Program Overview

MSc Sustainable Agriculture

Key Facts

• Course Code: D413D-MSC
• Qualification: MSc
• Course duration: 5 years
• Delivery method: Distance learning
• Available for September start 2025, January start 2026, May start 2026

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

Course Overview

• 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
• 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

Modules (September start - 2025)

Core

• Dissertation (BDM3560, 60 credits)
• Research Methods (BDM0120, 20 credits)

Options

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

Teaching & Learning

• 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

Assessment

• 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

Useful Links

• Fees & Finance
• Advice for International Students
• English Language Requirements
• English Language Courses
• Research at Aberystwyth
• Accommodation