Course Overview

Understanding agroecology and the organisms and systems that underpin agricultural systems can facilitate managing agricultural systems more sustainably.

This course will provide the foundation for a career in both conservation and agriculture.

The course will provide you with specialized training in agroecology and farmland conservation. Specifically, the system will:

Prepare you for a career in conservation agriculture, or agriculture or conservation more widely.

Offer vocational training in the area of agroecology.

Prepare you for Ph.D. Studies.

Enable you to make more informed choices for further study and career development. This course is intended to provide students with a detailed understanding of basic and applied agroecology and the issues associated with, on the one hand, the increased and shifting needs for food production and, on the other, the need for conservation and management of natural resources. Sustainable food production and sustainable intensification are of high policy importance both nationally and internationally. Agroecology is a crucial aspect of sustainable intensification.

This course is underpinned by an extensive program of agri-environment research at Harper Adams and long-standing collaborations with research institutes and other organizations in the UK and overseas. The system will utilize our teaching strengths and offer an alternative focus for students interested in agriculture and the natural environment and will complement other specialist postgraduate courses such as the Entomology courses, Integrated Pest Management, and Weed Science.

Specifically, the course will enable students to:

Identify the nature, structure, and complexities of multifunctional landscapes.

Evaluate the interactions between organisms and consider these when making management recommendations for successful agro-ecological landscapes

Evaluate the strategic and operational issues and conflicts affecting the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems.

Appraise the role of agroecology within the broader context of global food security and sustainable food production

Select the most appropriate conservation management solution in various agricultural and other environments.

Develop the ability to solve conflicts in agro-ecosystems by the application of novel research techniques

General Eligibility

A UK honors degree (minimum 2:2) or equivalent overseas qualification. Applicants with a good FdSc/HND pass in a relevant subject area plus at least two years of relevant industrial or professional experience may also be considered.

Previous experience, referees' reports, and interviews will be used to determine the suitability of candidates for particular programs.

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• IELTS Academic *

  6.0 overall (with no less than 5.5 in any component)