Postgraduate Programmes

There are a number of award-winning agri-oriented postgraduate programs associated with the Plant & AgriBiosciences Research Centre (PABC) of the Ryan Institute that are available to students.

MSc (Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security): The award-winning 1 year MSc in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) provides students with the skills and tools for developing agricultural practices, policies and measures addressing the challenge that global warming poses for agriculture and food security worldwide. The MSc CCAFS programme is a partnership with the international CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), which is led by the CGIAR and Future Earth, and currently involves over 700 cutting-edge partners worldwide. Graduates of the MSc CCAFS programme are equipped to pursue roles associated with national and international efforts to promote sustainable agricultural production, global food security and climate change adaptation. Examples of MScCCAFS research internship projects are available on the MScCCAFS student research project blogs.

MSc (Agriculture & Climate Change Transitions): The NUI Galway Plant & AgriBiosciences Research Centre (PABC) is a university partner in the two year MSc Agriculture, Climate Change, Transitions (MScACT) program which is run in conjunction with partner universities in Europe. The MScACT is a two-year programme of 120 ECTS (European Credits Transfer System) which is oriented towards the tropics and developing countries. MScACT students spend their first year in one of the European university partners, while the second year (including their research project) is spend at another of the partner universities. The partner universities for the MScACT are NUI Galway, University of Catania, Boku Vienna, University Pablo de Olivine, University of Seville and Montpellier SupAgro. NUI Galway is the Year 1 English-language entry point for the MScACT. For mode details and application procedures see: MSc Agriculture, Climate Change, Transitions (MScACT) program

Structured Masters (AgriBiosciences): The Structured MSc (AgriBiosciences) program provides relevant, hands-on training  to graduates seeking career paths in the agriculture and agri-food sector.  The MSc (AgriBiosciences) programme provides graduates with a broad theoretical understanding of the agricultural sector in its broader scientific, economic and environmental context, on which key research skills and practical work experiences is built. MSc(AgriBiosciences) students work within a research setting by performing a research project based in one of the research groups or partner organisations in the PABC. The MSc (AgriBiosciences) is a modular course and is a blend of 30 ECTS taught elements that provides a broad foundation of advanced knowledge of agribiosciences (Semester 1) and a 60 ECTS research project (Semester 2 & 3). The taught component is 30 ECTS comprising 20 ECTS of four core PAB modules:

Understanding Ireland’s Agriculture & AgriFood Sector (5 ECTS)
AgriFood Sustainability & Agri-Resilience Challenges (5 ECTS)
Understanding AgriBusiness & AgriFood Market Trends (5 ECTS)
AgriFood Career, Communication & Impact Pathway Skills (5 ECTS)

The 20 ECTS of core modules are supplemented by a further 10 ECTS of modules currently available, chosen in consultation with the program staff. Agri-site visits form an important element of the training. The 60 ECTS research project is performed in a research group of a Plant & AgriBiosciences Research Centre (PABC) member or partner institution (e.g. Teagasc or a company partner). Towards the end of Semester 3 (after concluding their experiments) the students must submit their MSc (AgriBiosciences) thesis.

Structured PhD (Plant & AgriBiosciences): The Structured PhD in Plant & AgriBiosciences associated with the Plant & AgriBiosciences Research Centre (PABC) within the Ryan Institute trains the student to perform cutting-edge, internationally-competitive research and training in a field related to Plant & AgriBiosciences. The student produces a PhD Research Thesis through full-time research over 4 years, and takes dedicated core modules, supplemented with modules chosen from those provided for general NUI Galway graduate training. Students taking the Structured PhD in Plant & AgriBiosciences take core modules on:

Understanding Ireland’s Agriculture & AgriFood Sector (5 ECTS)
AgriFood Sustainability & Agri-Resilience Challenges (5 ECTS)
Understanding AgriBusiness & AgriFood Market Trends (5 ECTS)
AgriFood Career, Communication & Impact Pathway Skills (5 ECTS)

The Structured PhD in Plant & AgriBiosciences is offered in collaboration with Teagasc and other partner organizations, and prepares the student for a career or future research opportunities in plant & agribioscience areas.