The course focuses on organic farming in temperate situations and aims to build on to the existing expertise and aspirations of course members, making them suitable for employment as practitioners, promoters, facilitators and researchers of organic farming practices. Emphasis is placed on developing personal skills in the context of relevant technical, production, management and marketing topics. A work placement provides experience vital for employment success. Although they are two distinct awards, the common elements of the Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Science programmes are delivered together over 32 weeks from September to June. The 12 week research project and thesis takes place from June to September and provides the distinctive element in the Masters award.
Assessment is by in-course continuous appraisal and summative examination.
Organic crop and vegetable production Organic forage and livestock production. The work placement takes place in March to April. Master of Science Students who a achieve merit level in the Postgraduate Diploma may be offered progression to the MSc research project phase. Assessment is by submission of thesis or dissertation. SAC has two fully converted farm units, an organic beef and sheep unit and an organic arable unit.