Master/Postgraduate in Agricultural Biotechnology

Key Points

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Successful MSc graduates will have in-depth knowledge, understanding and experience of the use and potential of biotechnology in agriculture, including animal genetics, nutrition and health, crop and feed production, sustainable food and energy production, genetic engineering and bioremediation.

The aim of the MSc course is to produce graduates with a thorough knowledge, understanding and experience of the use and potential of biotechnology in agriculture, including:

Animal Genetics
Nutrition and health
Crop and feed production
Genetic engineering
Sustainable food and energy production
Bioinformatics and Bioremediation

Graduates will be familiar with all aspects of policy and legislation in relation to the field and will be able to assess the ethical, social, biosafety, biosecurity and policy implications of existing and emerging technologies. They will be competent in all relevant numerical and data acquisition methods and will have advanced research and communication skills.

Program structure

The MSc course consists of 8 taught modules and a research project. The Postgraduate Diploma consists of the 8 taught modules only. The modules include

Animal Genetics
Biotechnology in animal feed
GIS, data management and statistics
Bioinformatics
Bioremediation and bioenergy
Animal Biotechnology
Food biotechnology
Crop biotechnology
Environmental Biotechnology Project
Food and Feed Biotechnology Project
Animal biotechnology project

Career options

There are many employment prospects for graduates of these programmes, and previous graduates gain employment in a variety of sectors. Potential jobs include:

Research positions in Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or third level institutions;
Auditors or inspectors in the agri-food sector;
Quality management / quality assurance functions in the agri-food industry;
Scientists / laboratory analysts;
Food product development scientists.

Graduates can progress to research doctoral programmes at DkIT or other institutions.

Program delivery

The Master’s course is available in full-time mode (2 days per week) or in part-time mode (1 day per week for 2 years), followed by the research project.

The course includes a combination of classroom and practical activities. Learning and teaching methods will include lectures, tutorials, tutorials, group discussions, laboratory practicals, industrial and agricultural visits, computational analysis and both individual and group project work.

Admission requirements

The standard minimum entry requirement is a minimum qualification of Level 7 or 8 in agriculture, agricultural science, environmental science, biotechnology, food science or a related area.
Applicants who do not meet these requirements, but have relevant work experience, may be assessed for entry in accordance with DkIT RPL Policy and Procedures.
For international students, an official English translation of a degree will be required.
IELTS 6.5 (or internationally recognised equivalent).

Who should apply

Graduates currently working in the areas of Agriculture, Environment and Food Science who wish to advance to management level.
Graduates who want to be equipped with scientific and agricultural knowledge and skills to succeed in the emerging technology-driven agricultural biotechnology industry.
Graduates interested in integrating the most up-to-date advances in food production, agriculture and biotechnologies in a sustainable and low-carbon way.
Graduates who are interested in learning how biotechnology can offer sustainable solutions to many of the problems currently facing agriculture.