Why Cirencester?

At the Royal Agricultural University, you are perfectly situated to explore everything the South West has to offer.

With its pretty Cotswold streets and medieval wool merchants’ houses, buzzing social scene and great nightlife it’s easy to see why so many students never want to leave Cirencester - even after graduating!

Cirencester, known as the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’ is a thriving student town with a great sense of history awash with museums, art galleries, speciality shops, boutiques, delis and antiques and collectables markets. 

Explore our halls of residence

Read more about our halls of residence in Cirencester.

Bledisloe Court

These single on-campus rooms have a light, airy feel with some enjoying views across farmland towards the village of Coates. Bledisloe Court is divided into six houses on three levels. Each house has nine or ten standard, single bedrooms with a wash basin and shared toilet and shower facilities. There are 59 rooms in total. Bledisloe does not have a common room, however, students have access to the Student Lounge and Tithe Barn to socialise in.

Applying to the RAU

An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent qualification is essential if your first language is not English.

What are the IELTS criteria?

IELTS has many test centres with many test dates across the globe. To find out more about the qualifications and a test centre near you, click here to visit the IELTS website. 

Sports, clubs & societies

There's a broad range of clubs and societies you can join whilst at the RAU, from choir to board games to food and wine. The RAU Student Union always welcome new ideas for social activities, so if you can’t see something that takes your interest you can always start up your own club or society. Current societies include: 

Students' Union

Student life isn't just about studying; the Students' Union (RAUSU) is dedicated to helping you make the most of your time at the RAU, from sports clubs and societies to social events and charity fundraising.

RAUSU office and shop

The Students’ Union has its own office and shop on campus located next to the Tithe Barn. Drop in and have a chat or pick up your latest branded goods and sports kit. Your elected union officers are here to help you settle in, to make your voice heard and listen to your ideas for so

Visit from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

8 June 2022

We were delighted to welcome a delegation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the RAU today (Wednesday 8 June).

USDA Chief Economist Dr Seth Meyer, and Cynthia Iglesias Guven, USDA Agricultural Counsellor for the UK and Ireland, joined senior staff and academics from the RAU for a tour of our Cirencester campus, including the University’s agritech incubator Farm491, before joining academics and researchers for lunch and a round table discussion.

Ukrainian Visit to the RAU

7 June 2022

It was lovely to welcome Liudmyla Batsenko, Associate Professor of Management, at Sumy National Agrarian University (SNAU) on campus today

Here at the RAU we recently announced that we are twinning with SNAU to provide humanitarian support. Liudmyla and her children have left Ukraine and are staying with a local family. She came on to campus today for lunch and a look around.

Royal Agricultural University excels in annual student satisfaction survey

7 July 2022

We are delighted to have achieved excellent results in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) with student satisfaction scores beating even those of the best-performing Russell Group universities.

In the annual survey, which gathers students’ opinions on the quality of their courses, the RAU recorded an overall student satisfaction score of 85.17%, 9% above the average for the sector, while the University’s Learning Community score of 83% was a huge 15% above the sector average.

RAU Staff come together to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee

31 May 2022

On Monday 30 May we all came together to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of our Patron, HM The Queen.

Staff and their visitors were treated to a family style fete with tractor rides, bouncy castles and even face painting. Dame Fiona Reynolds, our Head of Governing Council,  did the honours by cutting our jubilee-themed cake and it was enjoyed by all with a good cup of tea.  In true British style we braved the rain showers and enjoyed a lovely picnic. Congratulations to HM The Queen on 70 glorious years!

RAU student’s “Grand Idea” nets her £10,000 investment in her start up businesses

27 May 2022

Enterprising RAU student Imogen Burgoyne has won this year’s Royal Agricultural University (RAU) Grand Idea competition and secured a massive £10,000 investment, as well as mentoring, for her fledgling businesses from a panel of prestigious judges.

Twenty-two-year-old Imogen, from Haywards Heath in Sussex, is studying for a BSc International Business Management at the RAU and is setting up not one, but two, businesses – a course which prepares young people for adulthood and a private, secure, dog walking facility in Sussex.

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