Royal Agricultural University
Cirencester, United Kingdom
Royal Agricultural University is a university in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, South West England, United Kingdom, ranked QS #Not ranked in QS World University Rankings 2027 (no RAU listing found on topuniversities.com). Complete University Guide 2026: 1st for graduate prospects (on track).. 30 courses listed, scholarships available. Intakes: September and January.
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, was founded in 1845 as the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world. It is a small specialist university teaching agriculture, rural land management, food, environment, business, equine and related subjects. The campus is within walking distance of Cirencester town centre, about 90 minutes by direct train from London and within an hour of Bath, Bristol, Oxford and Cheltenham. It holds a TEF Silver award (2023) and was 2nd in the UK Small or Specialist category in the 2025 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. For Bangladeshi students, HSC holders enter through the International Foundation Year, while postgraduate entry needs a Master's after a 3-4 year Bachelor's, or a 4-5 year Bachelor's from a listed university. RAU holds a UK Student visa sponsor licence.
- Founded 1845, first agricultural college in the English-speaking world
- TEF Silver (2023)
- Complete University Guide 2026: 1st for graduate prospects (on track)
- Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025: 2nd in UK (Small or Specialist)
- Students from over 40 countries; 100+ students complete work placements annually
- Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025: top 200 for Life on Land
- Walking distance to Cirencester town centre, 90 minutes by train from London
Courses (30)
- BSc (Hons) Rural Land & Property Management (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- BSc (Hons) Business Management (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- BSc (Hons) Agriculture (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- BSc (Hons) Real Estate (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- MSc Agricultural Technology and Innovation — Postgraduate, 1 year
- MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security — Postgraduate, 1 year
- BSc (Hons) Wildlife and Countryside Management (Top-up) — Undergraduate, 1 year
- BSc (Hons) Rural Land and Property Management — Undergraduate, 3 years
- BSc (Hons) Real Estate — Undergraduate, 3 years
- BSc (Hons) Equine Science and Business (Top-up) — Undergraduate, 1 year
- BSc (Hons) Business Management (Top-up) — Undergraduate, 1 year
- BSc (Hons) Business Management — Undergraduate, 3 years
- BSc (Hons) Agriculture — Undergraduate, 3 years
- BSc (Hons) Agri-Management (Top-up) — Undergraduate, 1 year
- BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management — Undergraduate, 3 years
- MSc Rural Estate Management — Postgraduate, 1 year
- MSc Real Estate — Postgraduate, 1 year
- MSc Conservation and Management of Historic Buildings — Postgraduate, 1 year
- MSc Business Management — Postgraduate, 1 year
- MSc Cultural Heritage Management — Postgraduate, 1 year
- BSc (Hons) Environment & Sustainability — Undergraduate, 3 years
- BSc (Hons) Environment & Sustainability (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- BSc (Hons) Equine Science and Business — Undergraduate, 3 years
- BSc (Hons) Equine Science and Business (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- MSc Agroecology — Postgraduate, 1 year
- MSc Heritage and Archaeology — Postgraduate, 1 year
- BSc (Hons) Bloodstock and Equine Performance Management — Undergraduate, 3 years
- BSc (Hons) Bloodstock and Equine Performance Management (with Professional Placement Year) — Undergraduate, 4 years
- BSc (Hons) Bloodstock and Equine Performance Management (Top-up) — Undergraduate, 1 year
Frequently asked questions
Where is Royal Agricultural University located?
Royal Agricultural University is in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, South West England, United Kingdom.
What courses does Royal Agricultural University offer?
Royal Agricultural University lists 30 courses on UnifinderAi, such as BSc (Hons) Rural Land & Property Management (with Professional Placement Year), BSc (Hons) Business Management (with Professional Placement Year), BSc (Hons) Agriculture (with Professional Placement Year), BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management (with Professional Placement Year) and BSc (Hons) Real Estate (with Professional Placement Year). You can filter them by level, intake and fee.
What are the tuition fees at Royal Agricultural University?
Published fees at Royal Agricultural University: Undergraduate BSc/Foundation/Top-up, per year (2026 entry) £16,950; MSc taught, full-time (2026 entry) £22,000; Graduate Diploma, per year (2026/27) £16,950; Placement year (2026/27) £3,390. The exact annual fee depends on the course — check each course's page.
What English language score do I need for Royal Agricultural University?
The minimum is an IELTS overall score of 6. Accepted English tests include IELTS, PTE Academic, LanguageCert Academic, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test and Cambridge English.
When are the intakes at Royal Agricultural University?
Royal Agricultural University runs intakes in September and January. The intake currently open for applications is January 2027, September 2027.
Does Royal Agricultural University offer scholarships?
Yes. For example: Vice-Chancellor's Global Impact Scholarship (Up to GBP 1,500 off tuition); RAU Sports Scholarship (Minimum GBP 1,000 per year, up to 3 years); International Referral Programme (GBP 500 to referrer and GBP 500 to the new student).
How do I apply to Royal Agricultural University?
The steps are: 1. Apply only through UnifinderAi — our counsellors check your eligibility, shortlist the right Royal Agricultural University course and submit your application to the university for you (including the UCAS application for undergraduate courses) 2. Please do not apply directly to the university or through any other agent, portal or platform — duplicate applications can be delayed or withdrawn, and UnifinderAi can only support applications it submits 3. Upload your passport, SSC & HSC certificates and transcripts (plus Bachelor's certificate/transcript for Master's), IELTS/English proof, CV, Statement of Purpose and two references to your UnifinderAi dashboard 4. Receive your offer — UnifinderAi helps you meet any conditions and accept the offer 5. Prepare for the university's credibility / pre-CAS interview with UnifinderAi mock interviews 6. Pay the tuition fee deposit stated in your offer letter — only through the university's official payment method, as guided by UnifinderAi 7. Receive your CAS, then apply for the UK Student visa with UnifinderAi visa support (28-day bank statement, TB test at an approved IOM clinic in Bangladesh, IHS payment) 8. Arrange accommodation and flights, then travel to the UK and complete enrolment