MSc Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement
Course
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Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Our one-year MSc in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement is perfect training if you plan to study for a further degree in plant genetics, or alternatively, a career in plant breeding and crop improvement. It’s a unique opportunity to study plant molecular genetics and its potential applications in the 21st century, within an environment of academic and research excellence.
At UEA, you’ll benefit from teaching by research staff at JIC, and a number of leading plant breeding and plant biotechnology companies within the UK. In your taught modules, you’ll cover subjects including plant molecular genetics and biotechnology, target traits for crop improvement, and plant breeding with statistics – as well as learning key transferable skills such as laboratory research and communication skills. An important element of the course is the substantial six-month laboratory-based research project that you’ll conduct under the supervision of a senior scientist. As part of this you’ll submit a dissertation and present a seminar on your research project.
This MSc in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement enables you to explore the theoretical basis of plant breeding and statistics, plant genetics, genomics and bioinformatics, while at the same time gaining valuable practical experience. You'll also receive training in key transferable skills.
For your research module, you’ll work alongside world-leading scientists at JIC, The Sainsbury Laboratory, the Earlham Institute, or possibly with an industry partner. The JIC, which is based in the Norwich Research Park, is one of the world’s leading research institutes in plant genetics and crop improvement. So, there are few better places to study this topic within a world-class teaching and research environment.
With this expert, cutting-edge training, you’ll have the perfect grounding to move onto a PhD, or alternatively into a career within the plant breeding industry. In recent years, the career prospects for students with a postgraduate degree in plant genetics and crop improvement have been very good, often leading to a PhD or employment within the UK plant breeding industry.
Study and Modules
Structure
On this one-year course, you’ll take a number of taught modules while completing your research project plan and the six-month laboratory research project.
Your modules cover important topics such as genetics, genomics and bioinformatics, providing you with a Masters’ level introduction to the structure and function of DNA. You’ll cover the mechanisms of inheritance in eukaryotic organisms, especially plants, and their genomes. You'll also explore the use of contemporary ‘omics’ technologies for the analysis of whole genomes, gene functions and expression. In further lectures and seminars, you’ll explore the role of bioinformatics in contemporary research on plant genomes and crop improvement.
You'll also learn about the principles of plant Breeding and the role of newer technologies in the manipulation of traits in crop improvement. You'll also learn the relevant statistical methods for analysing data from many experiments in plant science and crop plant improvement.
Further teaching on genetics and biotechnology looks at how these disciplines have played a significant role in understanding fundamental aspects of plant biology, and their potential to expedite crop plant improvement in the future.
There is also an opportunity to learn key practical skills in plant breeding using molecular genetic approaches. This links the theory of bioinformatics, plant molecular genetics and marker-assisted selection together with their practical application. You'll utilise molecular markers to determine the genotypes of F2 plants segregating for distinct morphological characters in pea. You’ll then use this to predict the phenotypic characters exhibited by mature plants, and select ones with specific combinations of traits, which is a key feature of contemporary breeding programmes.
Other important teaching will cover identifying key target traits for crops. Future crop Improvement will depend upon new varieties expressing a number of key traits, introduced by either conventional plant breeding, genetic modification or genome editing.
You'll also work with your project supervisor to develop a research project plan. This provides an opportunity to conduct an extensive survey of current literature for your chosen research project, as well as formulating hypotheses, and designing experiments to test them. In the research project itself you'll conduct experiments, analyse research project data, and critically assess your hypotheses. Your research will be a six-month laboratory-based project on some aspects of plant genetics, crop improvement, plant-microbe interactions or plant biology.
Compulsory Modules
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
Our teaching team is made up of research staff from JIC and a number of leading plant breeding companies within the UK.
You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and laboratory work geared towards helping you understand and apply the concepts and theories covered in your course.
Independent study
An important element of the course is the substantial six-month laboratory-based research project, which demands a high level of independence. You'll choose a research area that suits your own interests and aspirations and through this you'll gain thorough training in experimentation, data collection, critical analysis and presentation. You'll work under the supervision of a senior scientist at JIC, or one of our affiliated institutes. As part of this, you’ll submit a dissertation and present a seminar on your research project.
Assessment
We’ll assess your learning through a diverse set of assessment types depending on the module and learning objectives. These include laboratory reports, essays, coursework assignments, presentations and problem-based learning sessions. In addition, your research dissertation and seminar presentation will form a significant part of the course assessment.
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate from this prestigious course well prepared for a career in plant breeding and crop improvement, or further PhD study in this area. Having studied at one of the world’s leading research centres in this field, it’s no wonder that our most recent graduates have achieved great success in finding employment or academic research positions.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Plant breeding
- Crop improvement/Agronomy
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
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 - 2.1.
Degree Subject
Biological Sciences or Plant Biology. Employment experience with a plant breeding company or related research experience also considered.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to submit two references with their application - at least one of these must be related to your most recent academic study.
- 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 - 2.1 or equivalent.
Degree Subject
Biological Sciences or Plant Biology. Employment experience with a plant breeding company or related research experience also considered.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to submit two references with their application - at least one of these must be related to your most recent academic study.
- 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 6.0 in Writing and Speaking, and 5.5 in Reading and Listening)
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 2 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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- 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:
UK Students: £13,750
- The Clan Trust Scholarship
- The Ranworth Trust Scholarship
- The Morley Agricultural Foundation Trust Scholarship
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
International Students: £26,900
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of 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.