Course summary

In choosing this four-year integrated master’s in Agriculture and Animal Science Degree at Aberystwyth University, you will be joining one of the most highly regarded Agriculture and Biological Sciences departments in the UK. Agriculture is the mainstay of rural communities and a significant UK industry sector. The breadth of the Agriculture degree includes all aspects of agriculture and agricultural production systems and it will provide you with the practical and theoretical understanding to manage a sustainable business. This MAg in Agriculture and Animal Science offers you detailed coverage of all aspects of the agricultural industry, looking at a range of highly important subjects such as sustainability, environmental management and technology. In addition, you will cover the key aspects of Animal Science in a well-resourced department that has a wealth of Animal Science expertise. This course will prepare you for work in this modern industry, an industry which demands detailed knowledge across a broad range of areas. You will study a fascinating blend of science, technology and management with a firm grounding in animal and crop physiology and husbandry as well as business, economics and land use. You will move on to cover current and projected production systems from a production, financial and environmental perspective, be exposed to best practice and become familiar with the most current research. Aberystwyth is surrounded by a great diversity of farmland and agricultural terrain. In addition, you will have access to the 1,000-hectare university farms, which are managed commercially by the Institute as well as being used for teaching and research. This degree is delivered by our award-winning Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), which is also the home of the Farm Business Survey for Wales. In the first year you will be introduced to the fundamentals of agriculture and animal science. This will include a focus on the range of livestock production systems employed in contemporary agriculture, the management of crop and forage systems and the key components of livestock animal biology. You will also gain useful business management skills, including the preparation of farm budgets and the analysis of commodity markets. In the second year you will develop your knowledge of the use of animal breeding and genetics for improving livestock production systems as well as the applied nutrition and management of livestock. You will also have the opportunity to choose optional modules that encompass veterinary health, crop and forage agronomy and farm business management. In the third year you will examine recent advances in animal production systems and the wider agriculture industry whilst also having optional modules discussing disease control and welfare in livestock. Further optional modules will highlight recent developments in systems of crop production. A week-long field course involving visits to farms, rural businesses and organizations involved in the regulation and management of the countryside will enable you to see the practical business applications and integration of your theoretical and academic learning. In your fourth and final year, you will develop your knowledge and understanding further by examining the global challenges facing the agricultural industry and the role of research in addressing these challenges. You will undertake a research project that will allow you to explore your chosen subject in depth and in conjunction with research active staff. You will also be able to choose from a range of modules such as livestock nutrition, production and grassland science that will provide you with masters level understanding, allowing you to become a subject specialist and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market.

Course details