The University of Wales, Aberystwyth launches new full-time organic agriculture top-up degree

A new top-up BSc degree in organic agriculture will be available at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth from September 2007. The degree is targeted at students who have completed an HND or Foundation degree in general or organic agriculture or closely related subject. It may also be of interest to students who have completed the first two years of a normal BSc degree.

The new top-up scheme represents a restructuring of organic agriculture provision within the Institute of Rural Sciences at UWA, which was the first institution in the UK to launch a degree in organic agriculture in 1998.

The new structure means that all the courses (covering livestock, crops, business, marketing, environment and a research or management project) are concentrated in the final year of BSc degree scheme.

The scheme co-ordinator, Dr. Nic Lampkin, said: 'The new scheme recognises that many students develop an interest in organic farming only during or after their initial studies and that school leavers may initially be reluctant to commit to a specialist qualification in organic agriculture. The new structure will enable students to take advantage of the significant organic research and extension at IRS in a more focused way.'

The Institute of Rural Sciences has an active organic farming research programme which supports the teaching. It is also the location of Organic Centre Wales (www.organic.aber.ac.uk), which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government to provide information on organic food and farming to producers, consumers and others in Wales.

The scheme is led by Dr Nic Lampkin, main author/editor of the standard text Organic Farming and the Organic Farm Management Handbook.

For students already holding a BSc degree, a similar postgraduate programme is also available.