Royal Agricultural University

Based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, the Royal Agricultural University was founded in 1845 under the name Royal Agricultural College. It was the first agricultural college anywhere in the English-speaking world, and Queen Victoria granted its royal charter that same year. It became a university and took its present name in 2013, and its patron is King Charles III. The institution is small and specialist, with around 1,100 students, and its rural campus has the feel of a close-knit community. Teaching spans land and property, agriculture, cultural heritage, the environment, equine management and science, and business and entrepreneurship, through foundation degrees, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate programmes.

Two university farms of about 490 hectares, an equestrian centre, and more recently built land laboratories and an experimental barn provide settings for practical learning. Land and property management is an area in which the university enjoys a particularly strong reputation. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, over half of its research was judged world-leading or internationally excellent. Former students include politicians, broadcasters, sportspeople and members of landowning families.

Information for International Students

Applicants from outside the UK are supported by the RAU's International Team, and as a licensed Student visa sponsor the university offers dedicated visa guidance. Undergraduate courses usually require IELTS Academic 6.0 overall and no component under 5.5. Taught postgraduate courses expect 6.5 overall, again with each component at 5.5 or above, and research degrees demand a higher writing score. English preparation before degree study is possible through a partnership with INTO London, while foundation degrees offer another way into higher education.

Incoming international and EU students are invited, before term starts, to the International Students' Welcome day, which is optional and free. It deals with enrolment, setting up a UK bank account, accessing healthcare and other practical administration, and allows students to meet one another and the staff who support them; short stays in campus accommodation around the event cost extra. Students may choose private accommodation in Cirencester or halls on the main campus, and the university publishes advice on reaching the UK and getting to the campus. International scholarships are offered, and eligible graduates are able to use the Graduate Route.