Harper Adams University is a specialist institution situated in the heart of Shropshire. It offers a range of courses across the agriculture and food, animal health, and rural students and management industries at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The university recently placed first in the Complete University Guide 2024 for facilities spend, as well as placing in the top 35 UK universities overall. It won career prospects (previously known as job prospects) for the last eight consecutive years, while also placing 17th overall in the 2023 Whatuni Student Choice Awards.
Students who opt to study at Harper Adams will benefit from a rural location with excellent facilities, incorporating a modern student community and learning environment. They’ll also enjoy qualifications that are integrated with real commercial agricultural facilities.
Harper Adams offers undergraduate qualifications in the following areas:
The university owns and operates a commercial form with almost 500 hectares of land, containing both arable and livestock businesses. Students will enjoy hands-on learning on the farm where applicable.
The success rates of the university are consistently high, with the latest graduate employment rates at 97.2% according to the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey. This is helped by dedicated support, placement years in every course, and small class sizes.
Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:
“It’s like home from home! Great student atmosphere!”
“Good place to study everything is close to wherever you want to go. Student life is good I’ve made some very good friends.”
“I love studying at Harper because it is a remote university, the nearby town is lovely and I get a lot of student support from the university.”
Harper Adams University offers a range of different courses, but is primarily known for being the top university in the UK for agriculture, animal and rural management, and environmental management.
Students who choose to learn at Harper Adams will have the chance to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues, including those related to climate change, land management, food security and more.
Because the university is smaller and has a more specialised selection of courses, it’s able to invest more in its facilities and faculty for those areas. Students will not just learn from expert faculty who are genuinely passionate for the future of their industries, but also use cutting-edge labs and research technology in doing so.
There’ll only ever be around 3,000 undergraduate students on campus at any time, meaning students will benefit from smaller class sizes and tailored learning that suits their own needs, all while having a vibrant student community to lean on.
Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:
“A great location to study for both people with an agricultural background or without, the university offers a great veterinary nursing course that focuses on the theoretical as well as the practical parts immensely.”
“Good university and course team.”
“Contact time with the lecturers is good”
Interested? Order a prospectus to find out more about the uni and the courses on offer.
GET PROSPECTUSWhile the university does list accepted qualifications and grades on the individual course pages of its website, there’s more of a focus on ensuring a wide range of students are able to apply for its courses, provided they have a passion for working towards a career in agriculture, land sciences, or environmental management.
To this end, the university uses a contextualised offer scheme, which supports students applying with alternative qualifications or who have broader experience or talent to bring to their work. Students who have certain disadvantages in their studies may also benefit from reduced entry requirements, with full details available on the university’s website.
Each course does still have specific criteria that students will need to meet.
Clearing
The university has its own dedicated Clearing team who can make the last-minute application process as stress-free as possible. Provided students have their UCAS reference and exam results to hand when they call, they’ll be talked through the process with relative ease.
UCAS TARIFF CALCULATORSend a message directly to the uni to learn more about their entry requirements.
ASK A QUESTIONThere are 14 different halls of residents available for students who wish to live in university accommodation, all of which is within a short walk of the main campus facilities.
Students can tailor their own living arrangement, whether they want catered or self-catered living, shared or en-suite bathroom facilities, and more. All options include 24-hour security, free parking, a cleaning service, and WiFi.
Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:
“Brilliant location on campus”
“I loved my uni hall accommodation, there was a great kitchen and lovely cleaners”
“Halls were always warm and relatively clean, the catered food was excellent.”
The university continues to invest significantly in its campus, with over £50 million spent within the last ten years.
Some of the newer facilities include an extension to the teaching laboratories complex, and a new Agricultural Engineering Innovation Centre which is equipped the state-of-the-art tech.
The campus has its own Bamford Library, situated centrally, which gives students access to over 41,000 books and electronic journals to use in their studies.
As a campus university in a dedicated rural location, everything is within walking distance. This allows for more flexible learning opportunities – lecturers can walk students to outdoor facilities to demonstrate practical aspects of their learning.
The biggest unique feature is the university’s own commercial farm, which has undergone its own significant investment. This includes expanded pig and dairy unites, and a food research centre.
Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:
“The facilities are amazing”
“The best aspect of studying at Harper Adams is the library facilities which are very well maintained and comfortable to study in.”
“The labs have good equipment and we are able to do lots of dissections.”
What's it like to study at this institution? Current students and alumni share their opinion...
VIEW 1435 REVIEWS WRITE A REVIEWE Ella Reviewed 17 Feb 25 Agribusiness Management (with Placement) BSc (Hons) Always feel at home at harper, never lost in the crowds. Lecturers know you and you know them. Student support is unmatched. Clubs and societies are the best way to get involved at your own pace. Small community... READ FULL REVIEW
L Leah Reviewed 17 Feb 25 Applied Zoology (with Placement) BSc (Hons) The lecturer theatres and classrooms have little to no plugs, The student location is pretty nice if you like a more rural location The student support isn’t the best nothing ever gets done about anything... READ FULL REVIEW
The support network offered by Harper Adams University is highly regarded – it has spent the last decade in the top 20 for the student support category at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards, demonstrating not just the quality of the support but also the consistency. The academic support offered is an absolute priority. Students will learn in small classes with a personalised approach from their tutors, giving them direct access to faculty for any questions or help they might need. There is an IT support team on campus for any issues in this area. Any students with specific needs, such as dyslexia, will also get tailored support.
