Harper Adams University

As the population grows, so do our demands on the planet. Managing our natural resources has never been so important. Since it was founded in 1901, Harper has been meeting this challenge.

Set on a 635 hectare farm, Harper Adams is the UK’s leading specialist university tackling the future development of the world’s food production, animal sciences, engineering, land management and sustainable business. Programmes fall into 11 broad subject areas – but none operate in isolation. Community and collaboration are key at Harper Adams, meaning everyone, including staff, students and industry partners, benefits from a close network of knowledge and opportunity exchange.

Courses offered at undergraduate and postgraduate level fall into the follow subject areas:

• Agriculture
• Animal Sciences
• Applied Biology
• Business and Agri-food
• Countryside, Environment, Wildlife and Geography
• Engineering

• Food Science, Technology and Innovation
• Rural Estate, Property and Land Management
• Veterinary Nursing
• Veterinary Physiotherapy
• Zoology

Nearly all of the 2,800 undergraduate students at Harper undertake a sandwich placement year in industry, resulting not only in work-ready graduates, but also students who tackle real-world, industry relevant research projects in the final year of their studies.

For their two/ three years studying at the university campus in rural Shropshire, students have access to cutting edge facilities such as the Agricultural Engineering Innovation Centre, where the future of farming is being pioneered with agricultural robots; the Elizabeth Creak Science Laboratories; a new robotic dairy university farm, the Veterinary Services Centre; and the Regional Food Academy.

Applied research is at the heart of the university’s activity, with the work of a thriving academic community underpinning both teaching and work with the industries allied to Harper. The 2014 Government Research Excellence Framework rated all of the university’s research as “of international quality”, and more than half was deemed “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.

Harper Adams University currently holds the following accolades:

• The UK’s Best Modern University (those created since 1992) in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017, 2018 and 2019.
• University of the Year 2016 and 2017, in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards – also best for student support, job prospects and courses & lecturers in the 2017 and 2018 awards.

• The UK’s Number 1 university for student experience, in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2017.
• Rated Gold, the highest possible outcome, in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework in both 2017 and 2018.