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International MSc in Rural Development IMRD – (M.Sc.)
Ghent University
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
| Application Deadline: | see the website www.imrd.ugent.be | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 4,000 - ≈ € 8,000 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Ghent / Belgium / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 24 months | Start Date: | August, September, October |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Ghent University
The joint International Master in Rural Development (IMRD), part of the European Erasmus Mundus program, offers the opportunity to study the European vision on rural development in its diversity of approaches and applications.
The objective is to train specialists in integrated rural development, focussed on socio-economic and institutional aspects, not only from the European Union but also from developed, developing and transition countries outside the European Union through a 2 year master program (120 ECTS) jointly organised by seven European leading institutes in agricultural economics and rural development.
The Master program is offered by Ghent University (Belgium), Agrocampus Ouest (France), Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), the University of Cordoba (Spain), in collaboration with Wageningen University (The Netherlands), the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia) and the University of Pisa (Italy).
The methodology consists of a combination of basic and specialised training in technical, economic and social sciences, a case study of one month, an individual master thesis and a high extent of student and scholar mobility.
The International MSc in Rural Development provides students with:
* Awareness of the multifunctional role of rural areas and agriculture and an integrated vision on development of rural areas
* Knowledge of different approaches to rural development and ability to apply these in diverse situations in developing, developed and transition countries
* Ability to apply adequate instruments, methods and innovative tools to analyse, evaluate and solve problems related to rural development and countryside management
* Ability to develop innovative tools and instruments for the multifunctional development of rural areas
* A general formation in both technical and social sciences disciplines and advanced competence in at least two rural development related disciplines
* Ability to dialogue with different actors of the socio-professional world as a consequence of their pluri-disciplinary training
* Critical reflection skills and the necessary communication skills for integrated team work for dealing with rural development challenges
Our students and graduates enjoy the added value of:
* a high mobility of students and scholars within the network, allowing students to access high level courses at all participating institutes. The international experience and exposure to different environments is an asset for their further professional career.
* the international composition of the groups, allowing comparative learning about rural development, agricultural economic and policy models and different approaches and exposure to different teaching methods.
* studying in different language and cultural environments, allowing students to acquire new scientific and practical knowledge and better language and cultural skills.
Our graduates have a unique combination of theoretical knowledge in development theories, agricultural economics and policies and practical based comparative knowledge of different approaches to rural development.
Graduates will have a competitive advantage when working in international organizations who deal with issues of global development, food trade and production of bio-resources, international food policies and so on.
Contents
Teaching will be divided into five main modules. The modules are organised over four study periods (2 academic years) and contain a minimum total of 120 ECTS or credits.
* A basic module over one study period with theoretical formation in basic agricultural economic and development theories and methodologies.
* First specialized module in the second study period.
* A case study module during the summer semester.
* Second specialized module in the third study period, linked to the master thesis topic.
* The master thesis in one of the major disciplines of rural development economics or policies, written during the final period of study.
The basic module is offered by Ghent University, Belgium. All IMRD students start in this institute. The courses are in English and represent five major disciplines and a general training into the basic competence domains (Applied Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods; Functioning of Technological, Agronomic and Ecological Systems; Social Sciences Applied to Rural Development; Rural Development and Planning; European Institutions, Policies and Organisation). The module represents 30 to 40 ECTS or credits.
The first specialized module (second study period) is offered by Ghent University (Belgium) and Cordoba University (Spain). The second specialized module (third study period) is offered by Wageningen University (the Netherlands), Humboldt University (Germany) and Agrocampus Ouest (France). Students choose a different location for the second and third study period out of these options. The specialised modules consist of a range of obligatory courses, combined with elective courses. The obligatory courses are in English, the elective courses can be offered in different languages (English, Spanish, French, German and Dutch). The courses represent an advanced study in specific competence domains. The modules represent approximately 20-30 credits each. For the specialized modules, students can indicate their preferred mobility but in case of unbalance, the Management Board ensures that the group of students is divided among the partners according to previously set quota, guaranteeing an even distribution in all locations.
