MSc Food Economics and Marketing

Course Director: Dr Francois Bouchetoux

The MSc in Food Economics and Marketing is a twelve month programme in applied economics and marketing focussing on food markets and policy.

Aims and objectives

The course is designed to provide a rigorous, stimulating and enjoyable training in applied economics and marketing and to provide the necessary tools to understand and analyse developments in a global food economy, but one driven as well by local consumer preferences and food policies.

• Expose students to market and policy developments in the modern food economy
• Provide the essential theoretical, quantitative and qualitative skills to work as an applied economist and marketer in the food industry or elsewhere
• Acquire the research skills needed 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, and Agricultural 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. Students 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 (100 credits) and select a further 20 credits from an extensive list of optional modules.

Compulsory modules:

• Market and Trade Analysis
  
• Advanced Marketing
  
• Food Policy
• Econometrics
  
• Economics of International Food Markets
  
• Marketing Research Methods
• Consumer Behaviour and Food Marketing
• Research Study Skills for Independent Learning
• Advertising and Branding
  

Optional modules include:

• Policy Analysis
• Consumer and Producer Theory
• Quantitative Methods
• Resource and Environmental Economics
• Food Security and Development
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Consumer Policy
• Macroeconomics for Developing Countries
• Contemporary Issues in Consumer Behaviour
  

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

Graduates of the MSc in Food Economics and Marketing follow a wide range of careers associated with the food industry or other sectors of the economy. Previous students are now working for national and international food companies, national governments and international agencies such as the EU and FAO, consulting companies, NGOs and many more.

University of Reading awarded prestigious AACSB International Accreditation

Henley Business School and the University of Reading have been awarded the prestigious AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) business accreditation. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools and universities that offer undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

Our MSc in Food Economics and Marketing is now an accredited programme.

For more details, please see our press release and the AACSB website.