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Agriculture Level 2 Diploma

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  • Level of study:
    College course
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    September 2027
  • Duration:
    One year
  • Attendance:
    Full-time
  • Course delivery:
    On-campus (Brackenhurst)
Agriculture student helping newborn lamb feed

About this course

Our Level 2 Technical Diploma in Agriculture is a one-year course and a great opportunity to start your career in Agriculture, while allowing you to retake your Maths and English GCSEs as required. You will develop knowledge and practical skills with livestock, crops and machinery through a mix of classroom and practical sessions, as well as engaging with the farming community through visits and work experience.

Why choose Brackenhurst?

Brackenhurst is the rural campus of Nottingham Trent University and, as the centre of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, we are passionate about the countryside and farming. Our mission is to make you industry-ready and career-focused individuals, so that you are ready to take the industry forward.

Brackenhurst is only a bus journey away from Nottingham city centre. However, it feels a world away from the city when you see the stunning Nottinghamshire countryside within which Brackenhurst is located. Our college courses run alongside degree courses – all taught by tutors who are skilled, experienced and supportive.

Brackenhurst prides itself on providing you with a friendly and supportive learning environment. Our college courses are taught by tutors who have spent time working in industry, therefore transferring their skills and experience, with a focus on making you industry ready.

  • Easy to get to

    Brackenhurst is set in stunning countryside just a bus ride away from Nottingham city centre, next to the town of Southwell.

  • Amazing agricultural facilities

    At Brackenhurst, you’ll have access to incredible facilities. These include an Animal Unit, Equestrian Centre, laboratories, library and gardens and fields that are overflowing with plants and wildlife.

  • Study your college course at a uni

    Studying with us means that you’ll be a part of an amazing learning environment. You get all the perks of being part of a big university, but you will still enjoy the comforts of a friendly college.

  • Gain additional industry-focused awards

    such as Telehandler, Spreaders and Sprayers, and Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines.

This course will provide you with ample opportunity to work outdoors, and build the primary skills needed to work with farm animals and on estate maintenance tasks. You will learn the basics about crop husbandry, as well as an introduction to machinery maintenance and tractor driving. These varied sessions are delivered by our own teaching team and technical staff who have extensive subject knowledge and experience.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Video Gallery

 

How you're taught

You will spend time learning in our industry leading facilities through a mixture of lectures, group discussions, practical demonstrations and hands-on experience with livestock, crops and machinery.

An important element of the course are visits to leading vegetable growers, organic dairy farmers and industry shows. This allows you to broaden your horizons.

The course includes a work placement allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge in agriculture by working on a farm, enhancing your chances of employment after you complete your studies. You can work with local farmers, agronomists, nutritionists or in connected industries such as the National Farmers Union.

How you’ll be assessed

Your assessments will be by completing written assignments and demonstrating the skills you have learnt in practical assessments.

Preparing students for future employment shaped by AI

On this course, you’ll learn how to use AI confidently and responsibly as part of your journey into modern agriculture. We’ll show you how AI tools can help you study more effectively — from summarising information and generating ideas to checking your understanding — while also teaching you how to think critically about what AI produces so you don’t become over-reliant on it or misuse it. You’ll explore how AI is already being used across the industry, including smart machinery, precision farming software, livestock monitoring systems, automated data collection and digital mapping. In areas like crop production, livestock care and farm business management, you’ll see how technology improves efficiency, animal welfare and decision-making. We’ll also introduce you to emerging careers in precision agriculture, drone technology and data management, helping you build the digital skills employers are looking for. Most importantly, you’ll understand that AI supports skilled agricultural workers — it doesn’t replace them — and that your practical skills, problem-solving ability and knowledge will always remain essential.

Entry requirements

UK students

For 2027 entry you'll need:

  • Four GCSEs at grade 3 (D) or higher, including either English or maths.
  • For English and maths, you must have one subject at grade 3 (D) and the other at least grade 2 (E).
  • If you do not yet have a grade 4 ( C) in English language and / or maths you will need to complete GCSE retakes as part of your study programme.

A Level 1 Technical qualification or other equivalent qualifications will be considered.

You will also be required to attend an interview. Find out what happens at your interview.

