Overview
The MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Business Programme is being offered by the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University. The courses are taught exclusively in English and conducted through flexible learning methods combining the traditional face-to-face education with distant learning.
The MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Business approaches agriculture from an interdisciplinary perspective that focuses on:
- Increasing agricultural production whilst minimizing the impact on the environment
- Developing and managing agricultural enterprises of various sizes
- Agricultural products marketing and trading
The Programme aims at:
- University and technological education institute graduates who wish to acquire expertise in sustainable agriculture and agribusiness
- Professionals who wish to establish start-up agricultural companies that bring new ideas to both farming and the market
- Professionals who work in the private/public agricultural/agribusiness sectors and wish to redirect their careers or enhance their existing capabilities
Official Government Gazette:
Start date: November 2020
Application deadline: 1 November 2020 or until places are filled
Campus: Thermi, Thessaloniki
Duration/Mode:
1,5 years full-time (non-experimental dissertation) or 2 years full-time (experimental dissertation) or part-time (the duration is doubled) / combining the traditional face-to-face education with distant learning / weekends
Synergies:
Hellenic Food Authority (E.F.E.T.)
Taught language:
English
Entry requirements:
An undergraduate degree from a recognised University
Language requirements:
IELTS (academic 6.5 and above), TOEFL (IBT, 90 and above) or TOEIC (850 and above) score, or a recognised by the Greek State certificate of proficiency in English
Fees:
4,000€ (total)
Who can apply
To be considered for the programme, candidates are required to have:
Course content
The core courses
The core courses ensure that you acquire knowledge of practical concepts and attain skills directly relevant to your career aspirations.
First Term – Core Courses
- The Biological Environment
- Soil Processes
- Integrated Disease Management
- Integrated Management of Arthropods
- Agri-product Trade and Markets
Second Term – Core Courses
- Use of Modern Technologies in Different Crops
- Management of Soil Resources
- Agricultural Finance
- Applied Quantitative Methods for Decision Making
The elective courses
- Agricultural Policy
- Greenhouse Management
- Climate Change
- Water Management
- Plant Breeding
- Analytical Tools for Business Forecasting
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- E-commerce and Digital Marketing
- Agribusiness Brand Management and Export Marketing
Students should select one course. The above list is indicative and continuously updated. Electives may vary from year to year depending on current interest and student demand.
The Dissertation
The dissertation is an individual project of original scientific work. The subject is chosen from a list of topics suggested by a faculty member, who acts as a supervisor. Alternatively, students may choose a research-based dissertation of 12 months duration. In this case, a reduction in tuition fees may be awarded.
Consulting Project
Students participate in a group consulting project. They study a real project of a particular agricultural company or organization and following problem-solving strategies, they prepare and present concrete and practical solutions. The project supplants 1 elective course.
Synergies
The students will have the chance to participate in seminars on food quality standards and public health organized by the Hellenic Food Authority (E.F.E.T.). A certificate of attendance will be provided to participants.
IHU Molecular Ecology/Molecular Biology Lab
Please visit the IHU Molecular Ecology/Molecular Biology Lab webpage
Schedule
The duration of the MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Business and ECTS credited depends on the kind of stream being chosen by the students. This stream is determined by the nature of the undertaken dissertation (experimental or nonexperimental dissertation). For students who will choose a non-experimental dissertation, the full-time attendance of taught courses for two academic semesters and the preparation of a master’s dissertation for one more semester are required. For those who will choose an experimental dissertation, the programmes curriculum requires the full-time attendance of taught courses for two academic semesters plus two academic semesters for the preparation of the master’s dissertation. For students who wish to attend the programme on a part-time basis, the programme gives this possibility upon their request. In this case, the duration of the MSc is doubled.
Teaching takes place on weekends afternoons, through flexible learning methods combining the traditional face-to-face education with distant learning. The programme starts every November.
Distance Learning
Teaching methods are based on learner-centered education standards and involve:
(a) face-to-face or classroom based learning (students will be required to be physically present at the University for one or two days at the beginning of each semester)
(b) asynchronous learning (students will use online learning resources and will be assessed through a variety of diagnostic tools and formative assessment techniques)
(c) synchronous learning (‘teleconferences’ and virtual meetings will be held regularly during each semester) and
(d) summative assessment (students will be required to be physically present at the University for the final exams at the end of each semester).
The Academic Faculty
| Nikolaos Monokrousos | Assistant Professor of Soil Ecology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics, International Hellenic University |
| Efimia Papatheodorou | Associate Professor, Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |
| Stavroula Laspita | PhD in Entrepreneurship |
| Eleni Mavragani | PhD in Marketing |
| Konstantinos Kaparis | Assistant Professor of Quantative Methods, Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia |
| Dimitrios Schizas | PhD in Biology and Environment |
| Christos Grose | PhD in Finance |
Fees & Financing
Fees
The programme fees for the MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Business is 4000€. The amount is payable in two instalments for the full time mode or in four instalments for the part time mode at the beginning of each semester. The fees are also eligible for financing through LAEK 0,45% – OAED programme.
Deposits
If you have been accepted to a postgraduate programme, you will need to make a payment of the deposit of 500 Euros to secure your place. This amount will count towards the first instalment of your tuition fees. The deposit is non-refundable once you have commenced your studies at the IHU. Prior to that, a refund can be made but a 20% administrative fee will be retained. The deposit can be paid by bank transfer or bank draft. Credit card payments can be made through electronic banking (contact your Bank as handling fees may apply).
Scholarships
The School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics offers a number of scholarships for the programmes it offers, covering a significant proportion of the fees. These scholarships are competitive. Award criteria include the quality of the first degree, the undergraduate grades of the candidate, his/her command of the English language and overall profile. Candidates for scholarships should include a separate letter with their application documents in which they request to be considered for a scholarship, stating the reasons why they think they qualify.
Programme announcement – Admissions
Next MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Business class starts in Novemberr 2020. Interested parties are invited to submit their application by November 1st 2020 or until places are filled, by following instructions at the page ‘Apply to UCIPS’.
Location
The MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Business takes place in the facilities of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University in Thermi-Thessaloniki.
Contact
Postal address:
School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics
Department of School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics
University Center of International Programmes of Studies
14th km Thessaloniki – Nea Moudania 570 01 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece
Tel: +30 2310 807 526/529
Email: infoseba@ihu.edu.gr