MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

You will gain a broader understanding of relevant issues through knowledge acquisition, intellectual enquiry, debate, and team/individual research.

In addition to lectures, you will participate in case studies, seminars and management projects. This approach fosters teamwork and complements individual study and student learning.

Here at the RAU we are always looking for ways to better support our students. We recognise that a number of our students may be working or have caring responsibilities alongside studying which can sometimes make it difficult to attend every teaching session in person. As such we have the ability for you to join lectures and seminars through an alternative digital format in prior discussion with your programme leader. Please note that for international students on a student visa you are expected to attend your classes in person. Remote delivery is not an UKVI authorised mode of attendance for the taught element of your course and therefore non-attendance would affect your student visa.

The in-person teaching sessions are timetabled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with core modules mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. This means your presence on campus would depend on a combination of your elective modules and core modules each semester. This scheduling allows you to fulfil other commitments you may have, such as work, family and interests. For part-time students the module sessions are timetabled with fewer days a week.

If you are interested in studying this subject but cannot commit to the full MSc programme it is also possible to study for a Certificate or Diploma in the subject.

What is a Postgraduate Certificate?

The PgCert - or Postgraduate Certificate - is the shortest of our Masters level offerings, which is completed by studying four modules (60 credits). It allows you to study a specific area of the course in depth but takes less time to complete than the MSc or PgDip.

The PgCert is a great way of fitting postgraduate study around a busy life. Full-time students can complete the course in as little as one year. Part-time students can choose to spread the course up to two years, giving you lots of time for thinking and writing between modules. It is ideal if you want to study a specific subject but would rather not commit to a full MSc with its attendant time and financial costs.

It can be a great way into a career in a new industry but if you desire to continue your studies, PgCert credits can be used to contribute towards a PgDip or even an MSc qualification later down the line. Completing studies using this route is often likened to building blocks – one step at a time – the first step being a PgCert.

Please note that overseas applicants who require a student visa cannot be considered for this course as the weekly contact hours do not meet the UKVI threshold for a full-time Student visa.

What is a Postgraduate Diploma?

The PgDip - or Postgraduate Diploma – is a level 7 course that sits between the PgCert and the full MSc. It allows you to study a subject in depth but without undertaking the Dissertation element. Consequently, it takes substantially less time to complete than the MSc, while still covering the same taught elements. To complete this qualification, you will take eight modules (120 credits).

Full-time students can complete the course in as little as two semesters (one year). Part-time students can choose to spread the course over up to two years, giving you lots of time for thinking and writing between modules. It is ideal for students who want to study a specific subject but would rather not commit to a full MSc with its attendant time and financial costs.

The PgDip can be a great way to boost your career, or enter a new industry. We recognise that life can be unpredictable so the PgDip is built to be as flexible as possible. Should you desire to continue your studies, PgDip credits can be used to contribute towards an MSc qualification later down the line. Conversely, if you need to cut your studies short for any reason, it is also possible to convert the PgDip to a PgCert after the completion of four modules.

Please note, Visa students must be full-time (a min of 15 hours per week) and will need to attend all sessions in person due to UKVI visa requirements.

The modules available for this course are shown below. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Modules

• 4038a Integrated Agricultural Systems: Explore complex systems including agroforestry, regenerative agriculture and vertical farming
• 4201 Poverty and Food Security: Examine the inter-relationships between poverty and food security
• 4250 International Rural Development: Critically engage with normative and historical concepts of development theory and practice
• 4409 Facing the global challenges in food and agriculture: Discuss challenges affecting food production, including the global population increase and the energy crisis
• 4413 Research Skills: Develop research competencies related to data collection and analysis
• 4727 Managing Global Soils in a Changing Climate: Understand the fundamentals of soil processes key to protecting this precious resource
• 4414 Research Dissertation: Undertake an independent research project with guidance from a supervisor

PLUS a choice of THREE elective modules (all modules 15 credits each):

• 4203 Small Scale Farming and Local Food Supply: Examine how small scale farmers contribute to food systems on a national and global scale
• 4262 Sustainable Business Strategy: Investigate how businesses can embed sustainability into their core business models
• 4263 Entrepreneurship and Business Planning: Understand and critically evaluate the linkages between entrepreneurship and venture creation, development and growth
• 4744 Organic and Regenerative Systems: Understand the agroecological principles and practices of organic systems
• 4722 Climate Change and Sustainability: Critically assess the causes and impacts of climate change
• 4723 Crop Technology and Innovation: Gain an understanding of the various technologies applied to improve crop production globally
• 4755 Environmental Science and Technology in Agriculture: Develop practical skills in interpreting environmental data within agricultural contexts
• 4726 Livestock Production Technology and Innovation: Appraise the science behind different livestock technologies and evaluate their benefits, disadvantages and applications in different real-life systems

The availability of electives to individual students will be dependent on timetabling considerations and on sufficient students electing to take part.

Disclaimer information

The University has established various rules and regulations that you must agree to and follow if you accept an offer to study with us. View our full disclaimer notice.

• 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​

"Every module was a new adventure, taking us from our familiar UK landscape right across the world. Led by academics who were extremely knowledgeable and very often leaders in their field, it was also packed with opportunities for independent research and problem solving. I cannot recommend this course more highly.
Life changing."

Iris McCormick, Graduate

We welcome applications from applicants with non-standard qualifications who are able to demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills developed in the workplace or elsewhere and which are relevant to the programme of study. Applicants will need to use their personal statement to provide further details supported by a CV. All non-standard applications will be considered by the Programme Manager on a case-by-case basis and applicants can expect that an interview may be required as part of the admissions process.

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our English language requirements for the level of study. For postgraduate taught programmes this is IELTS Academic min. overall 6.5 with no element below 5.5 (or equivalent). English language tests usually have a validity of two years from the date the test is taken.

Offers will typically be made in line with the academic requirements set out above. Offers can be conditional or unconditional. An unconditional offer will be made to applicants who have already met the conditions and provided evidence that conditions have been met. Where academic or language requirements have not yet been fulfilled, applicants will receive a conditional offer stating the requirements that must be met. 

2025-26 Applicants

For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for the MSc are:  

For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for the PgDip are:  

For the academic year 2025-26 the tuition fees for the PgCert are:  

Tuition fees may be subject to an inflationary increase each year as set out in our Access and Participation Plan.

For full details, please visit the fees and funding webpage.

Please note: International students can study on a part-time basis only if they are in the UK with a different type of visa (other than Student Visa/Tier 4 General) that allows them to undertake part-time study and their visa does not expire prior to the end date of the proposed course of study.

Scholarships

The University offers a range of generous fee waivers and bursaries. To find out more about the scholarships, awards and bursaries available, please visit the scholarships webpage.