The case study is a summer semester field experience where students and scholars from different institutions and backgrounds share visions and approaches. The aim is that students undertake a practical experience, in a commonly organised case study. For the moment case studies will be offered by Pisa University (Italy) and Nitra University (Slovakia). This case study represents 10 ECTS or credits. For the case study, students can indicate their preferred location, but in case of unbalance, the Management Board ensures that the group of students is divided among the partners offering the case study, according to previously set quota, guaranteeing an even distribution in all locations.
The Master thesis is written on one of the disciplines of rural development economics or policies. It represents 30 ECTS or credits. Students specialise in the specialised modules in one of the disciplines offered and show that they are able to individually analyse a rural development or related problem in a scientific correct way. Preferably, students choose a subject relevant to their home country. Data collection and other field work are often elaborated in the home country. External scholars and outstanding professionals working in the field of rural development and agricultural economics can assist in supervising the students or in providing specific assistance. Students spend this study period at one of the locations where they have studied in one of the previous study periods or where they have done the case study.
The course program can further be complemented with elective courses. The elective courses can be used to further specialize in one of the competence domains, to broaden the knowledge or to improve language skills. Courses in language and culture are highly recommended.
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Register Now!Requirements
The International MSc in Rural Development offers admission to applicants who appear to have the highest potential for graduate study and who, with the benefit of a graduate education, are the most likely to contribute substantially to their academic or professional fields through teaching, research, or professional practice.
The minimum graduate admission requirements are:
* Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years with good overall scores (at least a second class or equivalent, preferably higher) from a university or recognized equivalent. Candidates are expected to have basic science training (demonstrable in the transcripts) in the following fields:
(1) mathematics and/or statistics,
(2) agronomy and/or biology and/or environmental sciences and
(3) social sciences and/or rural development. Candidates who cannot present a combined training of these fields will be evaluated on their aptitude, based on experience and knowledge of these fields, as demonstrated by CV or other evidence.
* Sufficient language knowledge proven by language certificates. The applicant must be proficient in the language of the course or training programme, i.e. English. Command of the English language is a very important criterion for admission. With the exception of those who have a diploma (Secondary Education, Academic Bachelor Degree, Master Degree) issued by an institution officially recognized by the Flemish Government, applicants must be able to prove their proficiency in English.
Applicants generally have a Bachelor's degree or a recognized equivalent academic degree of minimum 3 years study in bioscience engineering or agricultural sciences (preferably agricultural economics), in combination with knowledge in environmental sciences, economics, sociology and rural development studies.
Admission decisions are based on a combination of factors, including academic degrees and records, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, language skills and relevant work experience, if any. We also consider the appropriateness of your goals to the IMRD programme. In addition, consideration may be given to how your background and life experience would contribute significantly to an educationally beneficial mix of students.
The program will be supplanted with language training activities and cultural exposure activities. All students can and have to follow linguistic and cultural courses in any of the participating institutes, either prior to the mobility (in the host institute) or during the stay in order to fulfil language requirements of the programme.
The applicant must be proficient in the language of the course or training programme, i.e. English. Command of the English language is a very important criterion for admission. With the exception of those who have a diploma (Secondary Education, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree) issued by an institution officially recognized by the Flemish Government, applicants must be able to prove their proficiency in English. There are 4 possibilities to supply this proof:
* TOEFL certificate, maximum 2 years old (the UGent TOEFL code is 2643) with a minimum total score of 550 on the paper based test, or a minimum total score of 79 on an internet based test.
* IELTS certificate maximum 2 years old with a minimum overall band score of 6.
* Proof of at least 1 academic year of comprehensive English instruction (all courses of the bachelor or master year in English) at a university or recognized equivalent.
* Proof of a successful "Intermediate Academic English" test at the Ghent University Language Center
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
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