The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is the oldest agricultural college in the English-speaking world. It was originally established in 1845 as The Royal Agricultural College. It was awarded full university status in 2013 and became The Royal Agricultural University.
The university offers both undergraduate and graduate courses specialising in agriculture. There are over 20 undergraduate courses including agri-food and business management, applied equine science and business, and environment, food and society. Meanwhile postgraduate students can choose from the university’s extensive range of MSc, MBA and research degrees.
At the heart of RAU is its motto “Avrorum Cultus Pecorumque”, a quote from Virgil’s Georgics, which means “Caring for the Fields and the Beasts”. This motto aims to reflect the university’s commitment to delivering high quality teaching and research in the field of agriculture.
Another important part of the university is the research that it carries out. Staff work on applied research projects throughout the year, focusing on sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, real estate and land management, and animal and equine science. Recent work has involved product development for improved health and welfare in horses, and improved crop management systems to reduce inputs.
The university is located in Cirencester, a market town in Gloucestershire, in England, UK. Cirencester is considered the “Capital of the Cotswolds” as it is the largest town in the area and is filled with pretty streets and medieval buildings. Cirencester boasts a number of art galleries, museums, shops, restaurants and bars, making it an ideal location for students to explore in their spare time.