Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is a multi-campus higher education provider with locations across Scotland. Students can choose from a wide variety of land-based courses, from diploma to PhD level.
SRUC combines education, consulting and research in the agricultural and rural sector to cultivate the next generation of rural professionals. SRUC has multiple campus locations across Scotland, as well as eight veterinary centres and 26 consulting offices across Scotland and the north of England.
The college delivers specialised skills-based training, informed by world-class sector-based research which is undertaken at the college’s six research centres. SRUC works closely with over 12,000 rural business clients within many different areas of agricultural and commerce, and students benefit from their combined wealth of experience, technology and innovation.
The future for land-based industries will involve many challenges and will require a sensitive combination of practice, technology and policymaking to ensure the security of the environment. SRUC draws upon a heritage of more than a century of experience and expertise to deliver sustainable economic strategies in an environmentally conscious business landscape, while representing the voices of its rural communities from the ground up.
The college provides a full higher education experience; students will benefit from independent and group learning, an extensive support team to cover all aspects of student life, as well as a vibrant student community with social activities including clubs and societies.
Courses and lecturers
4.0Course rating
4.0Course content rating
2.7Lecturers and Teaching quality rating
SRUC offers a wide range of courses and delivers its curriculum through a blended model of theory and practical work. Many qualifications have a strong vocational learning element, with work placements and hands-on industry experience forming core parts of the course structure.
The college’s teaching faculty are highly qualified and well experienced in their respective fields. Students praise the enthusiasm shown and encouragement given by the teaching staff, many of whom have spent years as practitioners within their field and have taught and worked overseas.
SRUC is a research-driven institution and has been recognised for the quality of its agricultural and veterinary research in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) as the strongest in the UK, with 75% of its research rated as world-leading or internationally-excellent.
There are a wide range of course options available to students, opening up a multitude of career options in the future.
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Entry requirements at SRUC differ on a course-by-course basis. With so many vocational course options, there are many alternative pathways to admission besides academic qualifications such as A-Levels or Scottish Highers. Applicants are advised to check the college website for course-specific application details and any extra requirements or experience they might need.
Typically, a degree course at SRUC will require 3 A-Levels with minimum grades of BCC. Students applying later in life, following time spent in the workplace, can speak to the university to see if their experiences can be applied towards entry requirements.
SRUC fosters a dynamic and diverse learning community, and international students are encouraged to submit an application for courses they’re interested in. There are English language proficiency requirements for most courses and detailed information can be found online. International students may also be required to provide evidence of their ability to pay for their studies before being granted the documentation allowing their entry.
SRUC offers multiple accommodation options at its six Scottish locations, either on-campus or in association with its partner universities or private providers in the area. Locations include:
Craibstone, Aberdeen
Riverside, Ayr
Barony, Dumfries
King’s Buildings, Edinburgh
Elmwood, Fife
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Oatridge, West Lothian
New students are given priority for SRUC accommodation placements, and there is a range of housing options in attractive locations near the college to suit all budgets and preferences. Prospective students are provided with their accommodation details once an offer has been made.
Facilities
Distributed across multiple campuses, SRUC offers a wealth of facilities to ensure the academic success and personal development of its students. The diversity of campuses provides a wide range of services from basic conveniences such as cafés and coffee shops, to sports, health and recreational activity options.
Each campus has excellent conference and seminar facilities, individual and group study spaces, and plenty of areas for socialising. SRUC supports several specialist land-based technology facilities at its Barony Campus, including Dairy Technology and Scottish Forestry centres. The Oatridge campus hosts the Scottish National Equestrian Centre, and the Elmwood Campus features an 18-hole golf course where students are able to play during their downtime.
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SRStudent ReviewerReviewed 18 Feb 21
Veterinary Nursing
Couldn’t be happier to have picked SRUC for veterinary nursing! It’s very practical based and really hands on which I love a lot. The lecturers are lovely and in our online (for now) lectures they make sure to try and keep us engaged and give us breaks as they know online learning can be a bit...
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SRUC recognises the need for students to receive adequate support while completing a course of study, and runs a dedicated department tasked with nurturing the academic and personal potential of all students. Encouraging them to make the most of their university experience, their services include:
Health and Wellbeing care – for any physical or mental concerns that students have during their studies.
Academic support – helping to develop core skills required for courses.
Career development department – offering advice and guidance on career options.
Financial advice services – help with budgeting and financial resources.
International student support department – covering all issues students from other countries may encounter.
Free and confidential counselling – available when students need to talk about issues related to or impacting on their course.
Disability support – ensuring all students have a level playing field when undertaking their studies.
SRUC graduates join an expanded community of professional alumni, which helps maintain links between the college’s active learning community and the professional industries they will enter after completing their studies.
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Simply put, SRUC is the most comprehensive provider of skills-based agricultural and land-based education in Scotland. It succeeds through its strong foundation of world-leading research and development.
SRUC and the University of Edinburgh have together been ranked as generating the most powerful research output of any institution in the UK, in terms of agricultural and veterinary research, and the college continues to build on this reputation by developing key areas within its departments.
This excellence in research allows the college to act as a specialist consultancy body in many agricultural and rural sectors, strengthening businesses and supporting both public and private sector companies, as well as informing governments and advising policymakers.
