This course combines the principles of sustainable development with an examination of the various systems of food production in the context of providing a secure supply to meet the ever-changing requirements of a growing world population. It provides an opportunity for graduates or professionals in other disciplines to direct their careers towards agriculture and food supply.

The principal aim of the course is to enable you to gain the specialised knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes necessary to contribute effectively and ethically to strategic decision making, opinion forming and operational management for the sustainable development of agricultural and food supply systems in both developed and developing regions.

New for 2012! International Internship Grants of £1000 to assist with travel costs to enable students to gain valuable work experience. Additionally, Principal’s Postgraduate Overseas Awards of £1500 are available for students from India, South America, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore, starting in 2012 (subject to eligibility).

Who is the course for?

Anyone who is concerned that our food production systems will not be fit for purpose by the middle of this century! This is the ideal course for those looking for a career in production, policy, and sustainable development focusing on food or resource consumption in agriculture. You should have a degree in a related subject or an interest in a career in one of the key themes. This course attracts students from a wide age group and a wide range of backgrounds and is particularly appropriate for more mature students who are re-directing their careers.

How is the course organised?

The course may be studied full-time over one academic year, or part-time over two years. You will study five core modules:

• Development Project Management - to develop the necessary skills.
• Poverty and Food Security - to understand the demand for food and the issues in providing it.
• Integrated Agricultural Systems - to examine the sustainability of a range of food producing management systems.
• Sustainable Management of Soil and Water - to understand the issues in managing the two key natural resources for plant growth.
• Agricultural and Rural Policy - to examine the role of policies such as WTO and CAP in delivering sustainable agriculture

You will then choose three additional modules - preferably from Sustainable Agricultural Intensification, Small Scale Farming, Organic Production and Marketing, or any of the MSc International Rural Development modules. All students will complete an independent research project on a topic related to one of the key themes of the course, presented as two journal papers, one a review of the topic, the other a research paper.

What is the learning style?

You will gain a broader understanding of relevant issues through knowledge acquisition, intellectual enquiry, debate, and team/individual research. The course will also provide a learning environment that encourages you to explore factors influencing sustainability while at the same time reflecting on your own actions and attitudes, and those of others. In addition to lectures, you will participate in case studies, seminars and management projects dependent on module selections. This approach fosters teamwork and complements individual study and student learning.

The following themes will be developed:

• Human exploitation of the Earth's resources for food production and the global and local implications of human development.
• The ecological basis for resource utilisation allied to wider environmental and landscape considerations of food production and supply.
• The role and function of institutional structures in relation to development, resource exploitation, social, cultural, ethical and inter-generation considerations.
• The application of development paradigms, models and tools to build capacity within communities, institutions and individuals.

Entry requirements

• The normal minimum entry requirement will be an Honours degree at upper second level.
• Mature candidates with significant relevant work experience and lower academic qualifications may also be considered for entry, following personal interview with the Course Manager.
• If your first language is not English, we will accept the International English Language Test (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5 in all elements.
• If you have other qualifications, including overseas awards and alternative English language qualifications, you are advised to contact Admissions to discuss the suitability of your award for entry onto the course.

Career prospects

This is a new course but closely related to the MSc International Rural Development where graduates have entered careers in research, consultancy, policy formulation and project management for international organisations, government departments and national agencies, NGOs, research institutes and commercial companies across the world.