BSC (Hons) International Agriculture
"The course opens your eyes to the different methods used for arable and livestock farming in diverse climates. I feel very lucky to have learnt from the wide-ranging experience of my lecturers and stay in contact with them for advice and career guidance. They genuinely care about your career."
Mark Ballard - Working towards running a commercial farm
Following my GCSEs, I studied for an apprenticeship for a year before joining Hadlow College on a Level 3 course in Animal Management. It was during this course that I swiftly realised I wanted to have a career in farming, and following the completion of the Level 3 course progressed onto the BSc (Hons) International Agriculture programme.
The programme opens your eyes to the different methods used for arable and livestock farming in the diverse climates of Africa, Western Asia and Australasia. Some of these innovative techniques can then be used in British farming.
A highlight was a week-long study tour around the vineyards of Reims, in the champagne region of France. The practical side of the programme has also opened up opportunities and experiences that I could never do at the city farms in London: I went from being responsible for 15 sheep to looking after 2,000!
Since there is no history of farming within my family, it can sometimes be a challenge to gain credibility in the industry. However, because Hadlow is so well known you gain a level of recognition and confidence. My lecturers have a wide-range of experience and I know they also genuinely care about my career. Upon completion of the programme I am looking to work on a commercial farm locally, before eventually running my own farm.