Agriculture Forestry Horticulture Veterinary Medicine
Postgraduate Programmes in Agriculture will study the production, processing and use of animals and crops, as well as the marketing of these products. Postgraduate Programmes in Agriculture will vary depending on the specialisation chosen by the student, but should encompass research into agricultural systems and different agricultural practices. Students should learn about various topics including the science of plant and animal production, as well as rural policy and decision-making.
There is a wide variety of Postgraduate Programmes in Agriculture available in the UK. From more general courses, such as Bangor University’s Master’s in Agricultural Systems - which looks at the whole spectrum of subjects involved in agriculture, from rural policies to alternative crops and farming methods – to ones that focus more on a specific area of agriculture, such as Cranfield University’s Agricultural and Environmental Engineering course which focuses more on the machinery and engineering skills involved for successful farming. Both of these programmes, like many in this field, can be studied on both a part-time or full-time basis.
A Postgraduate Programme in Forestry will provide its students with expertise relevant to multiple-use forestry. Units of study will usually include ecology, ecosystems, forest planning, forestry management, silviculture, conservation, forest pathology, urban forestry and environmental issues. The students will thereby gain the necessary skills to become a professional forester – an important role when you consider that forests cover approximately 30 per cent of Earth’s land surface providing a multitude of benefits to ecosystems and humans, including, timber, flood prevention and biodiversity conservation.
There are several postgraduate courses in Forestry in the UK including an MSc in Forestry Ecosystem Management at the University of Cumbria’s National School of Forestry that can be studied full time, part time or by online distance learning. Bangor University also offers several postgraduate Forestry courses.
A Postgraduate Programme in Horticulture will investigate the science of plant cultivation. A Postgraduate Programme in Horticulture is more likely to study plants on a smaller scale than agriculture - referring to plants and bushes rather than crops - although this isn't always the case. Programmes can vary from studying the creation of history gardens (eg the Garden History master's at Birkbeck) to investigating modern day garden design.
A Postgraduate Programme in Veterinary Medicine will deal with the medical science involved in the welfare and care of animals - domestic, livestock and wildlife. Elements of research will focus on the health and welfare of animals, and how to deal with infectious disease in animals. Veterinary Medicine will also look at applications of basic animal sciences in human and veterinary medicine. The livestock industry and food security will also feature in Postgraduate Programmes in Veterinary Medicine.
Because of the very nature of the subject matter, an MSc in Veterinary Medicine will usually be offered on a full-time basis, however the University of Edinburgh does offer a Master’s programme in International Animal Health as a part-time course via distance learning, so it is worth doing some research into what is available if you are interested in the subject matter but are unable to commit to full-time study.
Entry to Postgraduate Programmes in Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture and Veterinary Medicine
Successful applicants will generally be expected to hold a good bachelor degree (second-class Honours or above) from a recognised institution. In some instances, applicants could be accepted onto Agriculture, Forestry or Horticulture postgraduate diploma programmes if they exceptional experience even if they aren’t graduates, with a view to progressing on to a Master’s programme. Check with your preferred institution to see what qualifications are required.
IELTS scores of 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL scores of 100-107 are usually needed. Because of ongoing changes in the law we advise international students to regularly check the UKBA website to make sure they can fulfil the necessary requirements. Most individual institutions also have useful information on the Tier 4 requirements for international students, and can offer assistance in terms of student queries about their specific English language requirements.
Click here to find out more about English Language requirements for International Students.
How much will it cost?
A one-year taught master’s programme can cost anything between a few thousand pounds to well over £10,000, although there are different rates according to whether you are a European Union (EU) or non-EU student. Applications for funding or scholarships must be made well over a year in advance (information on the various institutional scholarships is available from the British Council website) and funding should always be arranged before you leave your home country.
Looking for funding for postgraduate studies? Check out the exclusive bursaries on offer from Postgrad Solutions.
