Masters Degrees in Rural Estate Management

Looking for an absorbing, fulfilling career in rural land and estate management? Our MSc Rural Land and Business Management course, which prepares you for membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in professional practice, advising the owners and occupiers of rural land and property on their assets and businesses.

The course focuses on equipping you with the specialist knowledge and skills necessary to deal with the challenges facing rural businesses, both now and in the post-Brexit environment. It aims to blend theory and practice to deliver a challenging programme, highly relevant to the changing demands of modern business. You will be encouraged to develop a critical awareness of the current challenges of your new profession, and learn how to apply an analytical, strategic approach to the sometimes difficult and complex situations you will meet in practice.

Why Henley?

Programme

Many of the UK’s most successful rural land managers began their careers at the University of Reading. The programme is recognised by the UK’s top employers as an excellent preparation for a career in rural surveying. You will be taught by experts in the field (both academics and current practitioners) and will undertake real-life case studies, and visits to farms, estates and other rural businesses – while working within the busy, vibrant society of one of the UK’s leading universities.

Real Estate & Planning

Our Department is the largest in the UK for teaching and research in real estate and planning. Established in 1968 at the University of Reading, we are the only major UK real estate and planning centre to be located within a business school. Being part of the Henley Business School reflects our close and longstanding collaborative relationship with industry.

We enjoy a worldwide reputation for excellence in both teaching and research and we are consistently highly ranked in all major league tables. We undertake internationally recognised, leading edge research into real estate, planning and land and we offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, all of which are accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Our planning courses are also fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute. Our programmes are held in high regard by leading employers, many of whom come to us each year to recruit our graduates. We are proud of our outstanding employment record, with more than 95% of our students entering graduate level jobs within 6 months of leaving us.

Henley Business School

• Consistently maintain highest standards: Henley is in top 1% of business schools worldwide to hold accreditation from all three bodies in the UK, Europe and US
• Excellent networking potential : 72,000 Henley alumni members in 150 countries
• High calibre students: always oversubscribed, 1,000 ambitious new Masters students join Henley each year
• Award winning campus: beautiful, green, 134 hectares, with state of the art facilities
• World-leading faculty: widely published, frequently asked for expert comment by media and to speak at events
• Henley is proud to be part of the University of Reading. The University is ranked within the top 200 universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016/17 and QS World University Rankings 2018) and 98% of the research is rated as being of international standard.

Course content

Module descriptions are correct for modules taught in the academic year 2017/18. Optional module listings are indicative, and may be subject to change.

Core modules

• Introduction to Agriculture and Rural Industries - 20 credits
• Rural Property Law and Valuation  - 20 credits
• Strategic Rural Asset Management  - 20 credits
• Rural Policy and Planning - 10 credits
• Business and Professional Values  - 10 credits 
• Real Estate Economics  - 10 credits
• Management Case Studies in Rural Surveying  - 20 credits
• Dissertation  - 40 credits
• Rural Field Trip - 10 credits

Plus elective modules from a range offered by the School of Agriculture and Henley Business School, which may include: Advanced Marketing, Appraisal of Agricultural and Rural Development Projects, Business Planning and Control, Ecosystem Services, Human Resource Management, Resource and Environmental Economics, Rural Diversification, Sustainability and Real Estate, Real Estate Asset Management.

Careers and accreditations

The programme has an excellent employment record – 100% for the last four years. We have long-standing links with the major firms in the sector who regularly recruit from the University. Recent graduates have gone on to work for multi-disciplinary rural consultancy firms including Bidwells, Carter Jonas, CKD Galbraith, Fisher German, Knight Frank, Savills and Strutt & Parker, and specialist firms such as Dalcour Maclaren, as well as for regional firms throughout the country. They have also taken jobs with rural estate owners as trainee land agents, and organisations such as the National Trust and RSPB.

Our graduates tell us the content of the course is highly relevant to the profession, training them to be analytical thinkers and leaders. They have frequently progressed to become directors of landed estates or surveying firms. Some have secured posts in environmental organisations, government agencies, planning consultancies, or in academia. Others find this higher degree pathway an ideal entry qualification into wider management careers.

Most graduates complete the two years’ professional training and experience required to become members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and many also become members of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Our alumni association, the Reading Real Estate Foundation, organises career development and recruitment events for students throughout the year. These include an evening lectures series with key industry speakers, an annual Careers Fair and a highly successful mentoring programme – unique in the sector – which pairs individual students with industry professionals. We also have a professional Careers Development Advisor who helps our students with every aspect of the career process, including identifying work placements, internships and permanent career opportunities.

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This is a highly-regarded course which equips graduates for a rewarding and challenging career in the management of land, property, and business in the countryside. It is a fast-track route to qualification as a Chartered Surveyor. The course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The Royal Agricultural University is in partnership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which fully accredits this one-year Masters degree.

This course is a highly-regarded course which equips graduates for a rewarding and challenging career in the management of land, property, and business in the countryside. It is a fast-track route to qualification as a Chartered Surveyor.

This course is for graduates looking to acquire the specialist knowledge and skills necessary to work as a rural property manager. It also prepares graduates for qualification as a Chartered Surveyor and Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Structure

The course will be studied full-time over 12 months.

You will study eight modules in the autumn and spring terms, with final examinations taking place in May. The dissertation is typically undertaken between May and September.

You will attend lectures and group tutorials.There is also a range of practical sessions, and visits to local farms, commercial properties, and rural estates where owners, occupiers and their professional advisors provide additional insights into the management of rural property. Assessed coursework features strongly throughout the course.

Before starting the MSc, students receive reading lists and study material so that they can develop a basic grounding in study areas with which they are not familiar.

