City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Agriculture

About the course

The College offers opportunity to study at level 3 (A level equivalent) for students who wish to develop a comprehensive understanding of Agriculture – developing academic knowledge which will encompass some practical elements and technical skills. It is a popular option for both school leavers and successful Level 2 Certificate students. The course incorporates classroom lectures and practical elements, industry visits and case study exercises.

Students will also receive training and assessment in a number of additional qualifications (subject to funding), which will enhance their employability.

Advanced Technical Diploma (540) – Year 1
Advanced Extended Technical Diploma (1080) – Year 2

Advanced Technical Diploma (540) – Year 1

Land Based Power Units

Developing a working knowledge and understanding of how engines, gearboxes and hydraulics work.

Plant and Soil Science

Based predominantly in the College’s labs, you will undertake PH and nutrient testing of soil as well as photosynthesis experiments on plants and develop the skills that will help optimise crop yield.

Undertake and Review Estate Skills

Working on the College Farm, you will carry out practical activities such as hedge laying, fencing, tree planting and surfacing.

Livestock Husbandry

Working with dairy, beef, sheep, pig and poultry, you will undertake practical stock tasks on the College Farm to develop livestock husbandry skills such as disbudding, feeding, milking and lambing.

Business Management in the Land Based Sector

Developing the skills and knowledge of the operation of a farm business will prepare you for the recruitment and management of staff, marketing and the financial management of an agricultural enterprise.

Principles of Health and Safety

It is essential that you have the skills and knowledge to work safely in what is a potentially hazardous industry. You will learn the principles of health and safety to enable you to work effectively with livestock, machinery and equipment in the farm environment.

Undertake and Review Work Experience in the Land Based Sector

Based either on the College Farm, or in an agricultural related enterprise of your choice, you will undertake work experience and develop the employability skills that will enable you to secure employment once you’ve completed the course.

Land Based Industry Machinery Operations

Working with a range of farm machinery and equipment for cultivation, harvest and silage purposes.

Agricultural Crop Production

The practical skills of growing crops such as wheat, barley and beans, amongst others, will be developed.

Beef Production

Competently carrying out stock production and beef husbandry activities together with managing beef, nutrition, fertility and growth rates will ensure the optimisation of meat production.

Advanced Extended Technical Diploma (1080) – Year 2

Specialist Project in the Land Based Sector

You will identify a farm related project to investigate and research and present your findings. Projects could include analysis of calf housing systems or analysis or systems for feeding intake.

Farm Animal Health and Nutrition

The maintenance of health and welfare of animals is paramount and you will develop an understanding of the principles of nutrition.

Principles of Grassland Management

This module enables you to develop the knowledge and skills needed to successfully manage grassland. It can be applied to all grazing livestock enterprises and grass kept for conservation purposes.

Pollution and Waste Control Management

Manure/slurry, preventing this entering water courses.

Dairy Production

You will develop skills and knowledge in dairy production and how these can be applied in practice.

Sheep Production

An introduction to the skills and knowledge needed for sheep production, and how these can be applied in practice. You will learn to relate sheep husbandry and management skills to flock management and to apply information on nutrition, welfare and marketing to a practical situation.

Exploring Improvement Opportunities for Diversification and New Business Initiatives within the Land Based Sector

The identification of a farm business opportunity will enable you to develop business planning, marketing and financial skills to plan for the successful implementation of a new initiative.

Farm Animal Science

Developing knowledge of the various biological systems will enable you to understand the anatomy and physiology of animals.

ATV and Telescopic Handler

Safely operate all-terrain vehicles and telescopic handlers commonly found in the farm environment.

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements are:

Advanced Technical Diploma (540) – Year 1

An English Language GCSE at C (4) or higher plus a minimum of four others at C (4) or higher, including Maths and Science

Advanced Extended Technical Diploma (1080) – Year 2

An English Language GCSE at C (4) or higher plus a minimum of four others at C (4) or higher, including Maths and Science

Additional Entry Requirements:

Applicants are expected to show a strong commitment to the industry and ideally, have some practical work experience on a farm prior to starting the course.

