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Sustainable Food Production (Fresh Produce)

ARU Writtle (formally Writtle University College)

UCAS Code: DN63 | Diploma of Higher Education - DipHE

Entry requirements


45 credits at level 3 with a mix of Distinction and Merit in relevant science-based subject to meet the overall UCAS entry

80 UCAS tariff points, to include 2 x B1 or H2 higher

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

MMP

To include 4 GCSEs to include English, Maths and Science grade C/4

80 UCAS tariff points, to include 2 x B

UCAS Tariff

80

80 UCAS tariff points, to include one GCE A level grade C or above To include 4 GCSEs to include English, Maths and Science grade C/4

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

2years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Part-time | 2024

Subject

Food and beverage production

We are pleased to confirm that Writtle University College and ARU (Anglia Ruskin University) have joined together as of 29 February 2024. Writtle’s full range of Higher and Further Education courses will continue to be delivered on site at the new ARU Writtle campus, enhanced by resources available at nearby ARU Chelmsford If you are starting your course in September 2024, your degree will be awarded by ARU. Find out more about ARU, including our recent Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, at www.aru.ac.uk

Are you concerned about the environment, food security and sustainable development? Do you want to be part of the solution for businesses operating in an increasingly uncertain world?

In any trip to the supermarket you will see an exciting array of fruit and vegetables that are able to arrive in our homes through a deeply interconnected global world. This relies on production techniques and global supply chains impacted by economic and environmental factors. Every purchase decision we make has consequences for businesses, our own well-being, societies and the global environment.

World population is predicted to rise to 9 billion by 2050 accompanied by an accelerated increase in those living in urban areas to 70%. This presents many challenges to production systems, food quality but also to reduction of food waste both locally and internationally. An understanding of the factors that will contribute to meeting this demand for food, the nutritional benefits of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as the ethical and business environment in which fresh produce operates are key to finding sustainable solutions.

The food and beverages is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK and relies not only on successful production systems but also on imports. The graduate job opportunities within this sector are immense and recruiters constantly seek talented graduates who understand the business of production, the much needed resilience of global food systems and consumer trends. Besides the supply of safe, affordable and nutritious fresh products, we all want to have traceable foods that adhere to strict environmental and ethical standards.

This new course, draws on Writtle University College’s long history of production know how to produce business-focussed graduates able to think across discipline boundaries – skills valued by graduate employers. The course seeks to prepare students for this essential but ever changing sector. Knowledge of how consumer–led demands and buying habits are influencing the sale of produce in the UK and Europe, the importance of food security, provenance and ethical trade worldwide are all important to understanding future pressures.

Whether you wish to use your skills in UK based commercial enterprises, larger business industries or those that operate on an international scale, knowledge of this important and growing fresh produce sector provides a stepping stone to many varied graduate opportunities that exist in the UK and abroad.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£14,000
per year
International
£14,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

ARU Writtle (formally Writtle University College)

Department:

Agriculture

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What students say


How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Food and beverage production

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

94%
UK students
6%
International students
15%
Male students
85%
Female students
53%
2:1 or above
11%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
B
D

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Food and beverage production

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£16,380
low
Average annual salary
92%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

19%
Animal care and control services
7%
Agricultural and related trades
6%
Natural and social science professionals

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Food and beverage production

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£18k

£18k

£22k

£22k

£22k

£22k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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