Modules

• 4002 Agriculture
• 4007 Dissertation
• 4015 Farm Business and Enterprise Management
• 4016 Rural Planning and Buildings
• 4019 Rural Property Law
• 4029 Environmental and Woodland Management
• 4031 Rural Policy and Implementation
• 4033 Rural Valuation
• 4043 Rural Asset Management

Career prospects

Our Rural Estate Management graduates are directly involved with managing all types of property. The professional work of the Rural Property Manager may include:

• Valuation, and the sale and purchase of land and rural property
• Management and letting of land and property
• Farm business planning and diversification
• Development of land and buildings and rural planning
• Management of woodlands and the environment
• Compulsory purchase (roads, pipelines cables etc) and compensation claims
• Tax and financial strategy

Types of employer include:

• National, international, regional, and small firms of chartered surveyors
• Private estates
• Large landowners such as the National Trust, county councils and utility companies
• Planning and environmental consultancy
• Research and education
• Leisure management
• Rrural conservation
• Investment management.

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow this link: https://www.rau.ac.uk/STUDY/POSTGRADUATE/HOW-APPLY

Funding

For information on funding, please view the following page: https://www.rau.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/funding

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he REALM (Rural Estate and Land Management) courses provide a first step on the route to qualification as a chartered surveyor. All prospective chartered surveyors must complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) offered by RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), and the programmes provide the academic foundation for candidates wishing to pursue the rural APC.

The MProf and MSc REALM programmes are both validated by RICS under the RICS-Harper Adams University Partnership agreement, recognising the high regard in which the courses are held. The MProf in particular, is one of a very small number of courses in the country to have this distinction with regard to the rural APC, which is why you are required to study 12 modules (180 credits) rather than eight (120 credits). The postgraduate certificate (PgC) provides a route for students who may fall short of our exacting entry requirements to get up to speed before transferring to either the MProf or MSc programmes.

Modules cover the main areas required for professional practice, in particular providing the necessary legal foundations for practice, and covering the all-important areas of the UK planning system, land tenure, rural valuation, primary production in agriculture and forestry, countryside and environmental management. A wide choice of modules means that you can tailor the programme to your own requirements.

The MProf programme is particularly popular with part-time students, often graduates who are able to combine suitable employment with study and progression through the APC.

Employment prospects in rural practice are good, and successful graduates have gone on to a wide range of jobs in recent years on rural estates and with local and national firms of rural surveyors and agricultural valuers. Feedback from students shows that the intensive modular structure is well-received, along with the practical slant of many of the assignments. This is underpinned by the professional standing of many of the tutors, who are active with the profession at the highest levels nationally and act as Assessors for the APC.

How will it benefit me?

The MProf/MSc will enable you to analyse a range of stakeholder interests and their influence, generally and site specifically, in rural land management. You will become competent in a range of techniques for rural land management and appraisal, be able to appraise the value and worth of rural land, and review the role of property in organisations.

Students also become skilled at evaluating and exploiting the latest developments in technology, and developing performance indicators in rural estate management and strategy. You will learn to formulate land management strategies which meet objectives for sustainable management while taking into account legislature, regulations, ethics and morals, the environment, amenities and commercial needs.

You will also learn to evaluate how previously implemented land management strategies have achieved their objectives, and adapt them to new requirements within an evolving economic, social, legal and political framework, with due regard to developments in sustainable development and biodiversity. You will become competent in professional methodologies used by chartered surveyors to manage and appraise rural land and property.

MSc students carry out an independent research or development project to advance their understanding of a particular issue in rural land management, or to resolve a specific and novel technical problem facing rural land managers in practice.

Funding

The full-time and two year part-time courses are eligible for a postgraduate loan.

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Specifically the course will:
■ Provide knowledge in a wide range of applied ecological areas.
■ Underpin this with a sound understanding of the quantitative aspects of this field including statistical analysis, expert system design and population modelling.
■ Provide taught elements linked to academic applied research groups.
■ Offer a rich research training through access to project supervisors with different expertise and disciplines.
■ Provide training in crucial transferable skills in writing, presenting, discussing scientific material.

The course

This MSc serves to reinforce the relevance of ecology to a broad range of applications and trains students to apply ecological tools and understanding in a wide variety of contexts. The course draws on and complements the established and highly regarded MSc programmes taught at Harper Adams. Along with core ecological training, students will be allowed to select modules from a number of the MSc courses running at Harper Adams, including Conservation and Forest Protection, Entomology, Integrated Pest Management, Rural Estate and Land Management and Sustainable Agriculture.

Specifically the course will:
■ Provide knowledge in a wide range of applied ecological areas.
■ Underpin this with a sound understanding of the quantitative aspects of this field including statistical analysis, expert system design and population modelling.
■ Provide taught elements linked to academic applied research groups.
■ Offer a rich research training through access to project supervisors with different expertise and disciplines.
■ Provide training in crucial transferable skills in writing, presenting, discussing scientific material.

How will it benefit me?

Having completed the course you will be able to recognize the major entomological groups worldwide, understand how to apply a logical framework to demonstrate management priorities in different environments and have an understanding of individual, population and community ecology. You will be able to assess the economic and environmental costs of ecological applications and evaluate their effectiveness.

You will also have a clear understanding of the remit and function of ecosystems and a detailed knowledge and understanding of the essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relevant to your chosen area of specialization. You will receive training in how to communicate your ideas and findings related to applied ecology to a range of audiences. Although there are some compulsory modules there is considerable flexibility enabling each student to focus on specialist subjects consistent with their interests and future career intentions

For the MSc, you will also be able to test hypotheses relevant to applied ecological research by designing, carrying out, analysing and interpreting experiments or surveys. Finally, you will learn to evaluate and interpret data and draw relevant conclusions from existing case studies.

