Our Master's in Agriculture and Environmental Science can help you develop a career in sustainable farming systems, environmental management, and rural development. Develop your understanding of the interaction between agriculture and the environment.

There is an emphasis on sustainability and the ecological consequences of unsound management. It gives you the skills for careers related to:

sustainability in farming systems
environmental management
rural development

You’ll develop academic and professional skills, preparing you for an exciting career in research, consultancy, policy and more.

The course consists of compulsory and optional modules allowing you to tailor your studies to your interests.

You'll learn from industry-experienced and research-active lecturers. Our research in integrated agricultural production focuses on:

agricultural production systems
ecosystem services
environmental impacts

How to apply

Quality and ranking

Global Top 140 UniversityQS World University Rankings 2026
Top 150 for Agriculture and ForestryQS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
Top 95 for Life Sciences and MedicineQS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
Top 25 in the UK and Top 200 in the world for sustainable developmentTimes Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025
42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading researchResearch Excellence Framework 2021
65% increase in research power since 2014Research Excellence Framework 2021
Top 125 for Life SciencesTimes Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026
Global Top 145 UniversityTimes Higher Education World University Rankings 2026
Joint 64th in the world and 22nd in the UK for sustainabilityQS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026
Top 5 city for affordability in the UKQS Best Student Cities 2026
World Top 50 and UK Top 5 student cityQS Best Student Cities 2026
89th in the worldTIME Magazine: World’s Top Universities 2026

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

If you’re studying an accredited degree and thinking about working in Europe after you graduate, the best place to find current information is the UK Government’s guidance on recognition of UK professional qualifications in EU member states. This official resource explains whether your profession is regulated in another country, what steps you need to take, and which organisation you should contact.

Next: Course details

What you'll learn

You'll develop knowledge and skills in core concepts such as:

sustainable development and environmental change
quantitative techniques
experimental design
data analysis
assessment of land use capability
habitat potential
risks of water pollution
soil quality
ecosystem services
research skills
analysis, interpretation, and presentation of field data
science, policy and action underlying climate change and land use

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Agriculture and Environmental Science MSc modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Research Dissertation Project	60
Data analysis, interpretation and presentation for MSc	10
Assessing Agricultural Production Systems	20
Global Challenges in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security	20
Agricultural Systems	10
Geographical Information systems and Remote Sensing	20
Designing and Evaluating Conservation Areas	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Sustainability of Human and Natural Systems	20
Critical Thinking and Analysis for Evidence-Based Environmental Science	20

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

You’ll be taught through:

lectures
seminars
practical field classes
tutorials
small group discussions

You’ll be in charge of your own learning through independent study to complement the structured sessions.

Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme

We offer flexible learning for those already working in the industry through the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme. This framework enables us to award postgraduate-level qualifications using credit-bearing stand-alone modules as 'building blocks' towards a qualification. This means that the credits from modules undertaken within five years can be 'banked' towards the award of a qualification.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

Case study
Computer assessment
Dissertation
Oral presentation
Report
Written exercise

Additional assessment information

As part of your studies, you'll complete a major research project. It might be on projects you experience in the workplace. We'll support you in designing and delivering a project based on a laboratory or field-based investigation. You'll collect, analyse, and interpret data to produce a thesis written in the style of an academic paper. Your research project and thesis can be based overseas.

Student Support

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

academic staff
personal tutors and research supervisors
our University Student Services Team
student representatives
peers

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

module handbooks
course materials
groups
course announcements and notifications
written feedback

Our staff

Dr Hannah Davis

Dr Hannah Davis is the Degree Programme Director and an experienced researcher in ruminant nutrition and grazing management. Hannah's research aims to understand how dairy management practices affect milk quality, animal health and environmental impact to optimise sustainable farming systems.

Our research in agricultural production systems

Our lecturers and research

Our lecturers are industry-experienced and research-active. Our research in integrated agricultural production focuses on:

regenerative agriculture
vertical farming
natural capital
soil science
plant science
ecology and biodiversity
dairy and beef production

Strategic research embraces work on:

precision agriculture
rhizosphere function
plant-soil feedback
soil-carbon dynamics
nutrient cycling
sustainable livestock

Applied research addresses issues of:

climate change mitigation (including biofuels)
regenerative farming systems
low-input crop systems
agriculture-environment interactions
crop health and production

Course information: Disclaimers, policies and changes

Previous: Overview Next: Entry requirements

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.

