Core modules
Environmental Protection, Risk Assessment and Safety
This module will provide you an understanding of the environmental and safety risks associated with technology together with methods for limiting damage and risk.
Read more about the Environmental Protection, Risk Assessment and Safety moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Soil, Sustainability and the Environment
In this module you will focus on understanding the importance of soil in supporting ecosystem services, ways in which soils are managed in agricultural systems and the wider environmental consequences, and threats to soil security. Key topics are soil biology, biogeochemical cycling, nutrient use and management, soils and environmental pollution, soil degradation, soils and climate change and compost/waste application to land.
Read more about the Soil, Sustainability and the Environment moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Biosciences, Politics and Social Acceptability
We now live in a world in which we face a set of complex, interlocking crises concerning the climate, human health, biodiversity, food and water, all of which have their roots in unsustainable human activity and exploitation of natural resources, and made possible by a combination of science, technology, and commerce. At the same time, we are seeing new advances in science and technology on a scale that would be unimaginable to previous generations - and which offer new opportunities to make life better, but at the same time offer new threats. Added to this, there are deep questions about how science is done and the trustworthiness of some of its findings. In this module, you discuss these issues and possible ways forward, and how we can use science for the common good in a globalised world.
Read more about the Biosciences, Politics and Social Acceptability moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Project/Work Placement/Dissertation
The project is a stand-alone component of the MSc allowing you to experience, first hand, research skills, hypothesis development, hypothesis testing, data collection, data handling, data evaluation and result presentation.
Read more about the Project/Work Placement/Dissertation moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Environmental Accounting
The module examines existing methods of environmental accounting, for example, life cycle assessment, ecological footprinting and carbon footprinting and demonstrates how they can be used to quantify, differentiate and interpret the environmental impacts of agricultural and other land based systems.
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Climate Change
Climate change is widely agreed to be the most important environmental driver of economic and societal change for the 21st century. In this module you will consider the science of climate change: origins and evidence, predictions and consequences, mitigation and adaptation.
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Organic and Low Input Systems
Crop production within low input systems provides a ‘challenge’ to farmers and crop scientists alike in determining how to use their knowledge of the interactions between the soil and plants, and plant pests and pathogens, to grow crops with sufficient yield and quality. In this module you will develop an understanding of the production techniques employed within such systems. The module will focus on arable and horticultural crops but consideration will be given to livestock production within the context of a mixed farming system.
Read more about the Organic and Low Input Systems moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Biological Invasions in Changing Environments
Non-native invasive species pose significant threats to natural and agricultural ecosystems worldwide and often have very severe, though difficult to quantify, economic impacts. Invasive species rank second only to habitat loss and destruction in a list of global threats to biodiversity. Climate change, environmental degradation, together with increased global trade, promote opportunities for the introduction, spread and persistence of invasive species and hence there may undesirable interactions between biological invasion and climate change. This module will introduce you to the principles of invasion biology and ecology with reference to ecological hypotheses.
Read more about the Biological Invasions in Changing Environments moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Biodiversity, Conservation and Ecosystem Services
Humankind harnesses a multitude of natural resources for the provision of food, materials, energy and recreation. Many of these resources have become overexploited or under severe pressure in both wild and managed landscapes. Our capacity to respond is limited by an associated loss of biodiversity. Conservation of natural and domesticated system is essential, but it must also be managed in ways that allow the biodiversity to be exploited for the benefit of all. Conservation of natural resources (biodiversity and habitat) is vitally important for the future. In this module you will examine this concept by exploring what makes plants and animals vulnerable and devising strategies for conservation of habitats and key species (both in situ and ex situ,) and how practical conservation management is achieved.
Read more about the Biodiversity, Conservation and Ecosystem Services moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Microbiomics and Metagenomics
This module will provide you with the understanding of how analysis of microbial diversity and the functional roles that microorganisms have in the environment and in association with plant, animal and human hosts (microbiomics) can aid understanding of biogeochemical processes and/or be exploited to achieve progress in agriculture, biotechnology and human health.
Read more about the Microbiomics and Metagenomics moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Challenges of Global Food Security
Global food security, providing access for the world’s population to affordable, safe and nutritious food, is one of the major challenges of the 21st century. This module will provide you with an understanding of the elements that contribute to the food security agenda. An essential element of the module will be a critical review of current physical, political and biotic drivers. We will explore the strategies being deployed that influence food security including projected population changes, climate change, ecosystem servicers and resilience, disease and fossil fuel dependence. The module will present a global perspective.
Read more about the Challenges of Global Food Security moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2023/24 year of study).
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- Marketing Management
- Business Strategy
- Habitability in the Universe
- Climate Change and Development (Law)
- Thinking Water (IATL)
- Public Engagement (IATL)
Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date.