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Ecological Economics focuses on how to make sustainability and environmental management work in practice by applying economic principles.

This programme is run in collaboration with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Graduates with postgraduate training in this area are in greater demand than ever before in business, industry and government.

This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Environment & Society Academy.

• Global Environment & Society Academy

Programme structure

You will learn through lectures, group work, informal group discussion and individual study, as well as the spring study tour. After two semesters of taught courses, you will begin work on your individual dissertations. You will be able to choose from a wide selection of option courses to suit individual interests and career goals.

You will learn through lectures, group work, informal group discussion and individual study, as well as the spring study tour. After two semesters of taught courses, you will begin work on your individual dissertations. You will be able to choose from a wide selection of option courses to suit individual interests and career goals.

Compulsory courses typically will be:

• Foundations in Ecological Economics
• Applications in Ecological Economics
• Ecological Economics Field Methods in Research and Practice
• Dissertation

Option courses previously available include:

In consultation with the Programme Director, you will choose from a range of option courses^. We particularly recommend:

• Principles of Environmental Sustainability
• Marine Systems and Policies
• Understanding Environment and Development
• The Ecology of Ecosystem Services
• Political Ecology
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Waste Reduction and Recycling
• Participation in Policy and Planning
• Water Resource Management
• Forests and Environment
• Human Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability
• Principles of GIS
• Energy & Society I; Key Themes and Issues
• Atmospheric Quality and Global Change
• Introduction To Spatial Analysis
• Climate Change and Corporate Strategy
• Frameworks to Assess Food Security
• Soil Protection and Management
• Encountering Cities
• Development: Principles and Practices
• Further Spatial Analysis
• Sustainability of Food Production
• Interrelationships in Food Systems
• Case Studies in Sustainable Development
• Introduction to Environmental Modelling
• Marine Infrastructure and Environmental Change
• Ecosystem Service Values

^Courses are offered subject to timetabling and availability and are subject to change

Field trip

To experience and understand conflict between ecosystem conservation and human development needs at ground level, this programme typically includes a unique 7-10-day study tour, usually overseas and in the developing world (previous destinations have included South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania).

Career opportunities

Being able to identify ecological economic problems, and apply economic principles and methods to solve these problems is increasingly valued by employers.

Our graduates are working in a variety of sectors, including environmental consultancies; international and governmental agencies; NGOs; financial institutions; multinationals; environmental education and research.

Additionally around a quarter of our masters students go on to doctoral research programmes.

Student experience

Would you like to know what it’s really like to study at the School of GeoSciences?

Visit our student experience blog where you can find articles, advice, videos and ask current students your questions.

• Student experience blog

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Society is increasingly sensitive to anthropogenic effects on the natural environment and the public perception is that we do not always weigh the benefits of activities against the associated environmental cost. Such themes are significant with environmental management; the disciplines here help deal with many challenges facing our planet and locality.

Course Overview

Managing our environments in a sustainable way will help balance these concerns with our social and economic problems. Environmental conservationists have the knowledge and skills that is required to meet the many challenges our environment faces; this helps enhance societies by assisting decision makers in various disciplines. This postgraduate programme addresses environmental conservation in both a practical and holistic way, which is supported by geographical and governance academic knowledge, while also delivering a platform from which this knowledge can be disseminated to interested parties.

Candidates are welcomed from all social and educational backgrounds. Applicants will normally be expected to have a good degree in an associated subject. Students will be considered if vocational experience, relevant to the course, has been acquired and academic credibility demonstrated.

The School of the Built and Natural Environment has delivered this Environmental Conservation and Management programme since 1998.

Modules

PART 1
Compulsory Modules
-Environmental Planning and Policy
-Strategic Management for Environmental Conservat
-Sustainable Development
-Research Methodology
-Environmental Law

Elective Modules
-Energy: Issues and Concerns
-Waste and Resource Management
-Geographical Information Systems
-Coastal Zone Management
-Habitat Management
-The Workplace Environment

Electives Outside Programme
-Facilities Management and Sustainability
-Work Based Critical Reflection

PART 2
-Dissertation

Key Features

The School of Built and Natural Environment prides itself on providing a supportive learning environment, with personal attention afforded to all students. Delivering a successful and enjoyable learning experience is at the very core of our vision to produce first class professionals with high employability skills.

We are situated in an urban / maritime environment very close to Britain’s first designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and with many interesting buildings and cultural assets nearby. We are in close proximity to magnificent natural and physical resources of south, mid and west Wales and the University and its staff play a major role within the conservation and heritage management of these and other similar national assets.

As class sizes are generally less than 15, this engenders a culture and environment that listens to and supports individual student needs. Our teaching is informed by research in subjects that extend right across our portfolio, suitably supplemented by external experts from around the world. We believe in engaging with employers to develop, deliver and review courses that enhance our graduate’s employability credentials in a manner that is central to our vision for students, the city and region. This is further reflected by recent postgraduate success stories that include employment in international organisations, entrepreneurship and community engagement. Our commitment is demonstrated by recent investment in facilities, staff and engagement, which means the future for our alumni, is stronger than ever. We truly look forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve your personal goals and ambitions.

Assessment

Assessments used within these Programmes are normally formative or summative. In the former assessment is designed to ensure students become aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Typically, such assessment will take the form of ‘life projects’ where a more hands-on approach shows student’s ability on a range of activities and includes engagement with employers.

Furthermore, much of the coursework requires that the student and lecturer negotiate the topic for assessment on an individual basis, allowing the student to develop skills appropriate to their employment goals. Some modules where the assessment is research-based require students to verbally/visually present the research results to the lecturer and peers, followed by a question and answer session. Such assessment strategies are in accord with the learning and teaching strategies employed by the team, that is, where the aim is to generate work that is mainly student-driven, individual, reflective and where appropriate, vocationally-orientated. Feedback to students will occur early in the study period and continue over the whole study session thereby allowing for greater value added to the student’s learning. The dissertation topic is developed and proposed by the student to help them refine their expertise in their chosen area.

