Sustainable Agriculture

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Deadline: Jul 15, 2024
StudyQA ranking:6767 Duration:7 semestrs
Sustainable Agriculture is a study course combining technical, natural, economic, and social disciplines of science. In a range of interdisciplinary projects, students learn to analyse, evaluate, and optimise agricultural and horticultural production systems as integral part of the value chain. The outcome is an intensive study of the three major areas of sustainability: environmental stewardship, economic profitability, and social responsibility. In cooperation with companies and institutions, this application-oriented study course allows for a high level of practical relevance. Alongside the provision of technical and scientific content and the establishment and development of methodological skills, the social competences of each individual are strengthened.
Knowledge and soft skills are gained through a diversity of teaching and learning methods. Different forms of learning such as lectures, seminars, lab courses, internships, exercises, and project works are selected to communicate classical agricultural content as well as state-of-the-art content of the agricultural industry. From the fourth semester onwards, you are able to choose from a number of elective modules to create your individual focus. In addition to the internships, you may focus on research or business while completing your thesis in the seventh semester. Rhine-Waal University of Applied Science's innovative and international network comprises universities, research institutions, and companies, with whom you will find a variety of possible areas and topics for collaboration.

Educational organisation

Different forms of interactive learning such as lectures, seminars, lab courses, internships, exercises and project works are used to impart:
1) classical educational content (e.g., soil science, botany, business administration, livestock husbandry), as well as
2) state-of-the-art agricultural subjects (e.g., precision farming, energy production, quality management, value chain analysis)

Curriculum
First semester
  • Agroecology and Sustainable Development
  • Sustainable Learning - Learning Sustainability
  • Climate Change and Water Management
  • Economics and Logistics
  • Analysis and Interpretation of Data
  • Agricultural Chemistry
Second semester
  • Bio- and Food Chemistry
  • Soil Science and Tillage
  • Biology and Biodiversity
  • Basics of Animal Sciences: Anatomy, Physiology and Animal Nutrition
  • Analysis of International Land Use and Cropping Systems
  • Project
Third semester
  • International Markets, Trade and Agricultural Policy
  • Energy and Agricultural Engineering
  • Crop Physiology and Nutrition
  • Advanced Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication
  • Ethics and Philosophy in Life Sciences
  • Crop Health
Fourth semester
  • Sociological and Psychological Aspects of Sustainable Development
  • Animal Health and Breeding
  • Agrotechnology and New Agriculture
  • Horticulture and Agroforestry
  • Elective modules 1
Fifth semester
  • Animal Welfare
  • Food Processing and Human Nutrition
  • Sustainability Analysis of International Supply Chains
  • Resource Economics and Risk Assessment
  • Sustainability Management and Food Safety
  • Elective modules 2
Sixth semester
  • Internship or study abroad
Seventh semester
  • Bachelor's thesis

Study abroad unit(s)

Each student enrolled at the Faculty of Life Sciences must complete an eight-week preparatory internship outside the university at a company, organisation, or public authority. This internship should ideally be completed before enrolling as a student at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, but by no later than the start of the fourth semester of study. The internship must be closely related to the subject areas of the degree programme's curriculum: agricultural sciences, usually in agriculture.
In the sixth semester, students must complete either a semester abroad or an internship (in Germany or abroad). We provide support in selecting partner universities and institutions as well as in raising funds.

Internships

In the sixth semester, students must complete either a semester abroad or an internship (in Germany or abroad). We provide support in selecting partner universities and institutions as well as in raising funds.

Forms of assessment

ECTS credits are earned through exams, term papers, presentations, and practical assignments. Students are assessed by means of final examinations, term papers, and group projects and are expected to demonstrate active participation and contribution to the lectures, seminars, laboratory sections, and projects. A Bachelor's thesis and an oral exam complete the programme.

Course objectives

In addition to the provision of technical and scientific content and the establishment and development of methodological skills, the social competences of each individual are strengthened.
Key issues of Sustainable Agriculture include the following:
  • finding local answers to global issues such as climate change, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, food security, market volatility, providing long-term revenue for farmers and gardeners in a globalised world
  • understanding and optimising complex global value chains
  • integrating theory and practice as well as large-scale high-tech and small-scale subsistence farming approaches
  • developing innovative soft skills and learning to think out of the box
  • establishing methodological skills for management and research
  • practising participatory teamwork in an international, interdisciplinary and intercultural environment
  • enjoying learning in terms of a sustainable personal development

Language requirements

Please note that for Bachelor's degree programmes, English language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference are required. Please be aware that all applicants' test report form numbers will be checked. The following certificates are accepted:
IELTS: 6.0 - 6.5
TOEFL (Internet-based test): minimum 80
TOEFL (paper-based test): minimum 550
TOEFL (computer-based test): minimum 213
The TOEFL code of our university is: 6962
The only exceptions to these language requirements are a secondary school certificate or a Bachelor's degree achieved in the following countries: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. Please understand that no further exceptions can be made, even if you have achieved a Bachelor's degree taught in English in any other country.

