Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development

The MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development responds to contemporary and future transformations in agriculture and rural development. The programme takes a place-based approach to rural change and rural futures, and addresses how agriculture can contribute to sustainable development. It examines how farming and rural areas are changing, and how communities and government can address future challenges and opportunities. These issues are relevant in Ireland and internationally, in the Global South and Global North.



This programme, which is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis, prepares graduates for roles of leadership, advocacy and influence in local, national and international development settings. This is achieved by strengthening capabilities in the relevant analytical, communications and entrepreneurship skills, underpinned by the provision of an enhanced understanding of the theory, policy and practice of rural development.



The learning environment fosters individual and group-based activities, which develop students’ skills of inquiry, critical thinking, self-directed and collaborative learning. A variety of teaching and learning approaches are used including group project work, student presentations, individual assignments, field trips and case study work.



Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate options are available.



What Will I Learn?

• Complete a research proposal related to a sustainable agriculture and rural development issue, undertaking relevant field and desk research, review and present literature and present and analyse relevant data

• Demonstrate enhanced problem-solving skills for application to issues in agriculture and rural development and the ability to formulate/evaluate potential solutions

• Plan and implement strategic communications campaigns in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) settings

• Understand and interpret strategies applied in achieving the objectives of SARD in Ireland, the EU and internationally

• Understand the nature and practice of rural diversification

• Understand the context within which sustainable agriculture and rural development related policies are devised

• Understand the key principles and practices that make agriculture sustainable.



NFQ Level: 9 (90 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Master of Science (Agriculture)

Stage 1 Core Modules

RDEV40450: Research Methods Part I

RDEV40490: Sustainable Agriculture

RDEV40780: Community-Led Local Development

RDEV40150: Policies & Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development

RDEV40300: Theory & Practice of Rural Enterprises

RDEV40460: Research Methods Part II

RDEV40230: Minor Thesis



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:

Students must take a total of 10 credits of optional modules.

Students should note that the recommended workload per trimester is 30 credits. Selecting a 10 credit option module in either the Autumn or Spring trimesters will result in a workload of 35 credits.

CPSC30050: Organic Agriculture

RDEV40050: Economics and Sociology in Rural Development

RDEV40560: Agricultural Extension & Innov

RDEV40730: Understanding the Family Farm Business

RDEV40790: Agricultural Education

ANSC40320: Global Food Systems

RDEV40770: Behaviour Change in Agriculture

RDEV40840: Rural Placemaking

Entry Requirements

• Applicants must hold a minimum of a second class honours degree, or international equivalent, in a range of subject areas.

• Applications are welcome from people from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds including humanities, sciences and business who are interested in pursuing careers in the broad arena of rural and community development.

• Exceptions may be made for applicants who do not hold the minimum educational requirement if they can demonstrate substantial relevant professional or voluntary experience.

• Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

• Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/

• These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme.



Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page (https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax) for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

90

Delivery: On Campus

X376: 1 year full-time

X377: 2 years part-time

MSc(Agr) Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development (X376) Full Time

EU fee per year - €8,595

non EU fee per year - €24,800


MSc(Agr) Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development (X377) Part Time

EU Year 1 - €4,350

EU Year 2 - €4,350 aa

non EU Year 1 - €12,400

non EU Year 2 - €12,100 aa


aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2019 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2018/19

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

X376: MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development

Master of Science (Agriculture)

Full-Time: Commencing September 2025



X377: Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development

Master of Science (Agriculture)

Part-Time: Commencing September 2025



Graduate Taught

Careers & Employability

Graduates from this programme will be equipped with the required skills and knowledge base to develop careers in the broad arena of sustainable agriculture and rural development in Ireland or Internationally in both the public and private sector.



Graduates typically find employment in government, agricultural and rural development agencies, local development agencies, NGOs involved in rural development, as well as donor agencies and international development organisations.



Graduate Roles:

• Development Managers

• Advisors

• Consultants

• Public servants

• Researchers