Career Opportunities

This programme combines academic study with the application of professional skills and competencies. The student will acquire the highest transferable employment skills, which include: oral and visual presentations, environmental assessments, information dissemination, data analysis, and the ability to write reports. Students are particularly well suited to the increasingly important skills associated with environmental management, awareness raising and public participation forums. The Go Wales programme provides quality work experience for undergraduates to make students more attractive to potential employers. There is an optional ten week paid placement with local companies and a short term ‘work taster’ to help clarify student career choices. The scheme also provides a job shop for students seeking to work part-time to financially support their studies. A recent student survey showed that 53% of students worked part-time. Organisations contributing to the Industrial Liaison Committee that helped design the course content include: Natural Resources Wales (Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission), various local authorities, waste management companies, the renewable energy industry, RSPB etc.

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The international food and agribusiness industries continue to grow despite significant fluctuations in local and regional economic activity. The rapid technological innovation pace, demographic shifts between urban and rural areas, immigration and access to skilled staff, climate change, water issues, and food security are among the topics studied in the International Food and Agribusiness MBA. Key areas include food processing and manufacturing, procurement, research and development, policy or government service, agricultural and food marketing, and supply chain management.

The MBA in International Food and Agribusiness is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute. Upon successful completion of the degree, you will be awarded CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership and will therefore become a Member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI). You can then apply to the CMI for full Chartered Manager status if you wish.

Existing and aspiring multinational companies are looking for managers with transnational knowledge and linguistic skills, who are capable of functioning confidently in different regions of the world. Our business-minded graduates have gone on to pursue successful careers as food industry experts and consultants, Business Managers, and Project Managers for international organisations.

This MBA provides a unique opportunity for transatlantic study to put the management theories, concepts and strategies learnt into a European or USA context. You will have the chance to study the first term at the Utah State University or the Royal Agricultural University, with the remaining study periods undertaken at the RAU.

Structure

The MBA may be studied full-time over 12 months or part-time over two or three years.

You will study six business modules in the autumn term, plus four focus modules, and one or two elective module(s) in the spring term. The Research Project is carried out over the summer to be submitted in September.

You will learn through lectures, seminars, problem-based and experiential case studies, workshops, cooperative work, reflective reports, group project work, presentations, lectures, seminars, and industry visits. You will be given guided independent learning tasks and be encouraged to increase your knowledge and understanding through private study and the completion of assessments.

Modules will be assessed through professional reports, presentations, competitive reviews, reflective essays, case study analysis, critical academic papers, marketing plans, business evaluation projects, and written examinations.

Modules

• 4014 Food Chain
• 4023 Operations Management
• 4076 Financial Management
• 4095 International Agri-Food Marketing
• 4111 Critical Issues in Food Technology and Innovation
• 4214 Sustainable Business Strategy
• 4215 Agricultural Economics
• 4216 Leadership and Change
• 4217 International Marketing Management
• 4220 Applied Research Challenge
• 4221 International Agribusiness Finance and Investment

Plus ONE* further elective module(s) from:

• 3084 Entrepreneurship
• 3096 Wine Industry
• 3211 Practical E-Business and E-Commerce
• 4078 International Business
• 4080 Development Project Management
• 4205 Critical Issues in Ethical Leadership*
• 4223 Economics of the Environment*
• 4228 New Product Development in the Agri-Food Industry
• 4229 Adaptive Management in a Complex World

* Please note that to achieve full credits, students must select either ONE of the 15 credit electives or BOTH of the 7.5 credit electives

Undertaking Term One of study in Utah, USA

Applicants who wish to undertake their Term One modules at Utah State University (USU) will need to ensure that they have indicated this in their application by replying the specific question.

Applicants can participate in the US study only if they have paid the required fees (Home/EU: 1/3 of tuition fees, Overseas: 50% of tuition fees) and identified that they want to participate in the US study programme the latest by 30th June.

Please note that the term for the US study in Utah (USU) starts in the first week of August. Late applications for participation in the US term cannot be considered.

Career prospects

Our business-minded graduates progress into successful careers across all areas of the global food and agribusiness sectors, many of whom secure management positions at transnational companies:

• International food industry experts and consultants – for private companies, governments, and international organisations such as FAO, World Bank, European Commission
• Business management
• Import and export management
• Food processing, manufacturing, and supply chain management
• Procurement
• Project coordination – overseeing international projects and operations
• Operational support – building international relations for an organisation
• Research and development

Working for organisations such as:

• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Office
• Garrett Capital
• Agrimarc Ltd
• Schickelsheim
• Co-op farms
• Moet Hennessy
• NSF Agriculture

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow this link: https://www.rau.ac.uk/STUDY/POSTGRADUATE/HOW-APPLY

Funding

For information on funding, please view the following page: https://www.rau.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/funding

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Part 1 (120 credits): runs from September to May and consists of four taught modules, a Field Visit, and a Research Methods module component. They must be completed successfully before proceeding to Part 2.

Part 2 (60 credits): is the dissertation phase and runs from end of May to September. This is a supervised project phase which gives students further opportunity for specialisation in their chosen field. Dissertation topics are related to the interests and needs of the individual and must show evidence of wide reading and understanding as well as critical analysis or appropriate use of advanced techniques. The quality of the dissertation is taken into account in the award of the Masters degree. Bangor University regulations prescribe a maximum word limit of 20,000 words for Masters Dissertations. A length of 12,000 to 15,000 words is suggested for Masters programmes in our School.

