Overview This English-language, internationally oriented MSc programme equips students with the analytical tools and practical knowledge to understand, evaluate and shape market activities across the entire agricultural and food value chain — from farm production through processing and trading to final food consumption. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in businesses, organisations and political institutions involved in the global food system, as well as for top-level research careers.
Specialisations To reflect the complexity of today’s food system and diverse career paths, the programme offers a choice of major and minor specialisations. The Agribusiness stream focuses on management topics across the agricultural and food sector, including financial accounting and business analysis, production planning and investment appraisal, financial and risk management, quality management and marketing. The Agricultural and Development Policy track develops a deep understanding of economic behaviour in agri-food and rural economies (in both developed and developing countries) and the roles and impacts of agri-food and development policies on actors along the food chain. The Market and Consumer Research option applies economics and management to food markets and consumer behaviour, covering food policy and trade issues, market structure and risk management, plus theories and qualitative/quantitative tools for consumer and market research. The Resource and Environmental Economics specialisation addresses renewable and non‑renewable resource use, valuation of environmental change, the environmental effects of food demand, and national and international environmental policy in theory and practice.
Who this is for This programme suits students who want a rigorous, policy- and market-oriented economics education with direct relevance to the global food system. Its modular specialisations allow you to tailor study toward business management, policy analysis, consumer-market insight or environmental and resource questions — all with strong applicability to careers in industry, government, NGOs and research.
Entry and application notes (check the official programme page for exact details)
Overview
This two-year (120 ECTS) MSc programme, taught in English, combines structured coursework and an independent thesis to prepare students for analytical and policy-relevant roles in the agricultural and food sectors. It is designed for applicants with a relevant BSc—examples include Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Food or Household Economics, Economics, Agribusiness, Business Management or closely related degrees—and expects a solid undergraduate grounding in economics. Teaching is organized in modular units within semesters so that thematically or methodically linked courses are grouped to build coherent competencies.
Program structure and key modules
The early semesters concentrate on core, compulsory modules that establish quantitative and managerial foundations: Methods of Empirical Research, Microeconomics, Organisational Management and Risk Management in Agribusiness. From the first semester students may already select electives to shape their profile. Students complete a thesis in the final phase of the programme. Active participation in research projects is an integral element of learning, allowing students to apply methods and theory to real problems.
Specializations, international pathways and outcomes
Students choose a major specification (30 ECTS) from Agribusiness; Agricultural and Development Policy; Market and Consumer Research; or Resource and Environmental Economics. A minor specification (18 ECTS) can be taken in Development Economics, Agro‑Economic Modelling, or any of the major options. The programme supports individual profiling so students develop the specific competencies that match their interests and career goals. Graduates demonstrate the ability to work in both international and national contexts and typically enter roles in insurance and consulting firms, private companies and industry associations, non‑profits, public authorities concerned with agriculture and food, environmental protection or development cooperation. International opportunities include a double‑degree arrangement with Wageningen University (Netherlands), integration into an Erasmus Mundus master’s track in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis (partner universities in Belgium, Italy and Sweden), and participation in the Theodor Brinkmann Graduate School.
Requirements (concise)
All of the following entry requirements must be met; they are checked strictly during application review. The programme expects applicants to have a quantitative background from degrees related to agricultural sciences, agribusiness, agricultural or food economics, household economics, economics, business management, or closely related fields.
If you studied outside the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), make sure your transcript clearly shows the course content and credit load so equivalence can be assessed. Also be prepared to provide proof of English language ability according to the specific test/score rules referenced elsewhere in the application materials.
Requirements (all must be fulfilled)
Winter Semester (International)
15 February 2027
Summer Semester (International)
15 September 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for executive and specialist roles across the global food system, including positions in agribusiness firms, food processing and trading companies, insurance and consulting firms, associations and non-profit organisations. The programme’s combination of management, policy and market/consumer analysis equips alumni to work in industry, trade organisations and private-sector advisory services.
Additionally, graduates commonly find roles in public authorities, environmental protection agencies and development cooperation organisations, and are prepared for research careers (including PhD study). The double-degree and international exchange options further enhance employability for roles with multinational institutions and international organisations.