Students benefit from training in an active agricultural environment and gaining access to key industry insights or professional associates. They also benefit from the reputation of SRUC, and the weight that their qualification carries upon graduation because of this.
The Student’s Association (SRUCSA) organises a lively program of events throughout the academic year as well as functioning as the representational body of its student community.
SRUCSA offers a timetable of networking and careers events so students can explore their employment opportunities while working towards their qualifications.
Clubs and Societies
SRUCSA co-ordinates a wide range of clubs and societies, including sports teams, language groups and special interest societies, which together provide ample opportunities for students to develop extra-curricular hobbies and interests, as well as socialise with students from outside their course.
The college supports the establishment of new clubs and societies by motivated students.
City life
SRUC’s campus locations offer a diverse mix of city and rural life. Cities range from the hilly capital of Edinburgh, with cosmopolitan charm and abundance of restaurants, galleries and museums, to the port city of Aberdeen, deep in the Scottish heartlands with its granite architecture and maritime heritage.
Historic market towns such as Cupar and Dumfries offer a more relaxed pace of life, and Ayr is a short distance to the beach and birthplace of the famous Scottish bard, Robert Burns.
An extensive rail network connects the SRUC campuses with the rest of the country.
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A certificate from SRUC is a globally recognised qualification from an institution with a high level of specialisation in land-based practices and industry. Students who opt for a course here will graduate with an award that is recognised as being from a specialist university, bringing additional influence among employers who understand the field. Course options are varied and can lead to a wide range of career paths depending on the student’s own goals.
SRUC designs its courses in collaboration with a network of industry partners, ensuring that students are well prepared for entry into their chosen field after graduation. All courses are relevant to the industry and updated so that students can step straight into their career.
Student have access to subject-specific careers guidance provided by academic tutors and supported by careers advisors within each program of study, many of whom have an intimate understanding of the employment sector associated with their course.
SRUC understands that the cost of moving home and undertaking a course of study can be significant. It believes that access to higher education should be available to students from all financial backgrounds.
The college is committed to keeping course fees as accessible as possible and provides a number of non-repayable bursary options, available to students on both need-based and merit-based criteria. These bursaries ensure that the most economically vulnerable students are supported, while ambitious and motivated students have options to fund their studies through their academic work.
Full details of these bursary schemes are available on the college’s website, and students are advised to check their eligibility and notify themselves of any key application deadlines. Applications can be submitted online.
Fees
Due to the range of courses available at SRUC and varying demands for resources and types of tuition, there are a number of different course fees that students may be required to cover during their studies.
Tuition fee information for taught programs can be found on the college website, and prospective students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these details before making an application.
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Frequently asked questions
Why go to SRUC Scotland's Rural College?
As well as a wide range of courses, studying at SRUC Scotland's Rural College offers you loads of opportunities to boost your CV thanks to the careers department. You might even have the chance to do a work placement or sandwich year during your degree.
As well as providing you with opportunities to develop academically and professionally, you'll have a wide range of clubs and societies to join. You'll be able to pick up a new hobby and make loads of new friends by joining some of the clubs and societies on offer at SRUC Scotland's Rural College.
Many courses at SRUC Scotland's Rural College 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, SRUC Scotland's Rural College 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 SRUC Scotland's Rural College to suit you.
You'll be shocked by the number of clubs and societies on offer at SRUC Scotland's Rural College. There's something for everyone! As well as being able to pick different clubs and societies, most courses let you choose modules at different points through your degree.
As well as personalising your course through optional modules, you may have the chance to do a work placement during your studies. Developing your professional skills through work placements is a great way to add to your CV and boost your employability.
What can you do with a degree from SRUC Scotland's Rural College?
The world is your oyster! Of course, the exact options open to you will depend on which subject you choose to study. Employers often look to hire graduates, so you can be sure that your degree will give you a wider range of employment opportunities.
No matter what degree you choose, however, you'll have option of going on to further study. If you want to keep studying, your undergraduate degree will enable you to go on to a master's degree or even a PhD.
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.
If you want a job you love (and who doesn't?), getting a job in a field you're passionate about is a great place to start. By studying a subject you really enjoy, you'll be qualified for a range of jobs relating to that subject, which you'll hopefully love.
For those who aren't ready to give up on education after an undergraduate degree, you'll have the opportunity to progress to postgraduate study such as a master's or even a PhD.
What accommodation does SRUC Scotland's Rural College offer?
If you opt to live in uni halls, you'll benefit from free WiFi and all-inclusive rent. Rent for uni halls also includes security and maintenance, so you can be sure you'll be well-looked after. There are several accessible rooms available, which are adapted for disabled students.
Halls also have communal areas such as kitchen facilities where you can meet your flatmates over a cup of tea. You'll also have access to dining facilities where you can share a meal with other students in your accommodation.
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.
SRUC Scotland's Rural College's accommodation is designed to be as straightforward and stress-free as possible. All your bills are included in your rent, you'll have free WiFi and your rent also includes security and maintenance.
You'll have access to communal areas like kitchen and dining facilities, where you can socialise with other students you're living with. Disabled students will find several rooms adapted in accessible halls to suit a range of access requirements.
SRUC Scotland's Rural College
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