Summary of modules taken in Part 1:

All students undertake 6 modules of 20 credits each which are described below.

Conservation Science considers questions such as ‘in a post-wild world what should be the focus of conservation attention?’ ‘What are the relative roles of ecology, economics and social science in conservation?’ ‘What are the advantage and disadvantages of the introduction of market-like mechanisms into conservation policy?’ We look closely at the current and emerging drivers of biodiversity loss world-wide, while carefully analysing the range of responses.

Insect Pollinators and Plants is at the interface between agriculture and conservation, this module introduces students to plant ecology and insect pollinators. Students will gain unique understanding of the ecological interactions between plants and insect pollinators including honey-bees to implement more sensitive conservation management. The module explores the current conservation status of insect pollinators and their corresponding plant groups; how populations are monitored, and how interventions in the broader landscape can contribute to improving their conservation status. Module components relate specifically to ecosystem pollination services, apiculture and habitat restoration and/or maintenance. The module has a strong practical skills focus, which includes beekeeping and contemporary challenges to apiculture; plant and insect sampling and habitat surveying. Consequently, there is a strong emphasis on “learning by doing.

Agriculture and the Environment reviews the impact of agricultural systems and practices on the environment and the scientific principles involved. It includes examples from a range of geographical areas. It is now recognised that many of the farming practices adopted in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, aimed at maximising production and profit, have had adverse effects on the environment. These include water and air pollution, soil degradation, loss of certain habitats and decreased biodiversity. In the UK and Europe this has led to the introduction of regulatory instruments and codes of practice aimed at minimising these problems and the promotion of new approaches to managing farmland. However, as world population continues to rise, there are increased concerns about food security, particularly in stressful environments such as arid zones where farmers have to cope with natural problems of low rainfall and poor soils. Although new technologies including the use of GM crops have potential to resolve some of these issues, concerns have been expressed about the impact of the release of these new genetically-engineered crops into the environment.

Management Planning for Conservation provides students with an understanding of the Conservation Management System approach to management planning. This involves describing a major habitat feature at a high level of definition; the preparation of a conservation objective (with performance indicators) for the habitat; identification and consideration of the implications of all factors and thus the main management activities; preparation of a conceptual model of the planning process for a case study site and creating maps using spatial data within a desktop GIS.

Research Methods Module: this prepares students for the dissertation stage of their MSc course. The module provides students with an introduction to principles of hypothesis generation, sampling, study design, spatial methods, social research methods, quantitative & qualitative analysis and presentation of research findings. Practicals and field visits illustrate examples of these principles. Course assessment is aligned to the research process from the proposal stage, through study write up to presentation of results. The module is in two phases. The taught content phase is until the period following Christmas. This is followed by a project planning phase for dissertation title choice and plan preparation.

Field Visit Module: this is an annual programme of scientific visits related to Conservation and Land Management. The main purpose of the trip will be to appreciate the range of activities different conservation organisations are undertaking, to understand their different management objectives and constraints. Previous field trips have visited farms, forests and reserves run by Scottish Wildlife Trust, National Trust, RSPB, local authorities, community groups and private individuals.

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Can the world’s forests be managed sustainably? This one-year course will develop your understanding of forest ecosystems and their role in the global environment, and of the goods and services that forests can provide.

The MSc Environmental Forestry course has been running for more than 25 years, and its graduates are now working in forestry all over the world. We have close links with forestry and environmental organisations in the UK and overseas, and staff of these organisations make regular contributions to the course. Lectures, seminars and independent learning are supported by an active programme of field practicals, forest visits and a week-long study tour, during which students discuss management and policy issues with forestry professionals.

ICF logoThis course is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters and gives partial fulfilment of Professional Membership Entry.

Course Structure
The programme has two parts.

Part 1: runs from September to May and consists of four taught modules, a study tour, and a research planning module component. The taught part of the course is based on lectures, seminars, practicals and directed study, allowing an opportunity to examine a broad range of topics in detail and develop personal skills and expertise. A range of different assessment methods are used including reports, presentations, practical write-ups and online and written exams.

Part 1 must be completed successfully before proceeding to Part 2, the dissertation phase.

Part 2: June to September is set aside for production of a dissertation on a topic selected by the student in consultation with their academic supervisor. Dissertations can be in almost any aspect of forestry that interests you; they can have a temperate or tropical focus, and can include field work either locally, elsewhere in the UK, or overseas.

Part 1 Subjects:

Forest Resources & Assessment: This module provides an overview of the status of world forests, trends and causes of deforestation and degradation, consequences for ecosystem services, and policy responses. It then addresses the practical approaches required to assess the ecological condition of forests, which is necessary to inform appropriate forest management and conservation to meet these challenges.

Silviculture (Temperate or Tropical streams):This module develops an understanding of silviculture and forest management and the interaction of management systems with the physical environment. A common component explore the silvicultural systems and interventions used to realise desired future forest conditions, and the module then divides two streams, focussing on the specific practices of temperate or tropical regions.

Natural Resource Management gives students a theoretical understanding of the systems approach to managing natural resources, as well as a practical grounding in the ways in which natural resource managers can draw on different kinds of knowledge sources.

Management Planning: This module develops an understanding of the management planning process, and its use in the sustainable management of rural resources. Students develop management plans for real-world forestry situations which involves setting management objectives, considering landscape features, devising appropriate monitoring and evaluation techniques and quantifying the costs of management operations.

Research Methods: The module will form a foundation for the dissertation research project. This module will develop the basic numeracy, modelling, statistical, planning and optimisation methods, and GIS skills required to conduct research in a range of managed and un-managed ecosystems, and develop the skills required for future research and professional careers.

