With costs of living and studying on the rise, more students are choosing to stay local. Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show 638,855 full-time students in the UK were living with their parents, or in their own home, while studying last year. This was an increase of 40,755 from the 598,100 students who started a degree in 2015/16.

So a partnership between the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and a college in the South East should help more students to be able to study land-based and agricultural courses while living at home, if that is what they prefer.

The planned partnership between RAU and Plumpton College, just outside Brighton, will increase the options available for land-based degrees in the South East, with excellent transport links for those wishing to commute from London or the south coast.

Building on the strong reputation the institutions have in land management, agri-business and wine, a range of courses will be available from this September up to postgraduate level at Plumpton College.

Jeremy Kerswell, principal of Plumpton College, said: "When researching what is understood of the land-based sector, career prospects and earning potential, we found that people had little knowledge of the range of careers available, and where a degree from an agricultural university or college could lead them. 

"We are keen to attract more students into the sector; and challenge some of the perceptions people have about agriculture just being for those who have grown up in the countryside."

Professor Joanna Price, Vice-Chancellor, Royal Agricultural University, said: "We know that the sector is going to need at least 595,000 highly skilled new entrants to meet current demand. Our impending EU exit may also increase this number. 

"We work closely with the industries we serve to ensure that the degrees we offer will be providing businesses with graduates who have the skills and business acumen to meet the employers' needs."