At our leading land-based College, we’re proud to offer excellence in vocational qualifications, ranging from entry to degree-level in a variety of diplomas and apprenticeships. 

As one of the largest outdoor education providers in the UK, with more than 5,000 students studying at centres based across Northern England, we can ensure learners benefit from state-of-the-art facilities – including an award winning Wildlife Park at our York campus and an industry-standard sheep husbandry centre, beauty parlour and upland farm at our Newton Rigg site.

Working closely with employers, the College maintains excellent relationships with industry, leading to fantastic career opportunities for all of our students in the UK and abroad. We’re proud to have hugely successful alumni, including students who have started their own businesses, manage their own farms and progressed to become CEOs of national organisations.

The College works hard to support the rural industry; educating the next generation on both the traditions of the sector and the new technologies being developed to support the ever changing landscape of rural England. We have our own Rural Business Research Unit at the College, which is part of Rural Business Research; a national consortium of six Universities and Colleges delivering projects for government, levy-funded research bodies, research councils and commercial clients. The research undertaken includes specific regional studies, national data collection and analysis and the largest survey of its kind in this country, the Farm Business Survey, carried out by Defra. Other work undertaken includes undertaking independent research for clients such as the National Parks, Natural England and the Food Standards Agency. Furthermore, the Unit has expertise in the area of beef production with current work focusing on the development of a Benchmarking Discussion Group for Suckler Cow farmers with the aim of improving profitability and efficiency.