Course summary
This course will equip you with the specialist knowledge and skills needed by governments, NGOs, commercial companies, and farms as they respond to some of today's biggest challenges within the agriculture and food sectors. You will delve into critical issues such as the human exploitation of the Earth’s resources, poverty alleviation and food security, and the ethical and cultural implications of policy development. You will study five core modules covering understanding and improving agricultural and food supply systems. You can then select three electives to enable further specialisation including crops, livestock, management, and different system approaches. Practical exercises which are embedded into your study will prepare you for a successful career including preparing tenders, presentations, and group assignments. This programme attracts students from around the globe. This is a key part of the study experience; working on a range of tasks using examples from around the world and drawing on each other's knowledge and experiences. You will gain skills including critical analysis, open-mindedness, and reflection as well as technical knowledge. If you are driven by a desire to shape public and political attitudes, this is the ideal environment in which to develop a strategic and operational mind-set in a way that will expand your own opinions and those of global decision-makers. Our renowned lecturers and researchers will guide you through theoretical study and practical exercises that will prepare you for a successful career in a wide range of organisations. Our graduates have gone on to enter production, policy, and research and consultancy careers in the agricultural and food quality sector, within:
- International organisations - United Nations (UN), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) etc
- Government departments in various countries
- NGOs internationally - Envrionment Agency, National Farmers' Union (NFU), Country Landowners Association (CLA) etc
- Research institutes
Modules
The course may be studied full-time over 12 months, comprising five core modules and three elective modules, followed by a Research Project carried out over the summer culminating in a review of a key topic and an academic paper. You will gain a broader understanding of relevant issues through knowledge acquisition, intellectual enquiry, debate, and team/individual research. In addition to lectures, you will participate in case studies, seminars and management projects. This approach fosters teamwork and complements individual study and student learning. The modules available for this course are shown below. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Modules 4038a Integrated Agricultural Systems (15 credits) 4201 Poverty and Food Security (15 credits) 4250 International Rural Development (15 credits) 4409 Facing the global challenges in food and agriculture (15 credits) 4727 Managing Global Soils in a Changing Climate (15 credits) 4413 Research Skills (15 credits) 4414 Research Dissertation (45 credits) OR 4415 Applied Project (45 credits) Plus a choice of THREE elective modules (all modules 15 credits each): 4203 Small Scale Farming and Local Food Supply 4262 Sustainable Business Strategy 4263 Entrepreneurship and Business Planning 4278 Organic Systems 4722 Climate Change and Sustainability 4723 Crop Technology and Innovation 4724 Environmental Science in Agriculture 4725 Environmental Technology and Innovation 4726 Livestock Production Technology and Innovation The availability of electives to individual students will be dependent on timetabling considerations and on sufficient students electing to take part.
Assessment method
Assessment is based on team projects, including production of a magazine and organisation of a national conference.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
International applicants
https://www.rau.ac.uk/study/international-students
Entry requirements
An Undergraduate Honours Degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or overseas equivalent, or a professional qualification and/or experience considered to be equivalent to the above. For information on international qualifications, please, see our country specific pages. For countries not listed please contact [email protected]. We welcome applications from applicants with non-standard qualifications who are able to demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills developed in the workplace or elsewhere and which are relevant to the programme of study. Applicants will need to use their personal statement to provide further details supported by a CV. All non-standard applications will be considered by the Programme Manager on a case-by-case basis and applicants can expect that an interview may be required as part of the admissions process. If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our English language requirements for the level of study. For postgraduate taught programmes this is IELTS Academic min. overall 6.5 with no element below 5.5(or equivalent). English language tests usually have a validity of 2 years from the date the test is taken. Offers will typically be made in line with the academic requirements set out above. Offers can be conditional or unconditional. An unconditional offer will be made to applicants who have already met the conditions and provided evidence that conditions have been met. Where academic or language requirements have not yet been fulfilled, applicants will receive a conditional offer stating the requirements that must be met.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £10950 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £10950 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £10950 | Whole course |
| Wales | £10950 | Whole course |
| Channel Islands | £10950 | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £10950 | Whole course |
| EU | £18050 | Whole course |
| International | £18050 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Royal Agricultural University
Stroud Road
Cirencester
GL7 6JS