BA (Hons) Sustainable Development Bachelor's degree at UHI
BA (Hons) Sustainable Development at UHI was founded in 2011 and is delivered at UHI Argyll and UHI North West Hebrides.
About this course
BA (Hons) Sustainable Development is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,UHI North West Hebrides. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Agriculture graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Agriculture & Animal Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 90; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 3 modules
- Exploring economics in a changing worldCore
- Introduction to land reform and community land ownershipCore
- Understanding sustainable developmentCore
Year 2 4 modules
- Approaches to economic developmentCore
- Empowering communitiesCore
- Exploring the urban and rural: places, people and policiesCore
- Sustainable development approaches in an international contextOptional
Year 3 5 modules
- Advanced social research methodsCore
- Climate scienceCore
- Community-based economic developmentCore
- Globalisation and sustainable developmentCore
- Sustainable tourism and the environmentCore
Year 4 5 modules
- Agroecology: regenerative food systemsCore
- Consumerism and the circular economyCore
- Geo-political development issuesCore
- Social enterprise and the social economyCore
- Sustainable development dissertationCore
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This degree integrates sustainable development with practical agricultural science. You'll usually start with foundations in animal and crop science, agri-food systems, and hands-on farm skills. Year 2 builds towards applied knowledge: nutrition and health, grassland and environmental management, and data and technology in agriculture. In Years 3 and 4, you'll move into specialist options such as livestock production, equine science, agronomy, animal behaviour and welfare, agri-tech, or farm placements, alongside farm business management and a dissertation or industry project. Throughout, the course balances biological and ecological understanding with the practical, economic and environmental realities of modern farming.
Who it's for
Most entrants hold another higher-education qualification; 45% of accepted students in recent years came in with prior higher-education study. This course suits those seeking to deepen knowledge of sustainable development through structured academic and practical work.
University & format
University of the Highlands and Islands, a UK degree-awarding body. The course runs for 4 years full-time and is taught in English at UHI Argyll and UHI North West Hebrides. Your degree will be a nationally recognised BA (Hons) in Sustainable Development.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 92%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 45% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 40% |
| Other | 15% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Agriculture & Animal Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £26,000 | £24,000 – £30,000 | 90 |
| 3 years after | £25,500 | £20,500 – £31,000 | 15 |
| 5 years after | £30,000 | £25,500 – £34,000 | 15 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 90; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in agriculture & animal science · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Agriculture & Animal Science nationally
National figures for Agriculture & Animal Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 90; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Agriculture & Animal Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 285 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Agriculture & Animal Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Agriculture & Animal Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Agribusiness & food producers
- DEFRA & agencies
- Estates & farms
- Animal & wildlife charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Agriculture & Animal Science graduates.
Agriculture Litigation Solicitor – Rural & EstatesBirketts LLPAgriculture TrainerRise Technical RecruitmentAgriculture Legal Director & Partner – HybridErrington LegalAgriculture & Estates Lawyer - Suffolk / NorfolkBWF Legal RecruitmentAgriculture ManagerMarks and SpencerAgriculture Lawyer - BristolChadwick NottIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.6 out of 10: NSS 88.6% · in work or study 90% · continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Agriculture, food and related studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Agriculture & Animal Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
Related courses
More at UHI
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) Sustainable Development
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.