History, Affiliations and Rankings
Formerly known as the Royal Agricultural College, the Royal Agricultural University was established in 1845 in Cirencester, England, United Kingdom with a student population of 25. The idea to set up this college was formulated at a meeting of the Fairford and Cirencester Farmer’ Club in the year 1842. Having said that, the Royal Agricultural University was the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world. It gained university status in 2013 and adopted its current name of Royal Agricultural University. The RAU has a long history of assisting local communities as well as the global rural economy. Business West, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), the Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE), the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK), the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE), and others are among the university's many partners and accreditation organisations. The university was ranked 73rd in the Times University Guide 2021. Having said that, the institution was ranked 29th in the UK for Agriculture in REF 2014. The university has been ranked #115 in The Complete University Guide’s University League Tables 2022. Royal Agricultural University’s vision is to become the leading specialist University providing a fresh perspective for the land agri-food and rural enterprise sectors.
Campus, Courses and Infrastructure
The university caters to the educational needs of domestic as well as international students through its undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate programmes in unique and unconventional courses. The university consists of 3 schools, namely the School of Agriculture, Food and Environment, School of Equine Management and Science, and School of Real Estate and Land Management that offer more than 30 land-based undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to 1,100+ students from more than 45 countries. Aside from that, Royal Agricultural University also offers Business courses but they sit within the other schools, UG in RELM and PG in SAFE. The university also has a site in Swindon known as RAU Swindon offering Masters programmes in Historic Environments, including MSc Historic Environment Management and MSc Conservation and Management of Historic Buildings. In downtown Cirencester, Royal Agricultural University offers a magnificent 25-acre campus surrounded by the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Coates Manor Farm, which is primarily arable farmed with some pasture land, and RAU Equestrian Centre, which offers livery options, are both operated by the university. On-campus, the institution includes a gym, an all-weather field, and squash and tennis courts, among other sporting facilities.
Accomplishments and Alumni
In 1845, Queen Victoria awarded the institution a Royal Charter, and monarchs have been patrons ever since, visiting the college during each reign. In 1982, His Royal Highness Prince Charles was elected President of the United Kingdom. Graduates of the Royal Agricultural University have received several honours and accolades, including the Farmers Weekly Young Farmer Of The Year Award. The institution is also committed to raising environmental awareness and encourages students all across the world to do so. Having said that, RAU was ranked in the top 10 at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards in 2019 and in 2020 in both the Job Prospects and University of the Year categories, based on feedback from its students. Also, the Teaching Excellence Framework has awarded a Silver Rating to the Royal Agricultural University. The Royal Agricultural University has just become the 6th university to be made a Centre of Excellence by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE). Some of the famous names in the long list of notable alumni are Mark Bence-Jones (writer), Dwijendralal Ray (Bengali poet), Jonathan Dimbleby, (television personality and political commentator) and more.
Student Diversity and Visiting Companies
Every year, students from the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond come to the Royal Agricultural University. RAU also invites students from Asia (particularly India) who wish to pursue world-class and quality education in the United Kingdom. RAU's International Team is always eager to assist and support international students looking for educational opportunities in the United Kingdom. For all applicants, students, employees, prospective personnel, and the governing body, the University is dedicated to establishing a community where equality of opportunity is a reality. Its goal is to foster a culture that is devoid of discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. Having said that, 90% of the university's postgraduates are in employment within 6 months of leaving the RAU. The graduates are regularly recruited by some of the world’s leading organisations. RAU graduates are well-prepared for successful jobs in their chosen fields, whether it's driving industry innovation and transformation, guiding future land-based policy, or starting their own firms, as many of our entrepreneurial students do with great success.
