Rural and Countryside management qualification

Ever thought of a career in countryside management? If your answer to the above questions is yes, then the Foundation Degree (FdSc)/Certificate in Higher Education (Cert HE) in Rural and Countryside Management is the course for you.

The course is taught at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Greenmount Campus, and is validated by the University of Ulster. It aims to develop the environmental, project and business management skills that are in demand in the conservation and rural development sectors. The course has both practical and applied course, and takes two or four years study depending on the pathway chosen.

The course is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis (Cert HE part-time basis only). Part-time provision is offered on a day release basis. The course covers a diverse range of subjects including Business Management, Environmental Science, Rural Business Opportunities, Applied Countryside Management and Work Placement.

An important aspect of the course is the ‘learning by doing’ approach for students. The Greenmount Estate provides the perfect backdrop for this. The estate includes a Greenmount Trail, which has significant input from organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Ulster Wildlife Trust (UWT). Students manage and develop this resource including the preparation of interpretive material, habitat management and development and visitor management. A second facility is also available at the Glenwherry Hill Farm where students contribute to the management and delivery of the Countryside Management Scheme. These two facilities allow students to gain experience in tasks like practical hedgerow management and woodland management, dry stone-walling, as well as flora and fauna identification.

Students are also given the opportunity to travel as part of the course. This year the Rural and Countryside Management students visited Brussels, as part of their study tour where they got the chance to see the European Parliament and visit a waste recycling plant, just two of several visits organised.

The course also offers students the potential to gain additional qualifications. These include the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), which is a recognised qualification in computer competence, chainsaw use certification, brush cutter/strimmer courses and first aid certification.

There are numerous opportunities for graduates of this course, which include: Countryside Wardens or Rangers, Conservation and Environmental Officers and Environmental Monitoring Officers. Furthermore students have the option of progressing to the University of Ulster to ‘top-up’ to an Honours Degree in either Environmental Science or Geography.

If you require more information or have any further queries about the courses you can contact CAFRE – Greenmount Campus at:

Telephone: 028 9442 6700 (international 00 44 2894426700)

Fax: 028 9442 6606 (international 00 44 2894426606)

E-mail: enquiries@dardni.gov.uk