MSc Sustainable Food and Agriculture Policy

A dynamic course for a rapidly-changing sector, this programme has been created in conjunction with our industry partners, including the National Trust and National Farmers’ Union. This course is primarily distance learning.

Course overview

Working across agriculture and the food supply chain, you will gain a deeper understanding of the sector, the challenges of the future and how they interconnect.

Policy and strategy around the area of food is vital for the sustainable growth of any country. This is a time of unprecedented demand for innovative solutions to sustain the flow of high quality food to more people than ever before, alongside increasing demands for traceability and provenance.

Brexit also presents an opportunity for the UK to become an important world player in the production of high quality, sustainably produced food. To secure this aim, numerous opportunities will arise for highly educated business-minded people who are capable of leading British food production policy.

If you have an inquisitive mind, or wish to learn these skills, this course will help you develop the knowledge you need to boost or begin a career in the industry. We will provide you with important industry contacts and placements within major national companies. You will have the opportunity to connect with organisations that are shaping policy; covering areas including climate change, consumer trends, post-Brexit trading terms, public health, animal welfare and future food security.

Teaching

The course is largely delivered online, in conjunction with short intensive learning periods on campus, which give you the opportunity to network and meet your classmates. An experienced online team has built a course packed with engaging multimedia content and opportunities to collaborate with other students.

Careers and enterprise

This course has been carefully developed to meet skills gaps and respond to changes in recruitment trends. Graduates are highly likely to go on to pursue a career within the food or an allied industry and a number of businesses visit the University every year to recruit new staff.

Careers could include:

• Procurement
• Market research
• Commercial or general management in the food industry
• Farm or Environmental Consultants
• Working for the Government, international agencies or NGOs
• The development of new companies through entrepreneurial initiatives