The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has a history spanning over 175 years and has been a leading provider of agricultural education and a key contributor to the land-based sector throughout its history.
As a specialist university, it has a small student population and strong industry connections. It was ranked in the top ten for Small or Specialist universities in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. Despite its size, most of its facilities are located on-campus, meaning students benefit from a close-knit, communal campus environment to live and study.
The university campus is within walking distance of Cirencester, offering students a range of restaurants, boutique and independent shops and an active nightlife scene. The university also benefits from being in the Cotswolds region, meaning the university is surrounded by stunning countryside.
For students who prefer a more urban feel, there are many larger cities easily accessible. It takes less than an hour to reach Bristol, Bath, Oxford and Cheltenham, and only 90 minutes on the train to reach London. The M4 and M5 both pass close to Cirencester, offering easy access to the major road network.
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4.3The Royal Agricultural University has a range of different accommodation options to suit a variety of budgets and requirements.
If you're looking for self-catered rooms, you'll want to opt for Vic Hughes block 1, West Lodge, or Riverside. Riverside is located off-campus but offers double beds. Vic Hughes block 1 is a quiet, ensuite block, and West Lodge also offers ensuite rooms.
Those looking for catered rooms will have a wide range of choice. Catered rooms with ensuite facilities include Coad Court, Main Building, Vic Hughes block 2 and Woodlands Lodge. It's important to note that the Main Building closes over the Christmas period. Main Building and George Wing share a communal lounge, and students in Vic Hughes block 2 and two of the three Woodlands Lodge blocks also benefit from a communal lounge.
For those who want catered rooms with shared bathroom facilities, Bledisloe Court offers this. Houses are shared between nine or ten students, and each room has its own washbasin. Coad Court also has shared bathroom facility rooms.
All catered rooms are half-board, meaning 14 meals are provided a week – breakfast and dinner. Students can opt to purchase lunches in the uni's restaurant if they wish.
The RAU offers sports scholarships to undergraduate students who have an outstanding ability in elite sport. Scholarships are awarded for one year only, but students are able to reapply in each year of study.
The university also offers the Walter Smith Award to support one mature student each year. The successful applicant will be awarded financial support each year of their studies, for up to three years.
You can also apply for the Ethnic Minority Excellence Scholarship as an RAU undergraduate if you're from a minority ethnicity, starting your first year of study, and achieved at least 117 UCAS points.
First-year undergraduates can also apply for the Sir Emrys Jones Memorial Trust if they have connections to Wales and will receive the award yearly for up to three years if they are successful.
The RAU also has bursaries for first-year students from low-income households from England or Wales, with additional support for care leavers or those from postcodes identified as having low progression to higher education.
Scholarships and bursaries are subject to change, and you should check the university's website for up-to-date information and full eligibility criteria.
The RAU offers a select list of courses, all based around its specialty. Despite the small number of courses on offer, the RAU still manages to offer a variety of course types to meet different students' requirements.
As well as the standard three-year undergraduate degree, the university also offers many of their courses with a foundation year. This allows students who may not meet the typical entry requirements to study at the university.
The RAU also offers many of its courses with a placement year, extending the degree to four years. Placement years offer valuable workplace experience and help students to build their professional network.
For those not ready to commit to a three-year degree, the university also offers foundation degrees. Different to foundation years, a foundation degree is a two-year course which is equivalent to the first two years of a bachelors degree. Upon completing a foundation degree at the RAU, you'll be awarded an FdSc. Once you've completed this award, you'll have the option to return to study and complete a further ‘top-up' year to obtain a bachelors degree.
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4.3The Royal Agricultural University offers a comprehensive careers service for its students. The careers service includes access to resources about a wide range of careers, study opportunities and employment, one-to-one guidance from advisers, a job vacancies board, an email-based careers service, skill training sessions and careers fairs.
Both graduates and students can access the job vacancies board, where you'll find part-time as well as full-time opportunities.
The email-based careers service offers CV checking, as well as advice on specific employment-related queries.
Skill training sessions include workshops on CV writing and interview skills, supporting students to succeed in job applications.
The annual careers fair offers students chances to network with employers as well as discover the range of opportunities available to graduates of the RAU.
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