MSc in Agricultural Ecosystems: Management for Sustainability

Sustainable food production is increasingly important as the human population grows: we need to produce more food, more sustainably. This MSc, taught by world-class researchers, provides a unique opportunity for you to gain a rigorous scientific background if you are aiming for a career in habitat management, crop production, plant physiology, ecological research, scientific communication or agricultural policy.

Cutting-edge programme topics include sustainable agricultural intensification and food production; agri-environment schemes; organic farming; land sparing; genetically modified crops; emerging crops; effects of climate change and mitigation measures; interactions between managed species and the environment; ecosystem services including pollination; pest/disease control; and maximising production while minimising environmental impacts.

The programme covers a broad but highly applied subject area; the focus ranges from the molecular to the global level. You will also develop transferable skills including statistics, data handling, scientific writing, and research methods. This programme may provide a springboard to PhD research or lead to a career in industry, including management and technical career paths, policy, conservation, charities or NGOs, or ecological consultancy.

Core units

In the first half of the programme, you take two in-depth, subject-specific units:

• Principles of Agricultural Production and Sustainability
• The Farm as a Natural System

The units consist of examined lectures and practical work, and are taught by leaders in the field of agricultural ecology.

Together with other MSc students in Biological Sciences, you will also learn key transferable skills relevant to your subject by taking a further three units:

• Professional Development for the Life Sciences
• Communicating Science
• Understanding Data: Experimental Design and Statistics for Life Scientists

You learn through lectures, seminars, workshops, and talks by visiting international researchers. You will also produce grant applications, peer assessments, presentations, posters, and reviews.

Research project

Working as part of an active research group or on a placement, you will then begin to develop your own ideas for the independent research project which makes up the second half of the programme.

• Research Project Planning

Background information is collected, clear targets are set and agreed for data collection, trials are carried out, and students discuss and plan experimental design and statistical analysis.

• Research Project Execution

Data are collected, analysed, and presented in the dissertation.