MA Agriculture and Rural Development
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Gain first-class training in how agriculture can contribute to poverty alleviation and rural development in low-income countries.
Our unique MA Agriculture and Rural Development course combines theoretical knowledge with empirical insights and real-world case studies to give you a strong foundation in global issues related to agriculture, rural livelihoods and rural policies and politics.
On this one-year full-time Master’s course, you’ll get to grips with the policies and practices of the major international institutions in rural development including the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme. You’ll also study civil society organisations such as La Via Campesina who fight for workers’ rights, and Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement – the mass social movement formed by rural workers who fight for land reform and against injustice and social inequality in rural areas.
Here at UEA, you’ll be taught by our world-class research staff who bring extensive hands-on experience in agriculture and rural development across a variety of low-income countries. You’ll benefit from their unique and relevant perspectives, gleaned from their direct involvement in the field.
As agriculture and rural development is now back at the top of the international development agenda, you’ll graduate ready to take on a fulfilling career or further study in this dynamic and rewarding area.
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Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll discover how forces operating at the global scale affect food and agriculture. These forces include trends in farming and trade, environmental change, policy developments, and social movements. You’ll study food security as a central theme, and you’ll explore the different ways food security is defined and how it’s contested internationally. You’ll look at environmental change, changing diets (more resource intensive foods like meat, and processed foods), post-production concerns and global-scale changes in food prices.
You’ll also study themes such as rural livelihoods and agrarian change, where key developmental challenges, such as poverty farming livelihoods, migration and gender equity, are explored.
You’ll consider different approaches to understanding rural livelihoods and will be equipped with the tools and frameworks to critically assess different strategies for livelihood-building and their implications for poverty and inequality, including those of class and gender.
You’ll study rural policies and politics. Around three-quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas and within most developing countries the gap between the rural poor and better off urban residents continues to widen. The lives of the rural poor can be greatly influenced by policies in areas such as agriculture, land, social protection, natural resources, health, education and trade. You’ll study important policies and issues in these and other areas. You’ll be guided to critically analyse policy choices within specific contexts.
You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules, giving you the chance to concentrate on areas of particular interest to you.
A range of optional seminars and workshops are also offered, which help to strengthen your skills. Sessions to support learning – in particular essay and dissertation writing – occur throughout the year.
International Development Research Groups
You can also take advantage of the world-class research going on at UEA. Research in the School of Global Development addresses contemporary challenges in developing and transitioning economies via disciplinary and multi-interdisciplinary approaches. Regular seminars featuring presenters at the cutting edge of development research are also open to you in the school.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Teaching methods include mainly lectures and seminars. Your lectures go beyond the customary ‘chalk-and-talk’ approach and include a range of interactive tasks and activities. The use of technology is also widespread, for example through visual representation of empirical evidence in international development (e.g. through statistical programs). Other examples include the use of online reading materials and lecture screencasts.
Through seminar group work and presentations, you’ll also be able to develop transferable skills such as articulating an argument both orally and in writing and presenting academic information in a clear and cogent manner.
Independent study
You’ll read suggested academic articles and books, submitting assignments as specified for each module. Your independent study will give you the chance to prepare for in-class sessions and assignments, and to concentrate on the areas that interest you the most.
Assessment
The main form of assessment is written coursework assignments which enable you to demonstrate your learning in depth. In most cases there is considerable scope for you to focus on areas that you’re particularly interested in. Depending on the modules you choose, part of your assessment may also be based on other tasks such as exams and presentations.
You’ll undertake either an academic dissertation or an assessed work placement. The dissertation enables you to build research and information management skills as you use primary and secondary data to address a specific question. Critical analysis, application of theory to real world problems and extended report writing skills are developed in both the dissertation and the assessed work placement or internship. The latter also provides an opportunity to gain career-enhancing work experience.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Social Sciences- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Social Sciences- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in Listening and Reading with 6.0 in Writing and Speaking)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,850
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International Students: £22,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Previous graduates from the School of Global Development have gone on to work for the British High Commission in Ghana, British Civil Service, CARE International, European Union, Overseas Development Institite, Oxfam, Save the Children International, UNITAR in Japan, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WaterAid and PhD studies in related fields.
Upon completing your MA, you can pursue a variety of potential careers both in and beyond global development.
Depending on your degree outcome, you'll also be well qualified to enter a PhD programme with a view to continuing to an academic career both in the UK and overseas.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- International organisations
- Governmental and non-governmental organisations
- Local governments
- Charities
- Private sector
Discover more on our Careers webpages.