Msc in Food Security Policy and Management

at University College Cork

The programme comprises modules in four broad areas: 
 

1. Food Security Policy and Livelihoods

2. Food Security, Nutrition and Dietary Quality

3. Programme Planning and Management for Food Security, Nutrition and Health

4. Research Methods and Research Project
    

Modules are listed below by semester (note that some modules are 10 credits and are taught in both Semester 1 and 2).
 

Semester One - 35 credits (September – December)

• FE6512 Sustainable Food Systems (5 credits)

• FE6013 Advanced Food Security Theory, Practice and Analysis (10 credits – S1 & S2)

• FE6014 Gender, Development and Rural Livelihoods (5 credits)

• FE6507 Economics of Agri-Food Markets and Value Chain Analysis (5 credits)

• IS6054 Health Information Systems and e-Health Analysis (5 credits)

• EH6122 Public Health Nutrition: From Principles to Practice (10 credits – S1 & S2)

• FE6016 Programme Planning and Impact Assessment  (10 credits – S1 & S2)
   

Semester Two – 25 credits (January – April) 

• FE6013 Advanced Food Security Theory, Practice and Analysis (10 credits  - S1 & S2)

• FE6015 Food Security in Humanitarian Crises (5 credits)

• FE6016 Programme Planning and Impact Assessment (10 credits – S1 & S2)

• EH6122 Public Health Nutrition: From Principles to Practice (10 credits – S1 & S2)

• FE6902 Global Food Policy Issues (5 credits)
   

Semester Three – 30 credits (April – September) 

• FE6516 Applied Food Security Research Project (30 credits)

For Irish/EU applicants: at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or EU or equivalent, in a relevant subject. 
 

Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be given to applicants who do not hold a second class honours degree but who have at least five years general professional experience in a relevant field or three years managerial/specialist experience, subject to approval of the Programme Director and the Head of the College of Business & Law.
 

For non-EU applicants: at least a UCCSecond Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8), or equivalent in a relevant subject. Consideration may be given to applicants who do not hold a second class honours degree but who have at least five years general professional experience in a relevant field or three years managerial/specialist experience, subject to approval of the Programme Director and the Head of the College of Business & Law.
 

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & Examinations

The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.
 

There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.

IELTS*    

• 6.5 Overall

• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

TOEFL iBT    
 

• 90 Overall

• Listening 20

• Reading 19

• Speaking 21

• Writing 20

The EU fee for this course is €7,630.
 

The Non-EU fee for this course is €15,400.

The programme will develop students’ higher-level thinking skills to gain a deep understanding of the multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral nature of the food security and nutrition challenge and to be able to identify innovative solutions to this challenge to be able to identify innovative solutions to this challenge. At the same time the programme will emphasise development of skills in socio-economic and policy analysis: these skills can be applied particularly in the areas of project and programme management, policy development and implementation, and impact assessment of programmes aimed at improving food security and dietary quality.  There are many career opportunities to work in national and international development organisations in the design and implementation of programmes and policies that address food security and nutrition particularly in low-income countries, both in the context of long-term development approaches and in humanitarian situations.  Organisations involved in this work include international Non-Government Organisations, national government institutions (e.g. Ministries of Agriculture and Health) and international institutions such as the European Commission, the United Nations agencies (e.g. FAO, WFP, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF), and the World Bank group. Private sector actors are also significantly and increasingly involved in the food system and are more aware of health and sustainability concerns; therefore there will be increasing opportunities for graduates who are able to work in the private sector, for example to develop sustainable supply chains involving smallholder farmers.