James, Earl of Wessex begins university journey at Royal Agricultural University
At 18, James, Earl of Wessex, is preparing for one of the biggest changes of his young life as he leaves the family home and begins university in the Cotswolds.
The son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh is starting his undergraduate studies at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, where he will study Rural Land & Property Management.
James is arriving at the university on 20 September 2026, when new students are due to move into on-campus accommodation. Student registration and induction will then take place from 21 to 25 September, with teaching beginning on 28 September. The university’s first semester is scheduled to run until 18 December, followed by the Christmas break.
The academic year at the Royal Agricultural University is divided into two semesters. The university says most students will study and be assessed during each semester, with examination and assessment periods toward the end of each one.
A three-year degree in rural land and property
James chose to go directly to university after completing his A-levels rather than taking a gap year. Buckingham Palace previously confirmed that he had achieved the grades required for his chosen course and would begin his studies at the Royal Agricultural University without taking a year out.
His three-year BSc in Rural Land & Property Management is designed around the practical and professional aspects of managing land and property in the countryside. The course covers areas including rural professional practice, planning and development, law, valuation, building construction and management, as well as wider business management and sustainability.
The programme is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is aimed at preparing students for careers connected with rural business, estate management, consultancy and countryside property.
For James, university will also mean a change of surroundings. He is leaving Bagshot Park, where he has lived with his parents, for life in Cirencester, in the heart of the Cotswolds.
The Royal Agricultural University provides on-campus accommodation, and first-year students have the option of living in university halls. The university confirms that the arrival date for first-year students in 2026 is Sunday 20 September.
Cirencester is likely to offer a familiar balance of countryside and an upmarket atmosphere. HELLO!’s Deputy Beauty and Lifestyle Editor Melanie Macleod, who grew up in the town, previously described the area as having a similar feel to the surroundings James knows in Surrey, while also bringing the distinctive character of the Cotswolds.
Following a major milestone for his sister
James’s move to university comes shortly after another important educational milestone in the family.
Earlier in the summer, his older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She completed her undergraduate degree in English, with reports from the graduation period describing her qualification as English Literature.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were there to celebrate the occasion with their daughter, posing for graduation portraits at University House following the ceremony.
The royal family also marked the occasion publicly, congratulating Lady Louise on completing her four-year university journey at St Andrews.
With Lady Louise’s university years now behind her, attention turns to James as he begins his own three-year undergraduate course. His arrival at the Royal Agricultural University marks the start of a new stage for the 18-year-old, who is moving from family life at Bagshot Park to student life in Cirencester.