Study Tour: This module gives students the opportunity to see how the principles of natural resource management that are discussed in earlier parts of their course are put into practice. During visits to areas which are managed for a range of objectives (details vary between courses and from year to year) students meet resource managers working on behalf of different stakeholders and engage in discussion with them.

Part 2:

Dissertation: Execution and written presentation of a suitable scientific project which is devised by the student and an individual academic supervisor and validated by the Programme Director. A suitable project entails a worthwhile scientific question, of direct relevance to the degree programme being undertaken, established within the context of current knowledge and concepts that allows the formulation and testing of one or more hypotheses. This normally involves up to 5 months full-time work, typically including: 2-3 months for data collection from the field, laboratory or computer; 1-2 months for data analysis; and 1-2 months for writing-up.

Professional Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) and qualifies students for associate membership

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In this one-year MSc programme, you have the opportunity to learn about how trees, people and agriculture can be combined in sustainably managed farms, forests and landscapes. There is a long tradition of agroforestry practice in many parts of the world, but recently it has become a major focus in international development and is now at the forefront of innovation in natural resource management. Bangor is a world leader in agroforestry with a fantastic reputation for its research activities and our graduates are either already employed when they start the course and/or have a strong track record in finding employment within the sector. Students and academic staff are active collaborators with international organisations such as the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center, Costa Rica (CATIE) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). You can expect to develop the skills required for a research and professional career from the comprehensive programme we offer.

The overall aim of the programme is to provide an integrated education in natural resource management, combining ecological and social dimensions of agricultural and forest sciences, focussed on application to real world systems where trees interact with agriculture. The programme is designed to develop both subject-specific knowledge and cognitive and key skills. The course has a world focus and the University has strong links with agroforestry organisations which means that many of our students have undertaken fieldwork in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, as well as in Wales/UK. Besides fantastic overseas opportunities, we also have a university farm (Henfaes Research Centre) located a short distance outside of Bangor where many students carry out experiments for their final projects.

This course is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters and gives partial fulfilment of Professional Membership Entry.

We work in partnership with the World Agroforestry Centre.


Course Structure
The programme has two parts. Part Part 1: runs from September to May and consists of five taught modules and a study tour. The taught part of the course is based on lectures, seminars, practical sessions and directed study, allowing an opportunity to examine a broad range of topics in detail and develop personal skills and expertise. A range of different assessment methods are used including reports, presentations, practical write-ups and online and written exams. Part 1 must be completed successfully before proceeding to Part 2, the dissertation phase.

Part 2: June to September is set aside for production of a dissertation on a topic selected by the student in consultation with their academic supervisor. Dissertations can be in almost any aspect of agroforestry that interests you; they can have a temperate or tropical focus, and can include field work either locally in Wales, elsewhere in the UK, or overseas.

Part 1 Subjects:

Agroforestry Systems and Practice: This module explores agroforestry systems and practices worldwide and introduces the concepts behind them. Through a series of case studies, the module explores ecological and biophysical interactions in agroforestry systems, and considers the range of social, economic and ecosystem benefits they deliver, including ways in which we are trying to reduce the environmental impact of food production and overcome constraints to food security.

Silviculture: The purpose of the module is to develop students’ understanding of the silviculture of single trees and trees in complex systems. This module develops an understanding of the principles and practice of silviculture, the place of silviculture in the sustainable cultivation of trees, and the role it plays in delivering ecosystem services from trees, woodlands and forests. We explore the unique characteristics of forest soils and of soil physical, chemical and biological properties, how these influence site productivity and how these are influenced by land management.

Natural Resource Management: The purpose of this module is to give students a theoretical understanding of the systems approach to managing natural resources to provide various ecosystem services, as well as a practical grounding in the ways in which natural resource managers can draw on a variety of knowledge sources to inform themselves and others of the impacts of land management interventions.

Research Planning and Communication: This module seeks to develop students’ understanding of the role of science and the scientific process in formulating and addressing context relevant questions, and communicating scientific output to different audiences. During the course of the module, students will devise, conduct and write up a policy-relevant scientific study.

Natural Resource Development: The purpose of this module is to introduce the international development context to students and to give a practical grounding in project planning. During the module, students will develop a full project proposal in line with funding guidelines for an agroforestry based natural resource development intervention.

Study Tour: We round off the taught part of the course with a study tour which gives students the opportunity to see the practical application of natural resource management principles that are discussed in earlier parts of the programme. During visits to areas which are managed for a range of objectives, you will meet and discuss with different stakeholders and collect information relevant to a specific research topic.

Part 2:

Dissertation: Execution and written presentation of a suitable scientific project which is devised by the student and an individual academic supervisor and validated by the Programme Director. A suitable project entails a worthwhile scientific question, of direct relevance to the degree programme being undertaken, established within the context of current knowledge and concepts that allows the formulation and testing of one or more hypotheses. This normally involves up to 5 months full-time work, typically including: 2-3 months for data collection from the field, laboratory or computer; 1-2 months for data analysis; and 1-2 months for writing-up.

Previous MSc dissertation projects and training courses held in collaboration with the World Agroforestry Centre can be viewed here.

Professional Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) and qualifies students for associate membership.

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This course is designed to enable prospective farmers, farm managers and farm management consultants to work at the strategic level of management and leadership in the commercial environment of modern farming and agribusiness. A mix of core business modules with specialist modules on the agricultural industry provide you with the relevant tools, and capabilities to succeed in this profession.

It is as much about management and the business of farming as it is about problem solving and opportunity finding within the agricultural industry. Our graduates are highly adaptable with the knowledge and skills to operate farm-based businesses with an entrepreneurial flair. Many have gone on to become Farm Managers, Consultants, Brand Managers, and Business Directors.

