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Equine Science and Business with Foundation Year

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

This degree course with a foundation year incorporates an extra year of study at the start of your course, so that you can progress with confidence. It will develop the skills you need for your later studies. It is particularly suitable if:

  • You don’t have the grades for immediate entry onto a three-year course

  • You have non-traditional qualifications or experience

  • You’re starting university after some time away from education

  • You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study

The equine industry generates huge amounts of revenue for some of the world’s major economies and is the second largest economy in the rural sector. The industry is continually looking for bright, skilled graduates. As well as benefitting from a blend of practical exercises and academic knowledge, you will gain essential experience with a work placement. You will also tap into our powerful network of industry contacts, including graduates from the University.

The Equine Science and Business programme has been designed to provide students with both equine science elements, based around our core strengths of nutrition, behaviour, physiology, health and welfare, and business elements to support both the products and services sides of the industry, developing an understanding of business structures, financial accounting and marketing. There will be plentiful industry visits and industry leading guest speakers allowing you to learn from the best there is.

No wonder our graduates have gone on to work at prestigious companies such as Plusvital Equinome, Haygain, Tattersalls and The National Trainers Federation.

As well as benefitting from a blend of practical exercises and academic knowledge, you will gain essential experience with a work placement in the second year(YEAR 2) of the programme. You will also tap into our powerful network of industry contacts, including graduates from the University. Students have completed placements at companies such as Plusvital Equinome, Godolphin, Weatherbys, NAF and Haygain. This is an excellent opportunity to develop a range of links within the growing equine industry.

The research project is an integral part of the course and provides essential experience in both design and execution of a piece of research. You can choose to focus on either science or business and you could also see your research project featured in one of the many academic journals that regularly publish our students' work.

N.B. The Integrated Foundation Year is suitable for applicants who have taken level 3 qualifications (A levels, BTEC etc.) in the UK. Overseas students who have not studied in the UK and completed their secondary education in their country, should look at taking an International Foundation Programme in order to meet the entry criteria for the degree programmes offered by the RAU.

YEAR 0
YEAR 1
YEAR 2- 15 week work placement
YEAR 3

Modules

For information on modules for this course, please see our website - https://www.rau.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bsc-applied-equine-science-business-foundation

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
D323
Institution code:
R54
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

https://www.rau.ac.uk/student-life/international-students

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

48 points

A level

EEE
example of possible offer

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

PPP

Access to HE Diploma

Pass Access to HE course with 60 credits

Each applicant is assessed on individual merit and offers can vary. All qualifications that you have already studied or still working towards, will be considered when reviewing your application.
The entry requirements listed above represent typical offers for some of the most popular qualifications taken by applicants. If you cannot find the qualifications that you are studying (or have previously studied) please contact our Admissions Office on tel: 01285 889912 or email: admissions@rau.ac.uk for advice.

Additional entry requirements

Interview
may be required

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6none of the four elements below 5.5

accepted English language tests https://www.rau.ac.uk/student-life/international-students/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At the Royal Agricultural University we want to encourage students from a wide range of backgrounds to participate in higher education. The additional insight gained through contextual information allows us to recognise a student’s achievements and identify their potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. We are, therefore, committed to offering all eligible students a contextual offer, which is 8 UCAS tariff points lower than our standard offer.

Learn more on the Royal Agricultural University website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
EU£16950Year 1
International£16950Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Foundation Year fees:
Home students £5,760 Full Time
International students £16,950 Full Time

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