Academic entry requirements

A 2:2 honours degree, or an international equivalent, in a relevant subject, such as:

agronomy (crop production)
biological sciences
earth sciences
geography
environmental sciences
agricultural sciences
zoology
horticulture

We also consider applicants on an individual basis with degrees in other areas, and those with non-standard qualifications and/or relevant professional experience.

Qualifications from outside the UK

Select your country

English Language requirements

Select your qualification IELTSPearsonsDuolingo English TestTOEFLOtherPre-Sessional Entry - 6 weeksPre-Sessional Entry - 10 weeks

Previous: Course details Next: Careers

Your future

Further study

This MSC supports a route into PhD-level study. You’ll develop the research skills needed for advanced study during your course.

Careers

You will have the opportunity to engage with professionals from research, business and industry during the course. Graduates from this course have undertaken various roles including:

M&E Research Analyst at VTT Global (Pvt) Ltd
Research Scientist at National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute
Farm Operator at TDC Thomson

Our Careers Service

Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.\ \ You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.\ \ We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.

Visit our Careers Service website

Horticulture is an industry in constant demand for talented individuals, and we have found our collaboration with Newcastle and their students very beneficial. They have come up with some interesting solutions to problems.

Previous: Entry requirements Next: Facilities

Facilities

The Agriculture Building is the home of Agriculture, based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. It's located on our vibrant, city-centre campus. Some of our state-of-the-art facilities include laboratories, plant growth incubators and vertical farming units.

During your studies, you'll have access to Newcastle University Farms. NU Farms encompasses mixed arable and biomass operations. The farms are used for commercial, teaching and research purposes. You will develop skills relating to data gathering and analysis, soil sampling, plant health, pests and weed identification.

At NU Farms we promote innovation to shape policy and support scientific research. We have extensive collaborations including:

UK Agri-Tech Centre with on-site facilities
Fera Science (Fera)
Institute of Agri-Food and Rural Innovation (IAFRI)
Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF)

We will prepare you for a successful career in agriculture and related fields. There will be a focus on sustainability, input from industry and research-driven teaching led by top academics. We have extensive links with other farms and business enterprises to broaden and deepen your understanding.

Previous: Careers Next: Fees & funding

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

Qualification: MSc Full time
Home students Full time: 12 months	Tuition fees (per year) £14,200
International students Full time: 12 months	Tuition fees (per year) £32,700

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

matriculation
registration
tuition (or supervision)
library access
examination
re-examination
graduation

Find out more about:

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding and scholarships

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

Previous: Facilities Next: How to apply

How to apply

Before you start

Start Dates

The course starts in September.

Closing Dates

There is no application closing date for this course.

We suggest international students apply at least two months before the course starts. This is so that you have enough time to make the necessary arrangements.

Deposit

All International students

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you must pay a deposit or submit an official letter of sponsorship. The deposit is payable after you receive an offer to study with us. This deposit is non-refundable and will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register. You may also be subject to academic and English language qualification verification, confirmation of funds and credibility interviews.

International students who received an offer before 18 March 2026

You are required to pay a £1,500 deposit or submit an official letter of sponsorship.

International students Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan who received an offer after 18 March 2026

You are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 or submit an official letter of sponsorship by 01 August 2026.

All International students (excluding those from the markets above) who received an offer after 18 March 2026

You are required to pay a deposit of £1,500 or submit an official letter of sponsorship by 01 August 2026.

Programme codes

Qualification: MSc Full time
Full time: 12 months	Programme Code: 5021F

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

\ Apply Online

Previous: Fees & funding Next: Get in touch

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Dr Hannah Davis\ Degree Programme Director

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6900\ Email: snes.education@ncl.ac.uk\ School of Natural and Environmental Science\ ncl.ac.uk/nes

Book a one-to-one chat

Book a slot with one of our academic staff for a one-to-one chat about your subject of interest, student experience, and more: Book now

General enquiries

For more general enquiries, you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Application enquiries

If you've got a question about your application, send us an enquiry via the application portal you applied through.

If you haven't applied yet, you can send your questions via our enquiry form.

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Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

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Agricultural and Environmental Science MSc

Overview

Quality and ranking

What you'll learn

Modules

How you'll learn

Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme

Dr Hannah Davis

Our lecturers and research

Entry requirements

Academic entry requirements

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Your future

Further study

Careers

Our Careers Service

Facilities

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

Scholarships

What you're paying for

Search for funding and scholarships

How to apply

Before you start

Programme codes

Using the application portal

Open days and events

Overseas events

Get in touch

Questions about this course?

Book a one-to-one chat

General enquiries

Application enquiries

Live chat

Chat to our students

Keep updated

Social Media