This course is for those from farming backgrounds who are taking on leadership roles within their family business.The course sets out the background, issues and challenges facing the national and global farming industry and helps you understand the value chain from ‘farm to fork’.

This MBA provides a unique opportunity for transatlantic study to put the management theories, concepts and strategies learnt into a European or USA context. You will have the chance to study the first term at the Utah State University or the Royal Agricultural University, with the remaining study periods undertaken at the RAU.

Key benefits

The MBA in Advanced Farm Management is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute. Upon successful completion of the degree, you will be awarded CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership and will therefore become a Member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI). You can then apply to the CMI for full Chartered Manager status if you wish.

Structure

The MBA may be studied full-time over 12 months or part-time over two or three years.

You will study eight modules; six business modules in the autumn term, two applied modules in the spring term, plus two elective modules to focus your studies to specific areas of interest. The Applied Research Project is carried out over the summer to be submitted in September. It will be presented as a review paper and as a research paper.

You will take part in lectures, seminars and discussions, farm management activities, and group and individual case study work in a real-world context. Visiting industry experts give students a valuable insight in to the sector in which they are involved.

Modules are assessed through a range of coursework.

Modules

• 4012 Farm Business Management
• 4023 Operations Management
• 4076 Financial Management
• 4214 Sustainable Business Strategy
• 4215 Agricultural Economics
• 4216 Leadership and Change
• 4217 International Marketing Management
• 4219 Sustainable Agricultural Business Principles
• 4220 Applied Research Challenge

Plus further elective modules from:

• 3041 Corporate Finance
• 3211 Practical E-Business and E-Commerce
• 4001 Agricultural Management
• 4078 International Business
• 4080 Development Project Management
• 4203 Small Scale Farming and Local Food Supply
• 4205 Critical Issues in Ethical Leadership
• 4223 Economics of the Environment
• 4228 New Product Development in the Agri-Food Industry
• 4229 Adaptive Management in a Complex World

Study abroad opportunity

Applicants who wish to undertake their Term One modules at Utah State University (USU) will need to ensure that they have indicated this in their application by replying the specific question.

Applicants can participate in the US study only if they have paid the required fees (Home/EU: 1/3 of tuition fees, Overseas: 50% of tuition fees) and identified that they want to participate in the US study programme the latest by 30th June.

Please note that the term for the US study in Utah (USU) starts in the first week of August. Late applications for participation in the US term cannot be considered.

Career prospects

Previous graduates have gone on to develop successful careers as:

• Farm Manager
• Farm Consultant
• Global Brand Manager

Many of our graduates have returned home and are driving the family farming business forward.

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow this link: https://www.rau.ac.uk/STUDY/POSTGRADUATE/HOW-APPLY

Funding

For information on funding, please view the following page: https://www.rau.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/funding

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Your programme of study

Ecology is an important discipline to inform many different environmental management issues which often involve wider impacts being assessed for planning and other purposes. There is an increasing desire to utilise sites which are environmentally sensitive and this puts pressure on ecology and habitat survival. There are many other types of environmental impacts which are often hidden but also affect Ecology such as the many different pollutants which are often highlighted monthly. Species decline is becoming a well known issue globally and the ability to maintain and continue species and grow is important in a declining environment.

The programme comes from a very strong department which has been ranked consistently at number 1 in soil science and soil ecology in the UK (REF 2014). The Master's in Ecology has very solid foundations as it has been taught to generations for over 50 years and with this comes considerable knowledge and experience. With this programme you get a chance to influence how we utilise our environment and manage it to the best ability to preserve our ecology.

Our MSc programme provides flexibility to enable you to gain knowledge and skills to meet your career aspirations, whether in research or as a practicing ecologist. The programme runs through a full year, starting with a field course and culminating in a major research project. You will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience of everything from field survey to chairing discussions, from statistics and modelling to report writing and from identifying important ecological questions to researching them and writing a scientific paper. Previous graduates have gone on to the top of their chosen profession in research, consultancy, conservation, policy, education and advocacy.

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1

• Experimental Design and Analysis
• Introduction to GIS
• Plant Ecology
• Population and Community Ecology

Optional Courses

• Statistics for Complex Study Designs
• Introduction to Ecological Field Research in Northern Scotland
• Molecular Ecological Techniques
• Soils for Food Security
• Aquaculture
• Introduction to Bayesian Inference

Semester 2

Compulsory

• Research Project Planning

Optional

• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Spatial Information Analysis
• Marine Spatial Management and Top Predators
• Readings in Ecology, Conservation and Environment
• Ecology, Conservation and Society
• Catchment Management
• Environmental Management Plan
• Applied Forest Ecology
• Advanced Modelling for Ecology and Conservation

Semester 3

• Project in Ecology

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page

Why study at Aberdeen?

• Ecology has been taught at Aberdeen for over 50 years and Plant Ecology and Soil Science is No 1 in the UK (REF 2014)
• You will be taught be known ecologists who are active in research, management and nature conservation
• Aberdeen is ideally situated to take full advantage of coastal, inland, rural and wild landscapes and environments

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• Full Time and Part Time
• 12 Months or 24 Months
• September

International Student Fees 2017/2018

Find out about international fees:

• International
• EU and Scotland
• Other UK

Find out more about fees on the programme page

*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.

Scholarships

View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities

Living in Aberdeen

Find out more about:

Your Accommodation

• Catered Accommodation
• Self-Catering     

Campus Facilities

• University of Aberdeen: A Global Community
• University of Aberdeen: We are international
• Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
• Student Support
• Clubs and Societies
• Sport
• Societies
• Review

Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs

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Your programme of study

University of Aberdeen Environmental and Forest Management programmes comes from one of the oldest forest management research areas in the UK. Aberdeen has been teaching Forestry for decades. Forestry is combined with environmental management to provide a very useful range of skills and knowledge to apply across environmental areas. With increasing deforestation there are also opportunities to provide more forests, sustainable forests and carefully managed forests. You visit local forests and take a resident field trip with a project you can undertake anywhere in the world. There will always be a requirement for specialists within forestry management to ensure the longevity of crops and sustainability of environmental resources.