Academic requirements

German entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences or equivalent
See: http://anabin.kmk.org/

Enrolment fees

Approx. 270 EUR per semester. This covers nominal administration fees and includes a semester ticket that allows free travel on most bus and train routes throughout the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as to and from Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

Costs of living

The "Deutsches Studentenwerk" puts the average cost of living for students in Germany at around 700 to 800 EUR per month. This includes rent, utilities, personal expenses, and other nominal costs. For a sample breakdown of living expenses and information about financing your studies in Germany, please see our website: http://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students/costs-scholarships-and-grants.

Job opportunities

International students from non-EU countries are legally permitted to work 120 full days or 240 half days per year on a student visa. No additional authorisation from German authorities is required.
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences often posts job advertisements for students both inside and outside the university on campus noticeboards. Some jobs at the university only require English, but most jobs in Kleve, Kamp-Lintfort, and surrounding areas will require at least conversational fluency in German. Fortunately, our Language Centre offers German courses that students can attend at no charge.
However, due to the intense workload at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, first-year students are strongly advised to dedicate their full attention to their studies. In later semesters, you will have a more open schedule and a better idea of how to balance work and studies. This is also a realistic time frame for acquiring speaking proficiency in German while studying full-time.

Funding opportunities within the university

A limited number of scholarships are available for currently enrolled students at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The most prominent scholarship is the Germany Scholarship ("Deutschlandstipendium"). German and international students are both eligible to apply. The Germany Scholarship is a stipend of 300 EUR per month awarded each year to a limited number of students who have demonstrated excellent academic performance or exemplary social commitment to the community. Other scholarships, grants, and fellowships are available through regional and national organisations in Germany. Please see our website for details.
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences informs all students of important scholarship deadlines in advance so that they don't miss any potential application opportunities.
http://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students/costs-scholarships-and-grants/scholarships-and-grants

Arrival support

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is accessible from the international airports Amsterdam (AMS), Düsseldorf (DUS), Cologne/Bonn (CGN), and Weeze (NRN). The university does not offer any pick-up services, but both Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort can be reached by public transportation from any of these airports.
If you anticipate any travel problems, delays, or unexpected changes to your plans, please contact our Welcome Centre so that we can support you with helpful advice.

Services and support for international students

Our Welcome Centre supports international students during their first few weeks in Germany. The Welcome Centre provides helpful advice and guidance on contracts, opening a bank account, registering your place of residence, applying for a student visa, setting up health insurance, and more.
The student mentors at the Welcome Centre know first-hand what it's like adjusting to life as a student in Germany. They are also an important first contact point for students with personal and social issues, as they can direct students to the right place for their specific needs. The Welcome Centre also promotes student culture at the university by organising trips and excursions to destinations all around the region as well as a range of social events for students such as the annual "Freshtival", the university's week-long orientation festival for new students in the winter semester.

Accommodation

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences strongly urges you to make accommodation arrangements before your arrival. The university does not have its own residence halls, but the "Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf" runs dormitories near campus in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort with options for single rooms or two- and three-room flats. Prices start at around 220 EUR per month. Room availability in these dormitories is limited and subject to a waiting list, so it's important to register online for a room as soon as possible. Please note that a security deposit of three months' rent is also required.
Most students choose to share a private flat off campus with fellow students. There are a number of popular online portals for finding a flat in Germany, for example: http://www.wg-gesucht.de. Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences also maintains its own list of available flats and rooms for students on its website. Thanks to the flexibility of the Semester Ticket, students can live in Kleve, Kamp-Lintfort, or one of the many cities and towns nearby and reach campus by public transport. For more information and helpful tips on finding a flat, please see our website: http://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/prospective-students/housing.
Similar programs:
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 17.6 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 31.4 k / Year(s)
Deadline: Jan 1, 2025 401–500 place StudyQA ranking: 2572
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 8.66 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 18 k / Year(s)
StudyQA ranking: 2709
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 275 / program Foreign:$ 728 / program
601–800 place StudyQA ranking: 5121
Study mode:On campus Languages: Italian
Local:$ 1.08 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 1.08 k / Year(s)
351–400 place StudyQA ranking: 4829
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 82.9 k / program Foreign:$ 82.9 k / program
StudyQA ranking: 3850
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 8.95 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 18 k / Year(s)
StudyQA ranking: 6807
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 8.28 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 18 k / Year(s)
StudyQA ranking: 2989
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 275 / program Foreign:$ 728 / program
601–800 place StudyQA ranking: 5101