Best Universities for Agriculture in the UK 2027
Newcastle University ranks first for agriculture in 2027, followed by the University of Reading in second and Anglia Ruskin University in third. The Unifresher ranking compares six universities across eight measures chosen to reflect both course outcomes and the student experience.
That student-first approach matters in a practical subject. A strong agriculture course is not only about reputation: students also need useful teaching, reliable academic support, access to practical learning, career preparation and a university location they can realistically enjoy and afford.
Why use the Unifresher ranking? It brings teaching, support and graduate outcomes together with affordability, safety, social life and sustainability. That gives students a more complete comparison of what studying at each university could actually feel like.
Top universities for agriculture in 2027
The top three show why it helps to compare more than one outcome. Newcastle leads overall and has the highest earnings figure, Reading matches Newcastle for academic support, and Anglia Ruskin records the strongest teaching-quality result in the table.
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
First overall, with the highest earnings figure and joint-highest academic support at 97%.
University of Reading
Reading
Second overall, with £30,000 graduate earnings and academic support matching the table leader.
Anglia Ruskin University
Cambridge
Third overall and the strongest teaching-quality result among the six published universities.
How the agriculture ranking works
Eight measures create a fuller comparison
Unifresher does not treat prestige as the only sign of a good university. The final score combines academic and graduate outcomes with the day-to-day factors students experience while living and studying there.
Agriculture University Rankings 2027
Search or sort the full published ranking. Sorting changes the comparison order only; each university's official position remains in the first column.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne | £32,000 | 75% | 82% | 97% | 32 |
| 2 | University of Reading Reading | £30,000 | 74% | 83% | 97% | 29 |
| 3 | Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge | £29,000 | 70% | 88% | 90% | 27 |
| 4 | Harper Adams University Newport, Shropshire | £28,000 | 88% | 84% | 88% | 26 |
| 5 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham | £23,000 | 76% | 70% | 83% | 22 |
| 6 | Royal Agricultural University Cirencester | £26,000 | 85% | 70% | 64% | 21 |
What the agriculture data shows
Newcastle ranks first
Newcastle leads with a score of 32, the highest earnings figure and 97% academic support.
Newcastle University
Newcastle has the highest graduate-earnings figure in the published table at £32,000.
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin records the highest teaching-quality result at 88%.
Harper Adams University
Harper Adams has the strongest student-satisfaction figure at 88%.
Newcastle and Reading
Both universities record academic support of 97%, the highest result in the table.
Median earnings are £28,500
The median across the six graduate-earnings figures is £28,500.
What this ranking tells you about studying agriculture
Agriculture is a broad subject that can lead towards farming, crop production, livestock, food systems, business, policy, sustainability, land management or agricultural technology. Course titles can look similar while offering very different balances of science, management and practical work.
Newcastle wins through outcomes and support
Newcastle ranks first with the highest overall score and graduate-earnings figure, while its 97% academic-support result is joint-highest with Reading. That combination makes it the strongest all-round performer in this table rather than a university relying on one standout measure.
Reading is close behind on the student-facing measures
Reading finishes three points behind Newcastle and matches it for academic support. Its £30,000 graduate-earnings figure is second-highest, while teaching quality sits at 83%. Students comparing the top two should move beyond the positions and look closely at modules, practical facilities, placements and the kind of agricultural career each course supports.
Why Unifresher looks beyond academic reputation: students live with the consequences of affordability, safety, social life and support throughout their degree. Bringing those measures into the ranking makes the comparison more useful for choosing where to spend the next three or four years.
Specialist universities can offer a different kind of experience
Harper Adams ranks fourth but has the highest satisfaction figure at 88%. The Royal Agricultural University is sixth overall yet records 85% satisfaction, the second-highest result. For students who value a specialist environment, those figures are worth exploring alongside the complete score rather than treating overall rank as the only answer.
