MSc

Agrifood Innovation

You are viewing this course for January start 2025

Key Facts

Course Code D67ND

  • Qualification

    MSc

  • Course duration

    5 years

  • Delivery method

    Distance learning

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The MSc Agrifood Innovation course at Aberystwyth University will provide you with a detailed understanding of the challenges facing the agri-food sector and is aimed at agricultural and environmental advisers, vets, FE lecturers and technical sales staff. If you currently work in one of these areas, or would like to, this distance learning course, containing optional workshops, is the ideal way to develop your advisory skills, update your technical knowledge and gain a postgraduate qualification while you are working.​

Typical Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements 2:2 Bachelors (Honours) degree in a relevant subject area or at least two years of relevant experience

English Language Requirements IELTS 6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent

Other Requirements Applicants are encouraged to submit an up-to-date CV as part of their application.

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Course Overview

This course will equip you with the technical and communication tools to instigate innovation and lead change. Optional modules will allow you to delve more deeply into specific facets of the supply chain and/or expand your repertoire of communication skills. You will also develop research skills and put these into practice via a work-based research project.

This unique course provides a diverse blend of options in communication skills, science and business. The distance learning modules will be provided by two academic departments at Aberystwyth University, IBERS and Aberystwyth Business School. The practical workshop sessions will be provided by Menter a Busnes, a Welsh company specialising in agricultural knowledge exchange.

About this course

Modules can be taken for your own continuing professional development or interest, or they can be built towards a Postgraduate qualification. To complete a PGCert part-time you can take no more than two years. To complete the full MSc you can take up to five years.

This course accepts three intakes every year (January, May and September). Applications are welcomed throughout the year.

Course Fees:

See the Fees information page.

This course is eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship 2023 (apply before 28th March).

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Dissertation - Agrifood Innovation BDM9560 60
Research Methods BDM0120 20
Sustainable Supply Systems BDM1120 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Behaviour Change BDM8820 20
Business Management for Rural Entrepreneurs BDM8320 20
Coaching and Mentoring for Leaders MMM5820 20
Controlled Environment Agriculture BDM6220 20
Facilitation for Organisation Leadership MMM5920 20
Genetics and Genomics in Agriculture BDM5820 20
Grassland Systems BDM5120 20
Horticultural Science BDM6920 20
Leading Change MMM5720 20
Livestock Health and Welfare BDM5920 20
Livestock Nutrition BDM0320 20
Livestock Production Science BDM5420 20
Plant Breeding BDM8420 20
Programming for Agritechnology - an Introduction BDM2420 20
Silage Science BDM5620 20
Soil Science BDM2320 20
Waste Resource Management BDM1220 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Most people undertaking this course are already employed in the agri-food sector and see it as a way to update and improve their technical knowledge while increasing their communication skills and working towards a qualification. It also acts as an ideal stepping stone for those wanting to move into this sector.

Teaching & Learning

How will I learn?

The modules delivered by IBERS are entirely online distance learning. Each online module includes recorded lectures from academics and industry experts, presentations, podcasts, e-group projects, guided readings, interactive workbooks and discussion forums, as well as assignments and e-tutorials. The Aberystwyth Business School modules are delivered through workshops. Workshop-based modules comprise two 2-day workshops and a 1-day final session.

A typical postgraduate student is expected to study for 200 hours when taking a 20-credit module. You should anticipate spending approximately 2-3 hours a week on online lectures, presentations and podcasts, and the remaining time on readings and assignments. The more time and effort you can put in, the more you will benefit from studying the module and the better your grades are likely to be.

How will I be assessed?

There are no exams within this programme. Taught modules are assessed via coursework (namely reports and essays, but also literature reviews, case studies, research proposals and data analysis tasks), online assignments, presentations and forum discussion. Workshop-based modules usually involve the design and execution of a practical task as part of the assessed work.