MSc

Sustainable Agriculture

You are viewing this course for January start 2025

Key Facts

Course Code D413D

  • Qualification

    MSc

  • Course duration

    5 years

  • Delivery method

    Distance learning

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Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to help agriculture meet the challenges of the 21st century! The Sustainable Agriculture course at Aberystwyth University centres on increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impact within the extensive pasture-based production sector. The programme provides flexible, accessible, postgraduate level training for people employed in the agri-food sector. Training comprises distance learning modules and work-based research projects. These are accessible as CPD or as credit-bearing units, which can be built towards a range of postgraduate qualifications.

Typical Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements 2:2 Bachelors (Honours) degree in a relevant subject area or equivalent.  Non-graduates must have at least 24 months of relevant full-time work experience in an agri-food industry.

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

Why study Sustainable Agriculture at Aberystwyth University?

  • Our training has been designed to be as accessible as possible, particularly for those in full-time employment. The course is entirely online, enabling you to study whenever and wherever (provided you have Internet access) is convenient for you.
  • Taught by experts at both Aberystwyth University (AU) and Bangor University (BU), this course offers you a highly vocational option.
  • This course is highly flexible. With a wide range of option modules available, you can choose the modules you wish to study according to your needs and interests. We also work closely with Bangor University, which means that you can also take relevant Bangor modules as part of your studies.
  • Aberystwyth University has 1000 ha of farmland, a 400 cow dairy unit, upland and lowland sheep and beef units and a flock of layer hens. Our livestock-related research was worth in excess of £20 million in the last 5 years.
  • A three-year version of this course (D413D3) is available for those in receipt of a student loan.

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 BDM3560 60
Research Methods BDM0120 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Business Management for Rural Entrepreneurs BDM8320 20
Genetics and Genomics in Agriculture BDM5820 20
Grassland Systems BDM5120 20
Livestock Health and Welfare BDM5920 20
Livestock Nutrition BDM0320 20
Livestock Production Science BDM5420 20
Nuffield Scholarship Project (New Awards) BDM1740 40
Nuffield Scholarship Project (Post-Completion) BDM1840 40
Plant Breeding BDM8420 20
Silage Science BDM5620 20
Soil Science BDM2320 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Teaching & Learning

How will I learn?

Modules can be taken for your own continuing professional development or interest, or they can be built towards a variety of postgraduate qualifications. To complete a full MSc, you can take between 2 to 5 years, and you must complete five option modules plus the core Research Methods module and a Dissertation.

The training is entirely web-based which means that as long as you have access to a reasonable broadband connection you can study where and when best suits you. Learning material for each 14-week 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. By signing a re-registration form each year you will have access to e-journals and library resources for the full five years.

The research elements of this qualification are usually carried out in your workplace with regular academic supervision. However, there are also opportunities for research projects to be based at IBERS. Please ask us if this option would be of interest to you.

A typical Masters 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.

What will I learn?

Students undertaking the full MSc must complete a core module which prepares them for independent research and a 60 credit research dissertation.

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, business plans and data analysis tasks), presentations and forum discussion.