Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Royal Agricultural University
Postgraduate MSc Full-time 1 Year Agriculture and related sciences

About this course

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​
  • Study Options

    This course is available in 6 study options:

    Full-time Shown above

    Duration: 1 Year

    Qualification: MSc

    Location: Cirencester

    Part-time

    Duration: 2 Years

    Qualification: MSc

    Location: Cirencester

    Full-time Shown above

    Duration: 1 Year

    Qualification: PgDip

    Location: Cirencester

    Part-time

    Duration: 2 Years

    Qualification: PgDip

    Location: Cirencester

    Full-time Shown above

    Duration: 1 Year

    Qualification: PgCert

    Location: Cirencester

    Part-time

    Duration: 2 Years

    Qualification: PgCert

    Location: Cirencester

    Career Prospects

    Graduates from this course typically go into the following occupations:

    1211 Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
    2113 Biochemists and biomedical scientists
    2112 Biological scientists
    9112 Forestry and related workers
    2483 Environmental health professionals
    1212 Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services

    Course Details

    Qualification
    MSc
    Study Mode
    Full-time
    Duration
    1 Year
    Start Date
    2025
    Academic Year
    2025
    Campus / Location
    Cirencester
    Scheme
    Postgraduate
    Subjects
    Agriculture and related sciences