On this MSc programme you will to study the principles of forest and woodland management as well as general environment management and their application both in the UK and overseas. The programme is aimed at people interested in a career in environmental management, environmental services, timber production, community forestry or a combination of these. You learn the important aspects affecting forestry which include plant ecology, environmental pollution, GIS mapping, harvesting, statistical information, remediation , EIA, Analysis, Ecology and conservation and environmental management planning. All of these modules allow you to specialist and become a specialist in your chosen area.

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1

Optional

• Core Skills in Environmental Science
• Experimental design and Analysis
• Statistics for Complex Study Designs
• Plant Ecology
• Global Soil Geography
• Environmental Pollution
• Ecosystems Processes
• Application of GIS
• Timber Harvesting and Measurement

Semester 2

Optional

• Remediation Technology
• European Forests Field Course
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Analysis
• Ecology, Conservation and Society
• Woodland Conservation and Management
• Catchment Management
• Environmental Management Plan
• Applied Forest Ecology

Semester 3

• Environmental and Forest Management Project

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page

Why study at Aberdeen?

• University of Aberdeen has been associated with teaching and researching the forestry discipline for decades the subject ties into its strengths in environmental and soil science
• The programme is ranked No.1 in Scotland for research excellence in earth systems and sciences
• Field work takes place in the region with plenty of natural resources on Royal Deesside, Cairngorms National Park, agricultural Aberdeenshire and Caledonian pine forests

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• Full Time and Part Time
• 12 Months or 24 Months
• September start

International Student Fees 2017/2018

Find out about international fees:

• International
• EU and Scotland
• Other UK

Find out more about fees on the programme page

*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.

Scholarships

View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities

Living in Aberdeen

Find out more about:

Your Accommodation

• Catered Accommodation
• Self-Catering     

Campus Facilities

• University of Aberdeen: A Global Community
• University of Aberdeen: We are international
• Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
• Student Support
• Clubs and Societies
• Sport
• Societies
• Review

Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs

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This MA is unique for its focus on the dynamic interactions between local livelihoods in rural areas and agriculture understood as a globalised industry. It advances an interdisciplinary perspective on linkages between global national and local level processes shaping agriculture and rural development by integrating knowledge from the social sciences economics and natural resource studies.

The MA gives an overview of agriculture, rural livelihoods and rural policy and politics to strengthen students analytical skills and to transfer key professional skills of relevance to work on rural development and agriculture. Lectures, seminars, group work and individual assignment will cover the policies and practices of the major international institutions in rural development, including the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation and United Nations Development Programme, just as much as of civil society organisations, such as La Via Campesina.

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About the Programme

The Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience are pleased to announce the launch of our new MSc in Agroecology, Water and Food Sovereignty. The programme will commence in September 2018 and January 2019 - recruitment is now open!

The Context

The new MSc is structured according to the thematic pillars of our Centre’s research and will be a multi- and transdisciplinary course introducing students to a range of different approaches to foster equitable and sustainable food and water systems.

In the context of wide-ranging and persistent global challenges to food and water security, resilience, including climate change, malnutrition and ecological degradation, this course will equip students with cutting edge knowledge in the field to enable them to critically understand the complex interactions between social and natural systems, between scientific and non-scientific knowledge, and between politics and food and water system outcomes.

The programme is designed for students from a range of disciplines, converging on agriculture, water and food systems from complementary angles that include physical and natural sciences, geography, social sciences and humanities, economics, and political sciences.

The Course

Why Agroecology, Water and Food Sovereignty?

Agroecology is the discipline that addresses practical aspects of resilient food production and natural resources management, their environmental impact as well as the governance and socio-economic challenges facing current food and farming systems.

Water and Food Sovereignty widen the focus of the course, closely linking agroecological approaches that reflect the need to address pressing global issues (i.e. access to adequate nutrition), our right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods; and people’s right to define their own food, agriculture, livestock and fisheries systems.

Food Sovereignty also promotes the formulation of trade policies and practices that serve the rights of people to safe, healthy and ecologically sustainable food production.

This is a unique approach to the design and management of socio-ecologically resilient water and food systems in that it goes beyond the issue of access to natural resources, food and water, and addresses their governance locally, nationally and at global scale. 

The course includes modules which address key themes in:

• resilient food and water systems
• agroecological processes and practices
• fundamental process in relation to soil and water management
• climate change
• governance and institutional frameworks
• communities self-organisation for resilience
• knowledge integration
• gender studies
• economics of sustainable food and water system
• secological management of freshwater systems
• stabilisation agriculture.

Modules

• Policies and Institutions for Food and Water Sovereignty
• Global Processes for Water Sustainability and Resilience
• Community Self-Organisation and Resilience
• Resilient Food and Water Systems in Practice
• Participation, Power, and People’s Knowledge
• Agroecological Techniques and Practices
• Gender, Food Systems and Natural Resources
• Stabilisation Agriculture
• Project
• Global Professional Development – Consultancy (Chartered Management Institute)

Each module involves ‘face-to-face’ contact at the university (including lectures, seminars and workshops), accompanied by directed and self-directed study. Modules are delivered both on campus as well as our Centre’s base at Ryton Organic Gardens. Transport is provided for the modules delivered at Ryton Gardens.

How to apply

To apply via the University's application page please click here. The course code is EECT008.

If you require any assistance please contact:

Liz Woodard - Administrative Assistant (Postgraduate Support) [email protected]

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