HND Rural Business Management

This course will give you a real insight into modern rural businesses, as well as providing a range of transferable management skills.

Locations: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Barony
Study mode: full time (2 years), Part time (4 years)
Subject area: Business
Start date: September 2025
Agency code: 654D

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Course overview

The innovative content of this course is designed to meet your needs — and those of prospective employers.

Offering a well-rounded business education, it also develops practical skills that can be applied in a range of environments.

That's as well as excellent employment prospects, especially with current trends in the growth of rural surveying and the Scottish food and drink industry.

Core studies are complemented by specialist elective modules that let you tailor your studies towards your own specific interests. Real-life work placements give you the added benefit of relevant industry experience to build your practical skills and CV.

Throughout the course you'll make useful industry contacts, learn from regular guest speakers and make practical field trips. Our teaching, research and consultancy staff offer constant support and are always there to advise you if you need them.

Graduating from this course opens immediate doors into employment, or allows you to apply for the third year of our Rural Business Management degree.

Virtual Experience

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.

Entry requirements

Two Highers at CC. 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.

What you'll learn

This course has been created to offer a thorough knowledge of business knowledge and create and build on practical skills.

You'll also learn about planning, budgeting, business law and data handling.

Your elective modules will complement your core studies and reflect your own interests. Subjects include food, agriculture, tourism and equine and land management.

Field trips, guest speakers and practical activities enhance your learning experience and develop your knowledge and skills.

Example modules include:

Developing Entrepreneurial Skills
Structure of the Scottish Travel & Tourism Industry
Planning
Budgeting and Control
Business Law: An Introduction

Student experience

When Toby Ross decided to change his career path, he chose the HND in Rural Business Management at SRUC.

The former marketer and broadcaster chose us for a number of reasons.

“The curriculum struck me as more interesting than that on offer elsewhere," he said. "I also wanted to boost my skills — and CV — with practical training courses, and SRUC offers those in abundance.

"The course has proven interesting and I’ve enjoyed the way it’s delivered. I’ve also been really impressed by the range of events and activities provided by both the students' association and the college in general.”

"The course has proven interesting and I’ve enjoyed the way it’s delivered."

Toby Ross, HND Rural Business Management, 2018

Meet the lecturer

Bill Mackay

Programme Team Leader

Before his career in education Bill worked in management within the private sector. Now he's responsible for operational leadership of the Rural Business Management Programme in our South and West campuses.

He produces and delivers modules from 1st year through to Masters on subjects including Management theory, Finance and Business Planning.

Bill is also External examiner for Duchy College, Cornwall and is developing materials for the University of Edinburgh MSc in Poultry.

View Bill's Pure profile

Craig Davidson

Masters of Science in Agriculture Education

Craig is a former student of Agriculture at our Aberdeen campus. He absolutely loved living on the estate and having the farms, woodland, and all the amenities at his fingertips.

Now based in the Edinburgh Kings Buildings, Craig lectures across our agriculture courses. He’s passionate about interactive, hands-on teaching and loves showing people with little agriculture background where food comes from as well as busting the many myths surrounding agriculture and food production.

View Craig's Pure profile

Fees and funding

Eligible full-time students studying HND Rural Business Management should apply to SAAS for fees and funding. A student loan is also available to help students with living costs.

If you do not apply, you will have to pay your fees yourself and if you have studied at HNC/D/degree level before SAAS may not pay your fees.

More information about funding your course

Find out more about your payment options for this course in our fees and funding section

Fees & funding

Other possible routes to funding

Care experienced bursary: There are a number of bursaries available to care-experienced students studying full time. Find out more from our student funding teams at: registryfunding@SRUC.ac.uk
Discretionary fund
- SAAS student bursary
- Care Experienced Accommodation Grant
- Childcare
- Going further bursary
- RUK bursary (for students from outside Scotland)
- The Gregor Thomas Royan Lamb Bursary for Future Farmers
- Centenary bursary
- Change your path bursary

HND Rural Business Management

Apply now