Food Security Policy & Management (MSc)

This MSc course is designed to equip recent graduates and professionals with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to work in the field of food security, particularly policy and programme management.

In this programme we aim to provide students with skills that can be applied particularly in the areas of project and programme management, policy development and implementation, and impact assessment of programmes aimed at improving food security and dietary quality. The course is open to students from a wide range of backgrounds, including economics, nutrition, food security, international development, humanitarian assistance and programme management.

Course inputs will be provided by experienced faculty from a range of disciplines, as well as senior development professionals from a range of international institutions. Graduates of the programme are ideally qualified for positions in Irish and international development agencies, policy and research institutes, and consultancies across the public, private and non-profit/NGO sectors.

Programme Requirements

The programme comprises modules in the following broad areas:

1. Food Security Policy and Livelihoods
2. Food Security, Nutrition, and Dietary Quality
3. Programme Planning and Management for Food Security, Nutrition and Health
4. Research Methods and Research Project

Semester One (35 credits) (September-December)

• FE6512 Sustainable Food Systems (5 credits)
• FE6013 Advanced Food Security Theory, Practice and Analysis (10 credits – S1 & S2)
• FE6014 Gender, Development, and Rural Livelihoods (5 credits)
• FE6507 Economics of Agri-Food Markets and Value Chain Analysis (5 credits)
• IS6054 Health Information Systems and e-Health Analysis (5 credits)
• EH6122 Public Health Nutrition: From Principles to Practice (10 credits – S1 & S2)
• FE6016 Programme Planning and Impact Assessment  (10 credits – S1 & S2)

Semester Two (25 credits) (January-April) 

• FE6013 Advanced Food Security Theory, Practice and Analysis (10 credits  - S1 & S2)
• FE6015 Food Security in Humanitarian Crises (5 credits)
• FE6016 Programme Planning and Impact Assessment (10 credits – S1 & S2)
• EH6122 Public Health Nutrition: From Principles to Practice (10 credits – S1 & S2)
• FE6902 Global Food Policy Issues (5 credits)

Semester Three  (30 credits) (April–September) 

• FE6516 Applied Food Security Research Project (30 credits)

This is one of the few courses in the world, and the only one in Ireland, specifically focussed on international food security policy and management in the context of international development. It provides an opportunity for recent graduates, as well as early- and mid-career development professionals, to obtain a qualification in a specialised field that is of growing importance to state and non-state development and relief agencies worldwide.

Input from leading academics and development practitioners ensures that graduates emerge with the right combination of theoretical and applied skills to make a significant contribution to this critical field. Graduates will develop enhanced knowledge, skills and competencies in relation to food security, particularly in areas of policy development and implementation, programme design, implementation and management, and impact assessment. These skills will be situated in an understanding of the multi-sectoral nature of the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition.

The programme will develop students’ higher-level thinking skills to gain a deep understanding of the multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral nature of the food security and nutrition challenge and to be able to identify innovative solutions to this challenge to be able to identify innovative solutions to this challenge. At the same time the programme will emphasise development of skills in socio-economic and policy analysis: these skills can be applied particularly in the areas of project and programme management, policy development and implementation, and impact assessment of programmes aimed at improving food security and dietary quality. 

There are many career opportunities to work in national and international development organisations in the design and implementation of programmes and policies that address food security and nutrition, particularly in low-income countries, both in the context of long-term development approaches and in humanitarian situations. 

Organisations involved in this work include international Non-Government Organisations, national government institutions (e.g. Ministries of Agriculture and Health) and international institutions such as the European Commission, the United Nations agencies (e.g. FAO, WFP, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF), and the World Bank group. Private sector actors are also significantly and increasingly involved in the food system and are more aware of health and sustainability concerns; therefore there will be increasing opportunities for graduates who are able to work in the private sector, for example, to develop sustainable supply chains involving smallholder farmers.

 Student Testomonials

 

 

Programme delivery will use a wide variety of approaches with a strong emphasis on interactive seminars and discussion, complemented where appropriate by lectures. Over two semesters, students will have 14-15 hours of direct contact hours (seminars, labs, lectures etc) per week. In addition, students will be expected to spend 25-30 hours per week preparing for classes, independent study and working on assignments.  

Considerable emphasis will be placed on a variety of inputs by external practitioners, including lectures, seminars/workshops, and Master classes. 

During the programme students will undertake an Applied Research Project on food security. Where practicable this will be in collaboration with an external agency, e.g. an NGO or international research institute. 

Full module information is detailed in the section below.

Assessment across the programme will be through a mix of continuous assessment, in the form of individual assignments, group assignments, class presentations and a practice-based research project, as well as written examinations. Students will be given scope to shape their assignments and research project in line with their professional work or specific areas of interest.

For Irish/EU applicants: at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or EU or equivalent, in a relevant subject. 

Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be given to applicants who do not hold a second-class honours degree but who have at least five years of general professional experience in a relevant field or three years of managerial/specialist experience, subject to the approval of the Programme Director and the Head of the College of Business & Law.

For non-EU applicants: at least a UCCSecond Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8), or equivalent in a relevant subject. Consideration may be given to applicants who do not hold a second-class honours degree but who have at least five years of general professional experience in a relevant field or three years of managerial/specialist experience, subject to the approval of the Programme Director and the Head of the College of Business & Law.

View the grades comparison table

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website .

1. Choose Course

Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to three courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online

Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

3. Gather Supporting Documents

Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
• Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline

Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details. 

5. Rounds

For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates here.

Questions on how to apply?

Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Additional Requirements 

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

• Please upload your CV. 

• Please enter the names and email addresses of 2 referees. 

Non-EU Applications

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.