Sustainable Crop Production: Agronomy for the 21st Century (MSc) (2024 Entry)
Explore our Sustainable Crop Production taught Master's degree.
Sustainable Crop Production: Agronomy for the 21st Century MSc provides the knowledge and practical skills in crop management and improvement. You will learn about the latest advances in plant pathology, pest management and soil health.
Course overview
Crop agriculture provides mankind’s increasing population with foods, fibres and fuel and this course provides you with knowledge and practical skills in crop management and crop improvement.
In this master's course you will gain a combination of practical expertise and academic understanding to develop key skills. You will learn the principles of crop production, including the latest advances in plant pathology, integrated pest management and soil health.
Skills from this degree
You will gain:
- An understanding of how crops are grown and the factors affecting crop production
- The knowledge to identify and understand the causes of crop disorders and make decisions on appropriate management/control measures
- The skills to critically evaluate how constraints on crop production can change due to biotic and societal pressures
- Transferable skills including team working, communicating with peers and sector specialists, organising, planning and oral presentation
- Research skills including scientific report writing, conducting surveys, problem solving, data analysis and project work
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:
- Band B
- 7.0 overall with minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Core modules
- Crop Physiology and Production
- Advances in Crop Protection
- Soil, Sustainability and the Environment
- Project/Work Placement/Dissertation
- Climate Change
- Organic and Low Input Systems
- Cereal, Oilseed and Root Crop Agronomy
- Introduction to BASIS
- Plant Breeding and Trial Design for Registration
Read more about our core modules on our Life Sciences website.
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- Biodiversity, Conservation and Ecosystem Services
- Biological Invasions in Changing Environments
- Challenges in Global Food Security
- Marketing Management
- Business Strategy
- Climate Change and Development (Law)
Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date. You can find the most up to date list on the Life Sciences websiteLink opens in a new window.
Teaching
You'll be taught by expert scientists who undertake research in solving major global challenges in areas such as food security, disease control, bioenergy, systems biology, neurobiology and climate change. Also, external professional experts teach on selected modules giving a vital extra dimension to your teaching experience.
Teaching is typically via facilitated session, including interactive lectures, short question and answer sessions, field trips and interactive workshops/tutorials. Individual and team learning will be used for case study analysis.
Class sizes
Class sizes for this course vary between 5 to 90 students.
Typical contact hours
Depending on the module contact hours vary between 15-25 per week.
Assessment
Assessment is continuous and varies between modules. It typically includes essays, seminar presentations, practical reports, oral evaluation and assessed group work. You will undertake an individual project during the third term and there is an option for you to undertake a work-based placement as part of your project. Your project will be assessed by a seminar presentation and a 15,000 word thesis or 6,000 word journal article.
Your timetable
Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.
Your career
Graduates from the School of Life Sciences taught Masters courses have gone on to work for employers including:
- Pfizer
- Severn Trent Water
- Eurofins Agroscience Services
- Novartis
- Philips Healthcare
- Rothamstead Research
- NGO Client Earth
- Public Health England
They have pursued roles such as: research associate, science editor, regulatory affairs officer, marketing manager, business and financial project management professionals, environmental health professionals, agronomist, and climate change consultant.
Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
- Careers in Life Sciences Networking Event
- Careers in Science
- Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
- Mock Interviews for Life Sciences students
- Interested in Careers in Scientific Publishing
Life Sciences at Warwick
Warwick Life Sciences is an international centre of excellence with more than 90% of our research rated as 'world leading or internationally excellent' in the REF 2021 assessment. Our focus is in excellent teaching and research with impact.
Find out more about us on our websiteLink opens in a new window
Our Postgraduate Taught courses
- Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management (MSc)
- Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate (MSc)
- Food Security (MSc)
- Medical Biotechnology and Business Management (MSc)
- Sustainable Crop Production: Agronomy for the 21st Century (MSc)
Our Postgraduate Research courses
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.
Fee Status Guidance
The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.
If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website.
Additional course costs
Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:
- Core text books
- Printer credits
- Dissertation binding
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.
How to apply
The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.
Applications will close on 2 August 2024 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.
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