BA (Hons) Rural Business Management

Four highers at BBCC. No specific subjects are required. Applicants should be able to offer National 5 (A-C) or equivalent pass in English (for Literacy) and in Maths (for Numeracy).

Other equivalent qualifications are accepted and mature applicants with alternative qualifications and/or work experience should seek guidance from the college.

Comparable Qualifications:

3 A-Levels BCC with GCSE passes in Maths and English.

JCPA plus 4 Irish Leaving Certificate subjects at Higher Level at H3, H3, H3, H3

Are you interested in studying business but want to do something a bit different?

Do you want access to a variety of graduate careers where you can make a real contribution to the rural economy?

Then Rural Business Management is the course for you!

Click here to read the full Rural Business Management course guide.

Take a look around the SRUC Virtual Experience for lots of great student videos and examples of what it’s like to study our courses, along with campus and facility tours.

SRUC holds open days regularly. Visit our listings page for details of our up-coming events.

This course can be studied at our Aberdeen, Edinburgh, or Barony campus. Explore each campus below. 

SRUC Craibstone, Aberdeen

SRUC King's Buildings, Edinburgh

SRUC Barony, Dumfries

SRUC Auchincruive, Ayr

In first year you will study the basic theories through modules Economic Issues: An Introduction and Economics 1: Micro and Macro Theory.  The emphasis is on learning the basic principle of supply and demand and the way in which government policy and economic conditions affect business and identifying adequate responses.

In second year, this will be further developed to look at market structure and the influence on profitability. Other modules such a rural business diversification and environmental awareness strongly link to this.

This knowledge is further developed by the third year study of Economic rural policy where students will gain an appreciation of the evolving rural policy framework in the UK and devolved nations, including differences in approaches and priorities. They will also look at various non-EU countries' policies to appreciate how policies are affected by geographical as well as economic elements, such as, the differences between developed and developing countries.

There is a practical element with the use of simulation to allow students to see the impact of decision making. In fourth year this comes together with the other subject to aid completion of the honours project.

Business success is dependent on continual development and updating.  While many factors are common across all businesses, there are some specific challenges facing the rural sector.

In first year Business Management: An opportunity for students to start developing business plans.  This is also supported by modules in marketing and entrepreneurial skills to provide further data for the process.

In second year this is taken a stage further with subjects such as graded units 2 and 3 which also give you an introduction to the level of study required for third year

In the third year modules advanced business development aims to put students in the shoes of business managers and encourages them to make decisions on a live brief. Working collaboratively in a manner reflective of the workplace environment, students must make decisions driven by customer, supplier and economic change within the wider context of the need for enhanced sustainability.

Further skills are developed in Rural business consultancy which develops  students’ investigative and problem-solving skills through the use of integrative case studies. 

Each of the case studies will usually focus on specified aspects of a business and involve the integration of technical knowledge and management skills.  This will allow students to develop an understanding of professional problem-solving skills and appreciate their application in various business environments.

Finally, in fourth year we will consider ethical principles of decision making as the legal environment.

Financial management is key for all businesses, and in first year we will start by looking at the basics of financial record keeping in Financial records for Small Businesses before moving on to budgeting and analysis of data in second year through modules such as Using financial Accounting Statements and Planning, budgeting and control.

These will give you the skills to create and interpret basic accounts and to use this information to recommend courses of action

In third year, Students are then able to complete business plans and assess the feasibility of diversification plans in other modules while also learning more about the implications of business structure on the financial success of the organisation.

In fourth year, students study company finance and taxation where they will explore business and financial structures at an advanced level.

The organisational structure that is selected can have an impact on decision-making, legal obligations, and financial responsibilities. Throughout this module students will deepen their knowledge of a variety of financial structures that a business can use, and the processes necessary to achieve a successful listing including valuing businesses and directors’ obligations. 

The structure has tax implications and is a significant factor in selecting a business structure.

In year 1 students study ‘Structure of the Travel and Tourism Industry’ which provides students with an understanding of the various sectors involved in the tourism industry. It focuses on the range of stakeholders and their interaction with wholesalers and retailers.

In year 2 the students focus on ‘Sustainable Tourism in Rural Communities’ whereby the gain an understanding of the sustainability issues of tourism in rural areas. This module focuses on environment, economy, and communities, positive and negative impacts of tourism as well best practice and discusses the issues surrounding business commitment to sustainable tourism principles.

Year 3  this is developed further with 2 modules;  ‘Special Interest Tourism’ and ‘Rural Tourism’. Rural Tourism complements year 2 STRC by examining the demand for and the role of tourism within the development of rural areas. We address the specific issues and challenges when tourism is adopted as an economic regeneration tool. Students are encouraged to research into both past and present issues which are alive in the industry, thereby contributing to the vocational nature of the course.  ‘Special interest tourism’ examines the growth and demand in SI tourism, exploring the challenges and issues raised in managing and delivering SI activities. We examine marketing strategies, considerations for environment, motivation, visitor, destination and risk management, and an in-depth analysis is conducted on the economic, social, cultural, and political impacts of SI tourism within the broader tourism market.

Year 4 along with students choosing to have a tourism focussed dissertation we offer ‘International Tourism Issues’ module.

Surveying is introduced in first year through ‘Rural Land Use’. This unit takes a higher-level land use perspective as well as including up to date land surveying techniques including GIS methods and is designed to satisfy the needs of candidates seeking Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors accreditation. It is important that business students at this level are aware of the range of land capabilities in Scotland, including farmland, hill, mountain, estates and forestry, so that they can make appraisals of land capability in a wide range of situations for specified statutory and commercial interests.

In second year students look at farm buildings and their values, use etc with a view to maximising usage of these assets and also the legislative requirements regarding safety and ownership. They will also learn how to use GIS.

This feeds into the third year module, rural surveying and land use which starts to look at the different aspects of land use and how to survey properties.

In fourth year you will study the planning system and land law in detail, alongside learning how to carry out valuations. Students gain an understanding of key legal and planning regulation and policy issues as they relate to all rural property. This will include the importance of land use, ownership and occupation, rural planning law and the law relating to agricultural tenancies in Scotland. 

This will equip students to make estimates of the likely purchase price or appraisal for specified statutory and commercial interests, appreciate the mathematics of valuation and an awareness of tenant rights, improvements, compensation, compulsory purchase and valuation for tax purposes.

The  fourth year module aims to introduce the principles of planning and designing a research project and interpreting the results of such projects.

The module will introduce students to the basic quantitative and qualitative analysis skills needed to underpin good design and interpretation of research projects, so that students have the tools to undertake research in their fourth year of study. Research skills

The Honours Project functions as the culmination of a student’s learning on the RBM programme. This double-credit module takes the form of a research, investigation or consultancy-based project to encourage the development of investigative skills and to enable the critical evaluation and presentation of information. 

The project builds on disciplinary and inter-disciplinary knowledge, skills and resources that students have gained during their degree, regardless of where the research takes place. 

The module aims to develop the skills desired by employers to aid transition into the student’s chosen profession. The focus is on in-depth, well-researched applied information with original insights that leads to real world decision making.