MSc Agricultural Economics
Course director: Dr Giuseppe Nocella
The MSc in Agricultural Economics is a twelve month course in applied economics focussing on some of the most pressing challenges to the modern world.
Aims and objectives
With an ever-increasing world population, and growing pressure on the world's finite resources, the analytical skills of agricultural economists are as relevant as ever. The course is designed to provide a rigorous, stimulating and enjoyable training in applied economics and quantitative and qualitative research techniques.
- Compulsory modules provide the essential basis for working as an applied economist;
- A wide array of optional modules, and the dissertation, allow students to tailor their programmes to best suit their own interests, focussing for example on land use and the environment, the food chain, or international trade, in a developed or developing country context;
- Students can acquire the research skills they will need to embark upon the PhD programme.
Transferable skills
The course requires a substantial amount of independent reading, research and study and students are expected to take personal responsibility and show initiative in developing their knowledge and understanding of the field of study. In following this course students will also have the opportunity to enhance and develop their skills relating to communication, information handling, problem solving, and the use of information technology. Students will learn to work independently, under time pressures, and will learn to set priorities and manage their time in order to meet strict deadlines.
Course structure
The course starts at the beginning of the Autumn Term, with the taught component extending over two ten-week terms. The remainder of the course, from June until September, is devoted to completion of a 10 – 12,000 word dissertation, for submission in early September. Most of the core modules are taught in the first (Autumn) term, and most optional modules in the second (Spring) term. The MSc is one of three MScs in applied economics that share core modules (the others being Agricultural Development Economics, Food Economics and Marketing, and MSc Research Agricultural and Food Economics), and in other modules (typically taught in small groups) you will often be studying with students from other MSc/MA programmes in the Graduate Institute. This results in an exciting mix of professional backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, enhancing the learning environment and leading to lifetime friendships.
Entry requirements
Entrants to this course are normally required to have a good honours degree (or equivalent from a University outside the UK) in Economics, Agricultural Economics or another subject with adequate training in economic principles and quantitative methods. Well qualified applicants with quantitative skills from their first degree, but without an economics background, may be allowed entry provided they attend an economics preparatory course delivered by the Department in the September before the start of the MSc course.
Subject streams
Students follow compulsory modules (90 credits) and select a further 30 credits from an extensive list of optional modules.
Compulsory modules:
- Market and Trade Analysis
- Policy Analysis
- Consumer and Producer Theory
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Economics of International Food Markets
- Resource and Environmental Economics
- Econometrics
- Research and Study Skills for Independent Learning
Optional modules include:
- Advanced Marketing
- Marketing Research Methods
- Consumer Behaviour & Food Marketing
- Advertising and Branding
- Consumer Policy
- Quantitative Methods
- Agricultural Project Planning and Management in Developing Countries
- Appraisal of Agricultural & Rural Development Projects
- Macroeconomics for Developing Countries
- Food Security and Development
- Trade Policies for Developing Countries
- The WTO and the Developing Countries
- Regional Integration and Developing Countries
See the full list of the modules offered to GIIDAE students.
Further details of each of the above modules can be found on the main University module description pages www.reading.ac.uk/modules.
(Please note that the programme may be subject to change from the list above)
Career prospects
The broad scope of the MSc course provides a suitable basis to enter posts in industry, government and non-governmental organisations. After some years of work experience, graduates might be developing economic strategy in a government department, or working as a policy analyst in an NGO, a buyer for a food retailer or as an economist in agribusiness.