RICS Accreditation for Rural Land Management Degree

Students and staff from rural land degree programme

Plumpton College's new BSc (Hons) Rural Land and Business Management Degree Course, for aspiring rural surveyors, has gained a landmark achievement just weeks after welcoming their new student cohort at the start of its inaugural academic year. Nationally, the rural land degree has been enjoying a surge in profile, thanks in part to the increased public awareness and celebrity of Charlie Ireland following the success of Clarkson's Farm. Plumpton College, meanwhile, has an even greater cause for celebration with their new industry-informed degree having been officially accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The achievement follows a two-year campaign, with Plumpton College working closely with validating partner the University of Greenwich and a Rural Land Steering Group formed by the college composed of industry leading employers and organisations who individually endorsed the project; including Batcheller Monkhouse, Lambert & Foster, Savills, Knight Frank, Dalcour Maclaren, Webbpaton, Bax Thomas and French (BTF) Partnership, the National Trust and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).

“Having been involved in the launch of this innovative degree programme for rural surveyors, I am delighted that this now has formal RICS accreditation. This was an essential step towards making this degree the industry leader it deserves to be.” Leo Hickish, Chairman & Company Director, Batcheller Monkhouse.

“This accreditation is a testament to the expertise of the teaching team, strength of the programme and its relevance to the land-based industries. Graduates from this programme will be exceptionally well equipped to take up a wide range of careers within the area of rural land management.” Prof Noel-Ann Bradshaw, University of Greenwich (Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Science)

For Plumpton’s first cohort of students, the news couldn’t be better, with RICS accreditation conferring the professional recognition sought by employers and practitioners alike. This newly accredited degree, heavily endorsed by the sector, provides a unique pathway for graduates to now gain Chartered Surveyor status, allowing them to head straight into practice following the completion of their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and in doing so, also becoming CAAV (Central Association of Agricultural Valuers) Fellows.

Miemie Neethling Taylor, Director of Higher Education at Plumpton College celebrates:

“Achieving RICS accreditation affirms the quality of our teaching, the industry relevance of the programme, and reflects the dedication of our staff, our strong partnership with the University of Greenwich, and the depth of our engagement with rural industry. This recognition positions Plumpton as a leading provider of land-based higher education, aligned with professional standards and future-focused development. For students, it opens doors to professional pathways, enhances employability, and connects them directly with employers. It also ensures a pipeline of graduates who are not only academically prepared but professionally recognised.”

The benefits of Plumpton College’s BSc in Rural Land & Business Management are plentiful; currently offered as a two-year accelerated degree (two years of study in three ‘phases’ - one per term, per year) which gives immediate access into the workplace for students looking to earn as they study by working as student interns/trainees. The reduced study time means graduation in just two years which reduces course fees by 22%, and for a final flourish, the degree course is sector approved. Having been developed in partnership with the CAAV, land agents and businesses to ensure that the degree modules equip students with the necessary critical skills and knowledge required.

These significant advantages mark Plumpton at the forefront of land-based higher education providers, with their higher education courses meeting the needs of “those wishing to secure their qualifications whilst working and within a condensed timeframe” as observed by Leo Hickish, Chairman of Batcheller Monkhouse, who has “seen a significant demand from mature candidates looking for a change in career later in life.” Leading graduates into careers such as agricultural consultancy, property agency, investment and development or infrastructure development and land acquisition.

This accreditation is pleasing news for all stakeholders, with the future looking bright for the sector at large, for Plumpton College and their aspiring rural surveyors, as Director of Higher Education, Miemie Neethling-Taylor highlights: