Food Security (MSc) (2022 Entry)
About this taught graduate course
Course overview
Delivering global food security is one of the critical challenges of the 21st century. Each nation needs to balance local food production with imports and consider environmental and economic impact. This master's course considers the critical factors influencing global food security including the contributions of climate change, biodiversity, water, soil, land use, labour, diet and urbanisation.
Skills from this degree
You will gain:
- An understanding of current food production and distribution practices with an appreciation of how they can fail and ensuing health and policy issues
- An ability to critically evaluate how constraints on crop production can change due to biotic and societal pressures
- An ability to select and apply appropriate tools or techniques to tackle a food security question or problem
- 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:ii undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirements. This course requires the following:
- Band A
- IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Core modules
- Soil, Sustainability and the Environment
- Advances in Crop Protection
- Project/Work Placement/Dissertation
- Environmental Accounting
- Climate Change
- Organic and Low Input Systems
- Challenges of Global Food Security
- Biosciences, Politics and Social Acceptability
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
- Microbiomics and Metagenomics
- Marketing Management
- Business Strategy
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 website.
Teaching
You will be taught by a multidisciplinary teaching faculty including staff from Life Sciences and Warwick Business School, joined by lecturers with internationally acknowledged academic, industrial and government expertise.
Teaching is via facilitated sessions, including interactive lectures, short question and answer sessions and interactive workshops/tutorials and field visits. 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 to undertake a work-based placement as part of your project. Your project/placement will be assessed by a seminar presentation and either a 15,000 word thesis or a 6,000 word journal article.
Reading lists
Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web page.
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.
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.
Taught course fees Research course fees
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, however we are awaiting guidance from the UK government regarding fee status for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members living in the UK for academic year 2021/22 onwards. We are not able to confirm the fee status for these students until the relevant eligibility criteria have been confirmed. Once we have received further information from the UK government, we will provide you with an update on your fee status and let you know if any additional information is required. 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.
Taught course applications
Here is our checklist on how to apply for taught postgraduate courses at Warwick.
Research course applications
Here is our checklist on how to apply for research postgraduate degrees at the University of Warwick.
After you’ve applied
Find out how we process your application.
Applicant Portal
Track your application and update your details.
Admissions statement
See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.
Join a live chat
Ask questions and engage with Warwick.
Postgraduate Open Day
Our Postgraduate Virtual Open Day will help you find out more about your course of interest, as well as general topics like applying to Warwick, accommodation, careers and funding.Postgraduate fairs
Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in the UK. These events give you the chance to learn about our Master's and PhD study routes, and the wider context of postgraduate study.
Live chats
Every week, you can connect directly with representatives from Warwick, who will be answering your questions on applying to and studying postgraduate studies at Warwick.
Departmental events
Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.
Connect with us
Want to hear more about postgraduate study at Warwick? Register your interest and find out more.