Top

NUI Galway

Climate Change Agriculture & Food Security

The Course
The worlds climate is rapidly changing due to global warming. This poses major challenges for future agricultural systems to provide food and other bioresources for the nine billion people that will occupy the planet by 2050. The interdisciplinary MSc in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) provides students with the skills and tools for developing agricultural practices, policies and inventions to address the challenge that global warming poses for agriculture and food security worldwide. This programme is aimed at students who want to combine scientific, engineering, technical, social and/or policy skills so that they are better equipped to understand and make significant contributions regarding the adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts on global agriculture and food security.

The MSc CCAFS includes nine in-depth modules taught by leading researchers and experts; training in multidisciplinary research skills, science communication and career development; and a 30 ECTS research project. Many students do their projects with prestigious partner organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Entry requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements
QQI Level 8 honours degree or equivalent to a minimum standard of Second Class Honours, Grade 1 or equivalent in an appropriate discipline is normally required.

Duration

1 year, full-time.

Careers or further progression

Career Opportunities
Graduates of this MSc will be well positioned for positions in research, policy, enterprise, business, administration and other sustainable development activities across a wide range of public and private sector institutions internationally. Career mentoring, advice, strategy and facilitation will be provided to all students on the MSc CCAFS to ensure that they rapidly enter employment in relevant institutions and activities, where they can build on their interests, experience and training.

Further enquiries

Professor Charles Spillane and Dr Peter McKeown
Plant and AgriBiosciences Research Centre (PABC),
NUI Galway
T: +353 91 49 3655
E: charles.spillane@nuigalway.ie / peter.mckeown@nuigalway.ie

Comment

3 GOOD REASONS TO STUDY THIS COURSE
1. Excellence in interdisciplinary training: awarded the GradIreland 2017 Best New Postgraduate Course title.

2. Mobility opportunity: all studies complete a research project or internship worth one third of the final grade; this research may be completed at the students place of work, within the international CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security or in collaboration with other institutional partners.

3. Buoyant jobs market for graduates: previous students now have work in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (Rome), social enterprise energy companies (UK), environment division of Southern Scientific (Ireland), climate-smart agriculture and aquaculture (Malawi, Zambia), and PhD study in agroforestry and agro-meteorology (Ireland/Brazil).

Assessment method

Assessment
Semester One Exams: December. Semester Two Exams: April/May. A range of assessment methods are integrated and applied throughout the programme. These include essays, projects, reports, presentations and case studies. A dissertation must also be submitted.