DS2 expressed an interest in Land Management

[dontcallmemam]

I'm struggling to find out much about it.
I know he should be doing this himself but I'm trying to pique his interest.
Cirencester keeps popping up but we're not country squires.
Does anyone have any useful information?

You don't have to be a country squire to go to RAC at all. And it is the place to do LM.

But many ag colleges do land management courses. A good way to find out about a few places is to go to a big ag show, or something like the CLA Game Fair (not till later in the year) as theres lots of colleges with stands and info

Great, thanks. I have all sorts of preconceived ideas about RAC that are obviously rather dated.
The Game Fair is a great idea. He's a outdoor lad with a keen interest in country sports.

The GF is fab. I remember going as a child, and ds(7) loves it. Especially last year when he got his first clay pigeon lesson. So much to see and do

I lived near the RAC until relatively recently.

He should be aware that a lot of the students go home to work on their family farm on the weekend, meaning that the place can empty out a bit. It's also one of only three institutions that has a majority of privately educated pupils (the others being Courtauld and RCM). There's nothing wrong with the privately educated, but it clearly does attract a rather well-heeled set. It's not really the typical uni experience either, given its rural location, but it sounds like that's not something he particularly wants either.

Now, that's not to say that he shouldn't go - it does have a fantastic reputation - but I would really recommend that he does visit before he makes any firm decisions as it's not for everyone.

That's really useful, thank you.
He is state educated but I don't think that would be a problem. There is no family farm for him to come home to!
He loves all country persuits but the typical uni experience has great appeal for him.
There's an open day in June, I think we might go and have a look.
thank you.

Have a look at Harper Adams and Reading too.

There is also Shuttleworth College in Bedfordshire. Not sure what its like but the grounds are gorgeous

Take a look at Myerscough College. It's not too far out of Preston City. They offer accommodation if required but with Preston being a university city there's also loads of accommodation there too.

Great info all, thanks.

I did a different course in the same school in Reading - good location to do it.

mistle I think Reading would be a great choice but it looks like ABB entry requirement which is a bit optimistic.

Would it be a bit of incentive???

I mention these things because I think it's important to go into them with open eyes - and to know what questions to ask at the open days (i.e. does much happen on weekends at RAC, because there's relatively little going on in the surrounding towns). I'd also ask probing questions about the public transport and the necessity of owning a car.

He might also want to have a look at Writtle College

In terms of wanting the typical uni experience, I'm afraid that often involves being near a relatively large city, if he wants something resembling a nightclub. I can't say I've ever frequented Gloucestershire's nightlife (I always went out in Bristol, for reasons that won't apply to your son) but I'm led to believe that it's not exactly rip roaring.

So, he might like to consider Newcastle, which has several land management-related courses www.ncl.ac.uk/afrd/study/undergrad/

On that note, do ensure that he considers courses with names that aren't identical to land management. Very often some other courses with different names will have surprisingly similar course content (and equally, two courses with the same name can have very different course content!) so it is always very important to look at the modules on offer.

I used to work in Cirencester - it's very pretty and a great place to live for families and older people but I really can't imagine there is much going on for students at weekends, especially if many of them go home, and you've basically got to go to Cheltenham or Bristol before you get anywhere else with a significant student population.

Does Aberystwyth still do agricultural stuff? He'd get more of the typical university experience there (although it's not a huge amount bigger than Cirencester!).

Thanks for the replies.
The whole uni experience is what he's after; SU, clubs, societies etc. Reading would be 1st choice & UWE in Bristol looking positive. We've looked at the courses and he thinks property management might be more his style.

The dilemma he's got is that clubs and the large student population that tends to make things like a large SU and a wide variety of societies feasible is something that only really comes with living in a city / large town.

Do be aware that most (all?) of UWE's land based courses are taught at their Hartpury campus, which is nowhere near Bristol - it's the other side of Gloucester!

Gosh, I didn't know that, thanks.
We'll keep searching and maybe he'll surprise us with his grades.

The problem with doing an agricultural course is that even if he went to a "proper" uni he'd still be at the agricultural campus which will be in the middle of nowhere.

Oops sent before I finished. I was going to offer up Warwickshire college, where I went, but looking at their courses I can't see land management on the list. They've got a half decent SU bar and there's usually a big event every month or so. Its a bit of a trek into Lemington spa but doable. but that's all a bit pointless unless I've missed the land management course!

I'd try and find reviews from students of the places you look at, some places will have more (or less) to do than they advertise.

Apparently I have it all wrong and it's Real Estate & property management that interests him.
Thank you for all the advice though.

I'd question whether or not he really needs to go to uni for that. Letting and estate agents don't need any licencing / accreditation to set themselves up. I'd suggest that he takes a gap year and goes and gets a job as a letting / estate agent, and ideally some books on "tenancy law for dummies" etc.

Chances are he'll either find at that point that he
a) hates working in the property industry and wouldn't have wanted to spend the rest of his life working in the industry anyway (good to find this out now rather than after a degree!) At that point he could go and get a degree / different job in a different area.
b) loves the job but doesn't actually need a degree in the area to progress.

If you can find me a job advert for anything that requires a degree in real estate and property management I'll give you a tenner eat my hat

hmm, I'm sure you're right. But he really fancies uni. He's not working terribly hard and I'm hoping that working towards a goal will focus him a bit.
The course at Reading appeals but the grades AAB are a big ask.

Might he consider something a bit broader, like business / management? That would open up more doors to him than just property, though he could still do property, and at least then he won't be at the mercy of a house price crash / recession to quite the same extent.

At Newcastle the land mgt is not on a campus in middle of nowhere it is right in town

What about qualifying as a surveyor?

RICS accredited courses