the Year in the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017. The University has climbed the league table from a ranking of 49 last year to 36 in the new ‘Good University Guide’ for 2017 – the highest position ever held by a Post-1992 University and the first year that a modern university has overtaken Russell Group institutions in The Times league table.

It also holds the joint second highest UK University graduate employment rate – at 98% – according to the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey. The university is one of only two universities to have been awarded Gold in both the 2017 and the 2018 Teaching Excellence Framework.

Our student reviewers regularly say they have loved their time at Harper Adams, rating the overall experience very highly.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“Great. One big community where everyone knows everyone and all willing to help you get to where you wish to be. The placement year has been extremely useful in getting my foot in the door and experience that you can’t buy.”

“Brilliant! I would recommend Harper Adams University to my friends and family as an amazing country university where everyone is a community and all are willing to work and enjoy themselves.”

“Brilliant (words cannot decide how good it has been). There is always support and people who know actually know you as a person not as a number. The student voice is always taken into opinion.”

Graduate employment prospects are consistently above 96%, most recently holding joint second highest UK University graduate employment rate at 98% – helped by practical degrees and strong links with industry specialists. Each degree course includes a compulsory placement year, majority of which are paid, working in your chosen field. Former students have gone on to work in areas including Agronomy, Veterinary Surgeries, Business Consultancy and Mechanical Engineering. Companies who have employed Harper Adams graduates in recent years include Jaguar Land Rover, Faccenda and John Deere.

Harper Adams won the Job Prospects category at the 2018 Whatuni Student Choice Awards for the third year running, and this great win is reflected in comments made by our student reviewers, with the opportunity to take work placements particularly commented upon.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“Everything within Harper is career focused, from assignments to SU Events.”

“Lectures and lecturers completely career focused and industry savvy.”

“The University includes a 12 month placement in my third year this is a brilliant opportunity to apply the skills I learn in lectures to every day employment. The placement year was a real selling point of the University. The careers department are brilliant by offering one to one meetings on the regular basis to discuss the applications process and interviews.”

With just under 3,000 students, the university is able to offer small seminar and tutorial sizes with students consistently praising teaching methods. This was formally recognised when Harper Adams won first place in the 2018 Whatuni Student Choice Awards in this category for the second year running.

Our student reviewers are all very positive, with high praise for their courses and the lecturers who deliver them.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“It’s hands on. Mostly 50/50 with lectures and tutorials.”

“You are an individual with a name not just a number - lecturers will create spare time for your needs.”

“My course modules are very varied and allow you to have strengths and weaknesses in different areas. This can then be progressed with the option to specialise further from second year.”

The students’ union is run by current students with the SU President being a Harper Adams graduate, following their final year. The students’ union is at the heart of the close-knit community on campus, running student societies and sports clubs as well as organising nightlife in the form of balls, the legendary themed Wednesday nights and weekend events such as the annual Big Weekend and Hobgoblins, which see guest appearances from popular bands and Radio 1 DJ’s.

The SU helps to organise your Freshers’ Week, at the start of your first term at university, which will help you settle in and meet housemates, people on your course and staff. Wednesday’s also see lectures finish at 1pm for everyone to allow students to be involved in sporting activities, whether its playing or supporting them!

Our student reviewers enjoy all that the union has to offer, from club nights to the freshers’ fair. In fact, they rated the students’ union so highly that Harper Adams came fifth in this category at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“The Students' Union is the heart of the University where everyone gets together and enjoys meeting new friends. The SU organised a variety of events with a brilliant acts.”

“Best in the UK - everyone views are considered and new updates are always posted if they are good or bad.”

“I love it - They offer a variety of clubs and societies. They try to get everyone involved, whatever they're into and Wednesday nights are the best.”

All 14 halls of residence are within 10 minutes’ walk of campus facilities, lecture theatres and students’ union. A variety of accommodation packages are available – from self-catered en-suite with self-service laundry, to catered, shared university houses with laundry services and options in between. All options include cleaning service, free parking, 24-hour security and Wi-Fi. Each hall has two appointed student wardens usually in their final year who live on site and provide a first point of contact for any concerns or queries you may have.

Every effort is made to offer first year students accommodation on campus, if they apply before September 1st. Beyond first year, students tend to rent accommodation with a group of friends in the rural vicinity, this includes houses, barn conversions, cottages and flats. The majority of these are within a five-mile radius of the university. Most popularly, Newport, where the majority of houses are based, is within walking distance of the town centre where there is a shuttle bus to the university regularly, for those who don’t drive, as well as taxi’s, supermarkets and a doctor’s surgery. This accommodation is readily available at around £70 per week, per person.

Harper Adams was rated incredibly highly in this category at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018, taking home third place. The University have placed within the top five of this category for the last three years.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“Clean, nice and spacious, better than I thought it would be.”

“All you need and more than suitable.”

“Large room, excellent catered facilities, very satisfied with my choice of accommodation.”

More than £20 million has been invested in university facilities over the last decade at Harper Adams.

This includes an extended teaching laboratories complex and an Agricultural Engineering Innovation Centre with all the latest technology. The modern Bamford Library, located at the centre of campus, provides access to more than 41,000 books and electronic journals in an eco-friendly building.

With all facilities within walking distance of each other on campus, it allows lecturers to demonstrate both practical aspects as well as theory in course teachings. The rural setting is also great for field trips, course-related excursions and traditional country pursuits.

Students have the unique advantage of being able to practise ‘in the field’ on the university’s own commercial farm. After a multimillion pound investment, including expanded dairy and pig units and a food research centre, the farm extends to more than 550 hectares on a number of diverse sites and features a variety of livestock.

Our student reviewers have been highly impressed by the ongoing levels of investment into facilities at Harper Adams, with many commenting that there is always something new being developed, or something old being improved. Unsurprisingly, the university came third in this category at the 2018 Whatuni Student Choice Awards for the fourth year in a row.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“Wonderful library, lecture rooms and computing suits.”

“The university facilities are brilliant from a fully equipped library, 24 hrs computer rooms and other quiet working rooms where students can use to do group work.”

They are brilliant, there is something for every individual person's needs."

The market town of Newport, just 2.4 miles from the university campus, is the nearest stop for supermarkets (Waitrose, Aldi and Budgens), high street stores and specialist shops, including a fancy dress hire shop and charity shops that get plenty of business from Harper Adams students.

The town is also home to around 13 pubs and one night club and is a popular night out among the Harper Adams students. Just 10 miles away is Telford Shopping Centre which has a much wider range of high street favourites, as well as a selection of popular restaurants and cinemas. Shrewsbury, Stafford and Wolverhampton are all a bit further away but worth exploring.

The uni is located in a rural area, but students don’t feel totally isolated with Newport nearby, and few have any complaints about their surroundings.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“Harper is great because is it in a village but a town is very close, for the local amenities and where most student live.”

"The local town and area are great."

"Newport is very nice with everything you need."

Taking part in a club is one of the best ways to make friends with those who have common interests and develop life skills. Students have a range of clubs and societies to join including rowing, 4x4, motorsport, gaming, LGBT, field sports, debating forum, rugby and other sports as well as support to create new clubs and societies!

All students get the opportunity to see what the clubs are about at the Fresher’s Fair, held during fresher’s week. Here new students can meet the Club Execs, find out what activities are planned and sign up for their favourites. Sports fixtures involving clubs such as rugby, football and hockey can also be a great way of socialising for those who are just there to support!

Our student reviewers paint a very positive picture of the clubs and societies on offer at Harper Adams, forming the social backbone of the uni: easy to get involved in, lots of choice, and a great way to make friends. No wonder the university came second at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018 in this particular category.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“Great - Open to everyone and lots of variety.”

“Very good. Good socials.”

“Excellent range with clubs from motorsports and off-roading, Clay shooting, equestrian, rowing, all with competitive teams as well.”

Students widely praise the support the university offers, and Harper Adams has won the Student Support category at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards for the last four years in a row.

The onsite Student Services team is available to help with any issues from money worries to illness. The Learner Support team provides help to people with a range of disabilities.

Harper Adams have a qualified BACP registered counsellor and a Mental Health and Welfare Advisor who provide a drop-in service for students as well as appointments throughout the week, by prior arrangement. They provide professional, accessible and confidential support to students who experience emotional or psychological problems which may affect their personal lives or academic performance.

Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:

“Great. They are always offering extra support and help with assignments!”

“Best I have every received and completely personal.”

“Good - they try and advertise/encourage the personal support to everyone and I feel like there's everything I could need. The academic tutors are always available and welcoming.”

UK Students Per Year: £9,250

Fees depend on the course you take and how long it takes to complete. Full time UK and EU undergraduate fees are £9,250 and placement years are £1,850.

International Students Per Year: £10,400, and a placement year costs £3,100.

The university's Development Trust is a charity that works with industry and alumni to offer exclusive scholarships to current Harper Adams students. Around £400,000 of scholarships are offered each year; most include financial help, some also offer paid placement opportunities.

The benefits of scholarships for students can include:

• Financial support
• Increased confidence
• An enhanced CV
• The chance to learn and earn in the real world
• Exploring the field they want to work in
• Developing vocational skills and preparing for graduate employment

Please see the university's website for full details of the scholarships available.

One of the advantages of being a small and specialist university is that lecturers and other support staff can spend more time working with smaller groups and can get to know you as an individual, helping you learn, develop and achieve your goals. Many lecturers are also involved in research or consultancy work with industry and are well placed to pass on the latest industry knowledge, developments and practices to you, the student. All research conducted by Harper Adams is of international quality and more than 50 per cent is either world leading or internationally excellent.

As the UK’s leading university for the Agri-food chain and rural sectors, and coming second in the Whatuni University of the Year 2018, Harper Adams is engaged in research of international quality. It is also home to five specialist research centres, of which more than 50 per cent are either world leading or internationally excellent. It has strong relationships with industry, professionally accredited courses and expert academic staff, covering all aspects of the food chain, from plough to plate, plus allied subjects including animal health and geography. Harper Adams won the ‘Course and Lecturers’ category at the 2017 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. 

All applicants should meet the minimum entry requirement of 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including maths, English language and science. In addition to this, applicants must also be in possession of, or studying towards, an acceptable level 3 qualification, such as A levels. Details of accepted qualifications and grades can be found on our course pages, or within the relevant UCAS Entry Profiles