Agriculture

Program Overview

Key Facts

Qualification

MRes

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. Subject to agreement with project supervisor. 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.

Fees and Finance

See our Postgraduate Funding and Scholarships Calculator for possible funding opportunities.

Course Overview

Course Details

This scheme aims to facilitate knowledge exchange between academia and industry. Students must complete three taught modules and a 120 credit work-based dissertation / research thesis (approximately 20,000 words in length). While the primary academic focus is on the completion of an advanced piece of research, the collaborative route provided by a work-based research project provides an ideal opportunity to embed new knowledge in the work place and ensure that research is relevant to industry. As such, it is crucial that a student’s employer is supportive of both their research aims and the time commitment that the proposed research will involve. Self-employed students should aim to undertake research which will be closely aligned to their business.

Students may build on the MRes to work towards a Professional Doctorate.

About this course

Duration:

An MRes can be completed in 2-5 years but we would expect most students to spend 1 year on their taught modules and 2 years on their work-based dissertation.

12 or 14 weeks per module by distance learning.

There are three intakes per year (January, May, September).

Contact Time:

The MRes comprises three taught modules (including Research Methods) followed by a 120 credit work-based dissertation (20,000 words).

International scholarships:

International scholarships of up to 80% are available.

Modules September start - 2025

Core

• Module Name: Research Methods Module Code: BDM0120 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: MRes Dissertation DL (A) Module Code: BDM0060 Credit Value: 60
• Module Name: MRes Dissertation DL (B) Module Code: BDM0260 Credit Value: 60

Options

• Module Name: Business Management for Rural Entrepreneurs Module Code: BDM8320 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Genetics and Genomics in Agriculture Module Code: BDM5820 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Grassland Systems Module Code: BDM5120 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Livestock Health and Welfare Module Code: BDM5920 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Livestock Nutrition Module Code: BDM0320 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Livestock Production Science Module Code: BDM5420 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Plant Breeding Module Code: BDM8420 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Silage Science Module Code: BDM5620 Credit Value: 20
• Module Name: Soil Science Module Code: BDM2320 Credit Value: 20

Teaching & Learning

We have designed our training to be as accessible as possible, particularly for those in full-time employment. Each taught module comprises a 12 or 14 week distance learning module worth 20 credits which can be taken for your own continuing professional development or interest or built towards a postgraduate qualification. The research elements of our qualifications are carried out in your workplace with regular academic supervision. The training is web-based, which means that as long as you have access to a reasonable broadband connection (i.e. are able to stream videos such as on YouTube), you can study where and when best suits you. Learning material includes podcast lectures, e-group projects, guided reading, interactive workbooks and discussion forums, as well as assignments and e-tutorials. By signing an online re-registration form each year you will have access to e-journals and library resources for the duration of your registration.

Assessment:

There are no exams within this programme. Taught modules are assessed via course work and forum discussion. Research is monitored and assessed.

Modules

The menu of optional distance-learning modules available is:

• Silage Science This module will develop the trainee’s knowledge of modern forage and grain ensilage systems; and their skill to integrate recent research into their work.
• Ruminant Production The focus of this module is ruminants: reproductive technology, genetic improvement, dairy cattle production systems, meat production systems, meat and milk quality, and disease prevention and management.
• Ruminant Nutrition Trainees will develop understanding of: Digestion and metabolism of nutrients, ecology of the rumen and methods used to modify it; and methods used to modify characteristics of meat and milk.
• Grassland Systems Trainees will develop in depth knowledge of pasture based systems and learn to develop management plans towards optimizing meat/milk quality and yields; and conservation requirements. The potential of new forage crops will be explored.
• Ruminant Health and Welfare Focuses on diseases of most concern and looks at adapting systems to reduce the disease risk. Students can specialise in: dairy, beef or sheep.
• Genetics and Genomics in Agriculture This module focuses on the challenges facing land based production and the role of emerging technologies to meet these challenges sustainably.
• Low Input Ruminant Production This module examines the concepts behind ruminant production in low input or organic systems and considers alternative production methods.
• Ruminant Gut Microbiology The module looks at methods used to investigate rumen microbiology and review of ways of manipulating rumen fermentation to improve productivity whilst decreasing the environmental footprint.

Core Modules

• BDM5520 Research Methods

The compulsory module - Research Methods - is available twice a year so that students can fit it around their optional modules. This module must be taken before you begin your research project.

• BDM6060 and BDM6160 Work-based Thesis (120 Credits):

The compulsory module – Work-Based Thesis – can be started in any semester. This module should only be taken when Research Methodology and Advances in Biosciences has been completed and will involve a work-plan developed with your ATP tutor, academic supervisor and employer (if relevant). The thesis should involve analysing existing data from your workplace.