Learning and assessment

Assessment of technical qualifications is a mixture of internal practical assessment of skills conducted by the teaching team, internal written assignments marked by the teaching team, an externally set synoptic examination that combines the knowledge and practical skills of all of the mandatory units, external exams that combine the knowledge of all mandatory units and a Health and Safety exam. The assessments and exams are spread throughout the course of the year.

Outstanding Learning Environment:

¨ 1000 acre estate

¨ 200 high yielding dairy cattle

¨ 1000 lambing ewes

¨ Range of modern machinery

¨ New Food and Farming Innovation Technology Centre

¨ On campus training events e.g. AHDB Beef and Lamb Selection

Progression

Upon successful completion, you may have an opportunity to progress to a Foundation or Full Degree programmes, where students have the opportunity to pursue modules specialising in; animal science, farm management, crop science and a number of other options.

Myerscough is one of the UK’s largest land-based and sports colleges, offering degrees in more than 20 exciting subjects, working in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire. We are proud to be amongst the top UK institutions in the sector for student satisfaction - helped by exceptional resources and a unique countryside location. Our QAA Higher Education Review puts us amongst the top institutions in the country for quality learning opportunities and good practice teaching. We are very proud that 97% of Myerscough degree students progress to further study or employment.

Careers

Employment opportunities in Agriculture and its related industries are currently very good and the Level 3 Advanced Extended Technical Diploma provides the qualification and experience for entry into the industry at an operational level with future prospects for management.

Opportunities include:

Assisting in the management of a farm enterprise

Sales Representative

Herdsperson

Farm Foreman

Shepherd

Tractor Driver

Special requirements

Costs that are mandatory for the course:

Steel toe-capped boots or wellington boots – approx. £25

Protective overalls – approx. £25

Waterproof coat and leggings – approx. £50

Hi visibility bib – approx. £10

Costs that are optional for the course:

There may be an opportunity to travel overseas, recent examples of these trips being Canada, the USA and Ireland – up to £1500

Work experience

Students will gain work experience on the College Farm and will also be required to undertake an external work experience placement. This is a core element of the course and ensures that all learners are able to put their skills into practice within the workplace. Employers will complete an evaluation of each learner in the work placement to contribute to the assessment of that unit. Support is available to find a suitable placement and placements are checked prior to work experience commencing.

Agriculture

Myerscough College is one of the leading institutions for Agriculture in the UK. Our courses will help prepare you for a career in the industry, by combining relevant background skills with the knowledge of crop and livestock technology as well as business enterprise.

There is currently a significant demand for highly trained and well educated professionals to enter the industry. This has been fuelled by the increasing awareness that food production, farming, tourism, the environment and rural affairs are all interconnected.

Endless Opportunities

Students will get the chance to undertake work experience during their studies.

In the past, students have gone to New Zealand or Australia to do sheep and dairy work, with others heading west to Canada and the United States. Such experiences not only help students develop their knowledge and skills but they also prove valuable in terms of improving future employment prospects.

Experienced Staff

The expertise of the agriculture team at Myerscough College is second to none. The team consists of agriculturalists with a range of specialisms, ecologists, conservationists and game specialists who will all offer their wealth of experience and knowledge to students studying at the College.

Our new £3m FFIT (Food and Farming Innovation Technology) Centre

£3m Food and Farming Innovation Technology Development

The new Food and Farming Innovation and Technology centre at Lodge Farm will create a centre of excellence to develop state-of-the- art precision farming techniques within the livestock and grassland sectors. The two storey building will incorporate specialist teaching, demonstration and research facilities, including a Livestock Innovation Centre and the latest grassland equipment, livestock feeding technologies, hybrid tractor power units and crop/field trials equipment.

Latest news, Agriculture

They say: Nicola Chappelhow

"Myerscough gave me a great understanding of different types of agriculture and set me up nicely for my job as a milk recorder."

Alumni – Oliver McEntyre

To anyone looking to study Agriculture or Countryside at Myerscough College, I’d say go, embrace it & leave with the knowledge that the qualification will stay with you for the rest of your career and open doors that might not have been opened without the time and experience Myerscough offers.

Meet Oliver