MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food & Co-operatives
Cork, Ireland
DURATION
12 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jul 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 19,700 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU closing date: rolling deadline | Non-EU closing date: open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June
** Non-EU fee | EU fee: €10,800
Introduction
Our MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food, and Co-operatives is offered by the Cork University Business School (CUBS) at University College Cork. Our focus is on a deeper understanding of co-operatives, sustainable development, and agri-food systems.
Our MSc program is the only course of its kind in Ireland that fully integrates cooperative approaches into the study of sustainable development and agri-food. The program was recently recognized by The Education Awards 2023 where we were shortlisted for the 'Best Masters Programme' in Ireland.
This is a unique course, with a very strong practical emphasis and will equip participants with the organizational and management skills needed to make innovative contributions to the development of local economies, with particular emphasis on co-operatives, social enterprises, and food businesses in Ireland and overseas. It is aimed at graduates from a wide range of disciplines who wish to pursue careers in sustainable development and innovative practice leading to positions in the food sector (ranging from local food enterprises to large multi-nationals), local and international rural development, shared and collaborative economy, NGOs, innovative community businesses including co-operatives and social enterprises, local and regional enterprise development, corporate social responsibility, policy formulation, and analysis.
Why Choose this Course
This is the only one-year Master of its kind that fully integrates cooperative approaches into the study of sustainable development and agri-food. It is especially practical, both in work placements and in the skills you learn. It will prepare you to work in organizations that deal with current and future socio-economic and environmental challenges including climate change, collaborative economies, and sustainable rural communities.
We were delighted to be recently shortlisted for The Education Awards 2023 'Best Masters Program' category.
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Admissions
Curriculum
The MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food, and Co-operatives is delivered over 12 months and includes a placement opportunity.
Part I (60 credits)
Core Modules (55 credits)
- FE6303 Sustainable Rural Development (10 credits)
- FE6304 Co-operative and Collaborative Responses (10 credits)
- FE6305 Contemporary Socio-Economic and Environmental Issues (5 credits)
- FE6306 Marketing and Communications for Sustainable Food Production and Consumption (5 credits)
- FE6507 Economics of Agri-Food Markets and Value Chain Analysis (5 credits)
- FE6512 Sustainable Food Systems (5 credits)
- FE6515 The Sharing Economy (5 credits)
- FE6902 Global Food Policy Issues (5 credits)
- MG6315 Project Management (5 credits)
Electives (choose 5 credits)
- FE6506 Food Branding and Digital Media Marketing (5 credits)
- AG3002 Soil Science and Soil/Land Management (5 credits)
- NE3003 Sustainable Energy (5 credits)
Part II (30 Credits)
FE6308 Practice-Based Research Project (30 credits): Students complete a practice-based research project in collaboration with a relevant partner organization.
Career Opportunities
Participants can complete their Practice-Based Research Project either in Ireland or abroad, depending on their interests.
Graduates of this program can expect to work in a variety of areas: our graduates are employed in co-operatives and other third-sector organizations (e.g. social enterprises, voluntary organizations, charities); international, non-governmental (NGOs) and business development organizations; Rural development policy and support; consultancy (in agri-food, rural development, third sector); local economic development/enterprise development staff through local authorities and consultancies; local food marketing and branding; corporate social responsibility roles in food and other industries such as local development agencies (e.g. LEADER).