There’s a wider support services team which deals with more wide-ranging issues related to student life, whether that’s finance, mental or physical health, or careers support.
There’s a qualified BACP registered counsellor on campus as well as a separate welfare advisor offering drop-in services and appointments.
Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:
“My lecturers are so friendly and informative!”
“The staff at the uni are all very supportive and easy to talk to whenever you have a problem.”
“Good support especially for academic guidance and learner support.”
Find out more about the student support offered on the university’s website.
VISIT WEBSITEHarper Adams is a small university with a focused range of specialisms, which is highly advantageous when it comes to recruiting the best academic talent for those subjects. It also ensures students are provided with the specific facilities and resources needed to give students the best chance of success.
The fact that the lecturers are so specialist themselves means they are often still involved in research or consultancy work, which helps students to gain the most up-to-date knowledge and get a real insight into their industry. Also, being highly specialist, class sizes are very small, which allows for a much more personalised approach to teaching.
As the UK’s top university for subjects related to the rural economy and agricultural food chain, students will enjoy world-leading study in these fields. More than 60% of the research carried out at the university in these areas is classified as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ by the Research Excellence Framework.
The close ties that the university has with industry partners means that courses are highly accredited and cover all aspects of subjects needed for students to go onto successful careers.
Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:
“Get a year out in industry to implement what you are taught in lessons which really helps.”
“The faculties are amazing, the farm on site is amazing I recently helped with lambing on the farm and it was such a good experience you can’t get at other universities!”
“It’s nice to have a stables on campus to allow us to treat and learn hands on. It’s also good that staff are able to bring in their own dogs for us to learn muscles off and practice techniques.”
The Harper Adams Students’ Union is the beating heart of the campus, representing the students and running a program of activities to keep them entertained throughout the year. As well as being responsible for the clubs and societies, it runs popular weekly Wednesday nights, the annual Big Weekend and more.
Harper Adams University students on Whatuni say:
“Social life is by far the best in comparison to other unis, the groups of individuals you meet at your social become very important to you very quickly.”
“Campus is in a pretty, rural location.”
“The student union is good with the weekly night out and other events that they hold.”
Students at Harper Adams are able to enjoy a wide range of clubs and societies, which serve as a great way of bringing people with shared interested together while developing skills and interests.
Some of the clubs available at Harper Adams include motorsport, faming, field sports, debating, LGBTQ+ and more, and any students who wish to set up their own society is supported by the SU.
The university is situated in a quiet rural area which is ideal for studying, but not so remote that students feel cut off.
Newport is the nearest big town, hosting all the high street and independent stores, coffee houses, supermarkets and more that students could need. The town also offers great nightlife, and a little further away the city of Telford is another great spot for bars, clubs, a cinema and more.
The employment prospects for graduates of Harper Adams sit consistently above 96%, which demonstrates the success of the teaching and the networking opportunities provided by the university. With every degree including a compulsory placement year (most of which are paid), students will not just gain valuable experience of their industry but they have an increased likelihood of securing a role immediately upon graduation.
Every course at Harper Adams is designed in partnership with the leaders of the relevant industries along with other professionals, with the influence of the passionate, talented faculty who have their own experience to draw on. Students will get all the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, with real-world practical examples helping to bring each subject to life. The value of studying at Harper Adams, with its employment-driven approach, is highly recognised by businesses.
Students from Harper Adams will go on to work in various fields including mechanical engineering, business consultancy, agronomy, and veterinary surgery. Major employers of graduates include Bentley, John Deere, Avara Foods and Tesco.
At the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards, Harper Adams won the career prospects category for the 8th consecutive year.
Students who wish to learn at Harper Adams University will have access to a wide range of scholarships and other financial support opportunities, designed to aid them in paying for their tuition and life as a student. This is thanks to the Development Trust, a charity owned by the university which collaborates with successful alumni and other partners within relevant industries to award over half a million pounds to students every year.
This includes scholarships, but also other funds such as paid placement opportunities, so that students can experience work in the industry and get paid for their time, while still learning and developing towards their qualification.
The benefits of scholarships for students can include:
Please see the university's website for full details of the scholarships available.
Fees depend on the course a student is completing, 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: £16,500, and a placement year costs £3,700.
Send a message directly to the uni to learn more about their scholarships and bursaries.
ASK A QUESTIONThere are currently no undergraduate open days available to book at this university.
Take a look at open days at unis across the UK.
Many courses at Harper Adams University offer an opportunity to do a work placement or sandwich year. These opportunities will help you develop your employability skills, and the careers department is also on hand to offer personal support.
As well as a wide range of courses on offer, Harper Adams University also has loads of clubs and societies you can join during your studies. Joining societies is just one of the many ways you can tailor your experience at Harper Adams University to suit you.
With a degree in a subject you love, you'll find more doors opening to jobs you'll love. Studies have also shown that graduates earn more on average compared to non-graduates.
If you want to continue to pursue education, you'll be able to progress to postgraduate study once you've got your undergraduate degree. You could opt to study a master's, or even get a PhD.
Living in uni halls means you'll have access to communal areas including kitchen and dining facilities. These facilities offer you plenty of opportunity to socialise with the students you're living with.
You'll also find all bills are included in your rent, and yes, that includes WiFi. Rent also covers security and maintenance. There are accessible rooms available in halls that have been adapted for disabled students.