Teaching, satisfaction and earnings point to different strengths
Anglia Ruskin ranks third and leads teaching quality at 88%. Harper Adams leads satisfaction, while Newcastle leads earnings. No single university tops every column, which is exactly why the full Unifresher comparison is more useful than choosing from one headline statistic.
Graduate earnings need the right context
The figures range from £23,000 at Nottingham Trent to £32,000 at Newcastle, with a median of £28,500. HESA Graduate Outcomes information is collected approximately 15 months after course completion, and individual outcomes vary by role, location, experience and further study.
How to use the ranking when choosing an agriculture degree
Compare the balance of science and management
Look at crop, livestock, soil, food, environmental, business and technology modules to see whether the degree matches your interests.
Check access to farms, labs and fieldwork
Find out how often students work in practical settings and whether facilities support the areas of agriculture you want to study.
Investigate placements and employer links
Compare placement-year options, seasonal work, industry projects, careers support and the destinations of recent graduates.
Match qualifications to your planned career
BASIS, FACTS or RICS routes may matter for particular careers, but they are not interchangeable. Check the route relevant to your goal.
Related Unifresher rankings and student guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for agriculture in the UK in 2027?
Newcastle University ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher agriculture ranking with an overall score of 32. The University of Reading is second with 29, and Anglia Ruskin University is third with 27.
How many universities are included in the agriculture ranking?
The published 2027 Unifresher agriculture ranking compares six universities with complete results across the eight ranking measures. Agriculture and related courses can use different titles, so students should also search for options such as agricultural science, agricultural business, crop science and land management.
What graduate earnings are shown for agriculture?
The graduate-earnings figures in the table range from £23,000 to £32,000, with a median of £28,500 across the six published universities. Newcastle University has the highest figure at £32,000. These are comparative graduate outcomes rather than guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
HESA Graduate Outcomes information is collected approximately 15 months after students complete their higher education studies. The figures describe outcomes at that survey point, not salaries six months after graduation.
What should I look for in an agriculture degree?
Compare the balance of crop, livestock, soil, environmental, business and technology modules; access to farms, laboratories and fieldwork; placement opportunities; links with employers; teaching and academic support; and the cost and location of the university.
Do I need farming experience to study agriculture?
Requirements vary by course. Prior farming experience is not automatically required for every agriculture degree, but relevant work experience can help you understand the sector and strengthen an application. Check each university's current entry requirements and use open days to ask how practical experience is built into the course.
Does professional accreditation matter for agriculture?
Agriculture careers use different professional routes rather than one qualification applying to every degree. BASIS and FACTS qualifications can matter for agronomy, crop protection and nutrient-management work, while RICS accreditation is relevant to surveying and rural land careers. Choose the professional route that matches the job you want.
Is Harper Adams a good university for agriculture?
Harper Adams ranks fourth overall and has the highest student-satisfaction figure in the table at 88%. Its specialist setting may appeal to students who want an agriculture-focused campus and practical industry experience, while the overall ranking also reflects earnings, teaching, support and wider student-life measures.
What careers can you pursue with an agriculture degree?
Agriculture graduates can move into farm and estate management, agronomy, crop and livestock production, agricultural consultancy, agri-business, food supply chains, policy, sustainability, research and agricultural technology. The most relevant modules and professional qualifications depend on the route you want to follow.
Why does Unifresher include student-life measures in an agriculture ranking?
Students are choosing both a course and the place where they will live. Unifresher combines academic and graduate measures with affordability, safety, social life and sustainability so the ranking reflects more of the real university experience rather than relying on reputation alone.
Ranking, careers and course information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for the eight ranking measures and scoring approach.
- HESA Graduate Outcomes definitions for the approximately 15-month survey point.
- UCAS agriculture and related sciences guide for course research, careers and entry requirements.
- BASIS Professional Register for crop-protection and agronomy professional development.
- FACTS scheme information for nutrient-management advisers.
- RICS accreditation guidance for surveying and rural land career routes.