Please email our FE Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 5299 to discuss how your qualifications match our course requirements.

International students

We welcome applications from international students who do not require a student route visa. Please email our FE Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 5299 to discuss how your qualifications match our course requirements.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

If you are aged 16-18 and applying for a Level 2 or 3 course

There are no course fees if you’re aged under 19 on 31 August of the year you start your course.

If you are aged 19+ and applying for a Level 2, Level 3 or Access to Higher Education course

If you’re studying your first full Level 3 or Access to Higher Education qualification, you may be eligible for free tuition. You will still need to pay the registration fee applicable for your course.

If you are applying for the Level 2 qualification or have already completed a full Level 3 qualification, tuition and registration fees will apply.

To cover the cost of tuition when applying for a Level 3 and Access to Higher Education qualification, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from the UK Government. It is easy to apply, your household income is not taken into account, and there is no credit check. You will not have to pay anything back until your income is over £25,000.

Please see our fees and funding information for more details.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

Please email our FE Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 5299 for more information on fees and funding.

Please note, college courses are not available for EU or international students where a student route visa is required to study.

However, we offer Foundation and Pre-Masters pathway courses leading onto selected Bachelors and Masters degrees at the University through our partner Nottingham Trent International College.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualifications match our course requirements, please visit our international qualifications page.

Careers and employability

The Level 2 course only lasts for one year and therefore you'll need to have a plan for your next academic year.

If you get a Merit or higher, you'll be able to progress onto a Level 3 course in Agriculture.

Future jobs within the agricultural industry that are attainable with a Level 2 qualification include:

  • Stockperson – you can earn up to £24,000
  • Farm Worker – you can earn up  to £25,000
  • Tractor Driver – you can earn up to £28,000
  • Apprenticeship – you can earn up to £19,500

Additional certificates

As well as completing your course, you will have the opportunity to undertake additional industry-focused certificates including:

  • Telehandler
  • Spreaders and Sprayers
  • Safe use of veterinary medicines

You'll also learn to drive agricultural machinery such as quads and tractors.

Links with the agricultural industry

Brackenhurst has strong links with many local farming businesses, which helps your studies by either allowing us to visit their farm or being a guest speaker at Brackenhurst. Many also provide opportunities for students to complete work experience.  Nottingham has a rich variety of farming businesses including field scale vegetable, dairy, beef, poultry, pig and arable farms as well as the allied industries like animal feed manufacturing.

Campus and facilities

Brackenhurst is easy to get to. We’re just 14 miles from Nottingham city centre, next to the town of Southwell. Find out more about getting to the Brackenhurst Campus.

Study an agriculture course at Brackenhurst and you’ll have access to some fantastic facilities.

Our campus is home to a working farm that grows a mixture of crops including wheat, barley and oilseed rape. We have a commercially managed pedigree beef herd, sheep flock and arable farm that makes up our 200-hectare estate. You’ll have access to an excellent range of facilities including a beef roundhouse, new grain store and lambing building, machinery workshops, laboratories, lecture rooms, computer suites and library.  We also have an extensive range of farm machinery including tractors fitted with GPS equipment that you’ll learn with.

As well as your subject-specific facilities, you’ll also find:

  • a modern campus with modern classrooms and teaching areas
  • a library and fully equipped computer suites
  • a number of highly equipped specialised laboratories
  • on site careers and employability service
  • a range of dining facilities and Costa Coffee
  • our student shop
  • a number of common rooms and social spaces

Students who are over 18 may apply for accommodation, and this is assessed on an individual basis and is not guaranteed. Please contact us for more details.

Applying

UK students

Applying for a college course at Brackenhurst is really simple. You can apply via our online form and we have a step-by-step guide to applying for a college course for you use.

If you have any questions

Drop us a line — we're here to help every step of the way. You can email fe.enquiries@ntu.ac.uk or call +44 (0)115 848 5299.

For Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions see our Student Contract pages.

Apply now

International students

Please email fe.enquiries@ntu.ac.uk or call +44 (0)115 848 5299 our FE team for more information on how to apply.

Apply now

Application support

If you have any questions, just drop us a line – we’re here to help every step of the way. You can fill in our online form or give us a call on +44 (0)115 848 2999.

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Keeping in touch

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