Agrifood Innovation

Program Overview

Agrifood Innovation

Key Facts

• 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 at least two years of relevant experience
• 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

This course will equip you with the technical and communication tools to instigate innovation and lead change. Optional modules will allow you to delve more deeply into specific facets of the supply chain and/or expand your repertoire of communication skills. You will also develop research skills and put these into practice via a work-based research project.

This unique course provides a diverse blend of options in communication skills, science and business. The distance learning modules will be provided by two academic departments at Aberystwyth University, IBERS and Aberystwyth Business School. The practical workshop sessions will be provided by Menter a Busnes, a Welsh company specialising in agricultural knowledge exchange.

About this course

Modules can be taken for your own continuing professional development or interest, or they can be built towards a Postgraduate qualification. To complete a PGCert part-time you can take no more than two years. To complete the full MSc you can take up to five years.

This course accepts three intakes every year (January, May and September). Applications are welcomed throughout the year.

Course Fees

See the Fees information page.

This course is eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship 2023 (apply before 28th March).

Modules September start - 2025

Core

• Dissertation - Agrifood Innovation: BDM9560, 60 credits
• Research Methods: BDM0120, 20 credits
• Sustainable Supply Systems: BDM1120, 20 credits

Options

• Behaviour Change: BDM8820, 20 credits
• Business Management for Rural Entrepreneurs: BDM8320, 20 credits
• Coaching and Mentoring for Leaders: MMM5820, 20 credits
• Controlled Environment Agriculture: BDM6220, 20 credits
• Facilitation for Organisation Leadership: MMM5920, 20 credits
• Genetics and Genomics in Agriculture: BDM5820, 20 credits
• Grassland Systems: BDM5120, 20 credits
• Horticultural Science: BDM6920, 20 credits
• Leading Change: MMM5720, 20 credits
• Livestock Health and Welfare: BDM5920, 20 credits
• Livestock Nutrition: BDM0320, 20 credits
• Livestock Production Science: BDM5420, 20 credits
• Plant Breeding: BDM8420, 20 credits
• Programming for Agritechnology - an Introduction: BDM2420, 20 credits
• Silage Science: BDM5620, 20 credits
• Soil Science: BDM2320, 20 credits
• Waste Resource Management: BDM1220, 20 credits

Careers

Most people undertaking this course are already employed in the agri-food sector and see it as a way to update and improve their technical knowledge while increasing their communication skills and working towards a qualification. It also acts as an ideal stepping stone for those wanting to move into this sector.

Teaching & Learning

How will I learn?

The modules delivered by IBERS are entirely online distance learning. Each online 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. The Aberystwyth Business School modules are delivered through workshops. Workshop-based modules comprise two 2-day workshops and a 1-day final session.

A typical postgraduate student is expected to study for 200 hours when taking a 20-credit module. You should anticipate spending approximately 2-3 hours a week on online lectures, presentations and podcasts, and the remaining time on readings and assignments. The more time and effort you can put in, the more you will benefit from studying the module and the better your grades are likely to be.

How will I be assessed?

There are no exams within this programme. Taught modules are assessed via coursework (namely reports and essays, but also literature reviews, case studies, research proposals and data analysis tasks), online assignments, presentations and forum discussion. Workshop-based modules usually involve the design and execution of a practical task as part of the assessed work.

Program Outline

It is designed for individuals working or aspiring to work in agricultural and environmental advisory roles, veterinary medicine, further education lecturing, and technical sales. This distance learning program, with optional workshops, aims to enhance advisory skills, update technical knowledge, and provide a postgraduate qualification while working.

Outline:

The program equips students with technical and communication tools to drive innovation and lead change. Optional modules allow for deeper exploration of specific supply chain facets and/or expansion of communication skills. Students develop research skills through a work-based research project.

Structure:

• Delivery: Distance learning with optional workshops.
• Duration: 5 years (part-time).
• Intakes: Three intakes per year (January, May, September).
• Modules:
• Core Modules:
• Dissertation (BDM3560, 60 credits)
• Facilitation for Organisation Leadership (MMM5920, 20 credits)
• Research Methods (BDM0120, 20 credits)
• Sustainable Supply Systems (BDM1120, 20 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• Behaviour Change (BDM8820, 20 credits)
• Biorefining Technologies (BDM7720, 20 credits)
• Business Management for Rural Entrepreneurs (BDM8320, 20 credits)
• Coaching and Mentoring for Leaders (MMM5820, 20 credits)
• Controlled Environment Agriculture (BDM6220, 20 credits)
• Future of Packaging (BDM1320, 20 credits)
• Genetics and Genomics in Agriculture (BDM5820, 20 credits)
• Grassland Systems (BDM5120, 20 credits)
• Horticultural Science (BDM6920, 20 credits)
• Leading Change (MMM5720, 20 credits)
• Life Cycle Assessment and Beyond (BDM6320, 20 credits)
• Livestock Health and Welfare (BDM5920, 20 credits)
• Livestock Nutrition (BDM0320, 20 credits)
• Livestock Production Science (BDM5420, 20 credits)
• Meat Processing (BDM8720, 20 credits)
• Nuffield Scholarship Project (New Awards) (BDM1740, 40 credits)
• Nuffield Scholarship Project (Post-Completion) (BDM1840, 40 credits)
• Organic and Low Input Ruminant Production (BDM7520, 20 credits)
• Plant Breeding (BDM8420, 20 credits)
• Precision Livestock (BDM6420, 20 credits)
• Public Goods (BDM1920, 20 credits)
• Ruminant Gut Microbiology (BDM2820, 20 credits)
• Silage Science (BDM5620, 20 credits)
• Waste Resource Management (BDM1220, 20 credits)

Assessment:

• No exams: Assessment is through coursework, including reports, essays, literature reviews, case studies, research proposals, data analysis tasks, online assignments, presentations, and forum discussions.
• Workshop-based modules: Practical tasks are often included in the assessed work.

Teaching:

• IBERS modules: Delivered entirely online through distance learning.
• Content: Recorded lectures, presentations, podcasts, e-group projects, guided readings, interactive workbooks, discussion forums, assignments, and e-tutorials.
• Aberystwyth Business School modules: Delivered through workshops.
• Content: Two 2-day workshops and a 1-day final session.
• Study time: Approximately 200 hours per 20-credit module.
• Breakdown: 2-3 hours per week on online lectures, presentations, and podcasts; remaining time on readings and assignments.

Careers:

• Target audience: Individuals already employed in the agri-food sector seeking to update their technical knowledge and communication skills.
• Welsh language: Some modules are available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh.
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship: The course is eligible for the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship 2023 (application deadline: 28th March).
• PGCert: Modules can be taken for continuing professional development or interest, or they can be built towards a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert).
A PGCert can be completed part-time within two years.