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PgDip|Postgraduate Taught

Business for Agri-Food and Rural Enterprise - Rural Enterprise Development

Entry year
2024/25
Entry requirements
2.2
Duration
1 year (Full-time)
2 years (Part-time)
Places available
TBC (Full Time)
TBC (Part Time)

The Business for Agri-food & Rural Enterprise programmes develop your conceptual understanding of the principles and processes of change affecting individuals, groups or organisations within the agri-food and rural business sectors, through an active and innovative approach to learning and teaching. You will complete your course at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Loughry Campus, Cookstown. Those who successfully complete both the PG Certificate and PG Diploma can progress onto the Master’s programme also at CAFRE which will afford additional career opportunities.

Business for Agri-Food and Rural Enterprise - Rural Enterprise Development highlights

Career Development

The PgDip presents students with opportunities, to experience teaching practice in Semester 1, and to develop business materials in a managerial or supervisory role in Semester 2.

Further Study Opportunities

An optional self-funded study trip to Europe to observe best practices within business and community programmes is offered dependent on numbers.

Course Structure

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Course Details

Programme content will vary depending on the pathway chosen:

The programme consists of six taught modules, five core and onel module related to the chosen pathway. The five core modules are:
1 Skills to Affect Change within Business,
2 Rural Business Dynamics,
3 Integrating Learning with Business Needs,
4 Research and Development and
5 Planning and Evaluating Change Management Programmes

The sixth module for this Postgraduate Diploma pathway is Rural Enterprise Development

People teaching you

CAFRE, Loughry Campus
Email: teresa.mccarney@daera-ni.gov.uk

Teaching Times

Full-time classes are delivered mainly on Monday and Tuesday each week (mornings and afternoons) from September to May. Part-time delivery Thursday is on evenings from 7-9pm September to May.

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the PgDip in Business for Agri-food and Rural Enterprise, we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society.

Opportunities provided for learning on this course are lectures, practical experiences, E-Learning technologies andSelf-directed study to enhance employability.

Students will complete their courses at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Loughry Campus, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.

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Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

  • Work related assignments
  • Projects
  • Presentations
  • Case study
  • Research dissertation on an approved business related topic
  • Optional study tour

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

Entrance requirements

Graduate

A 2.2 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any discipline.

Applicants who do not meet the above academic requirements but hold a degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) and can demonstrate appropriate experience, will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2024 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

Please note: this course is not open to international students due to DAERA licence.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

For non-native English Language speakers, evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last two years). Please note this course is taught at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). Unfortunately, CAFRE does not have a UK Border Agency Sponsor Licence to admit international students. Therefore, it is not possible to consider international applicants for entry to this course.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

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Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

Our graduates have obtained a wide range of employment positions, including personnel managers, teachers/trainers, consultants, development officers, managers within the food and retail sectors, or developing their own business ideas. Employers of our graduates include the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) along with NI’s largest food retail and manufacturers companies. Indeed, staff from these organisations often use the programme’s part-time route as part of their own career development plan.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 Contact college of choice
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 Contact college of choice
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 Contact college of choice
EU Other 3
International Contact college of choice

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

Students may incur additional costs for small items of clothing and/or equipment necessary for lab or field work.
Please refer to: Post Graduate Course Manager at CAFRE please for information on tuition fees and additional course costs.

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

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Apply

How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus