International Agricultural Management

The programme focuses on applied studies in the fields of agricultural economics and management as well as in applied information technologies. Specific training methods such as instruction in small seminars/workshops, special projects and computer-based business simulations provide practical relevance and experience in the team approach to solving problems. Case studies and special projects are used to carry out international comparisons of costs, structural parameters and organisational solutions.
Compulsory modules are: Information Technology, Production Economics, Business Management, Management Techniques and Controlling, Farm Business Planning, Seminar on Agrarian Policy, Strategies of International Marketing, Project Planning and Project Evaluation, Master's thesis
Some of the profile modules are: Quality and Product Management, Communication and Media, Banking, Crop Production, Livestock Production, Farm Machinery, Agribusiness in English, International Trade in English, Sustainable Energy Supply
Students must choose one of the following specialisations: Management Consultancy, Consultancy on Farm Mechanisation, Regional Development

Educational organisation

First semester: practical semester (former periods of practical training may be recognised). The practical semester consists of two parts, the practical training on specially selected training farms and four one-week courses at the university. The students live on the farm together with the farming family. They are involved in the day-to-day farm work and participate in the management decisions of the farmers. The four one-week courses at the university include a farm machinery course, an animal husbandry course and lessons in applied economics as well as in the German language. During this semester they are supervised by staff from the university. Towards the end of the practical semester there are examinations in applied economics and in German.

The second semester at the university has four compulsory modules: Business Management, Production Economics, Corporate Management and Controlling, and Information Technologies, each with five ECPs. The remaining ten ECPs come from elective profile modules such as Food Quality & Produce Management, Communication and Media, Farm Machinery, Animal Husbandry, Cooperatives Business, and Agronomy and Soil Sciences.

In the third semester at the university there are lectures in three compulsory modules: Farm Business Planning, Agrarian Policy and Markets and Strategies in Agricultural Marketing, each with five ECPs. The remaining 15 ECPs come from one specialisation (10 ECPs): Management Consultancy, Consultancy of Farm Machinery, Agricultural and Regional Development Concepts or Regional Development, and from one module taught in English (five ECPs): Agribusiness or English Language.
At least one module taught in English must be selected.

In the fourth semester the module Project Planning and Project Evaluation with five ECPs is compulsory and the Master's thesis with 15 ECPs must be completed (in German or English). The topic should refer to an applied problem in the student's home country. The thesis can also be written at the home university and one of the two supervisors can be a lecturer from the home country. At the beginning of the Master's thesis, students have the opportunity to participate in lectures on formal and methodological aspects of writing scientific papers.
Profile modules in the fourth semester are International Trade and Sustainable Energy systems, each with five ECPs. The programme requires each student to participate in an Enterprise Internship of at least four weeks during the fourth semester or during the breaks between the previous semesters. The firm for the internship, usually consultancy firms, trading firms or companies providing agricultural services, can be proposed by the students.

Study abroad unit(s)

The Master's programme is offered by 20 partner universities in nine countries with more or less parallel structures. In 2003, the International Network of Master Courses in Agricultural Management was founded by most of these universities to organise an intensive exchange of students and lecturers. Although to date the exchange has consisted mainly of foreign students wanting to continue their studies at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences in the second or third semester, it is hoped that the great opportunities for exchange will be utilised much more in the future by German students as well. It is also expected that additional universities will offer the Master's programme.

We have double degree programmes with the Universities of Kiev, Sumy and Astana.

Internships

Practical Study Semester (first semester, April to September)
The practical study semester takes place at specially qualified and well-tested training farms and includes four one-week training courses at the university.
On the farm, the students live together with the farming family. They are involved in the day-to-day farm work and participate in the management decisions of the farmers. In this way, the students acquire an insight into the interrelations between agronomy, animal production, environmental aspects as well as the quality and marketing of produce and the farm income.
The four one-week training periods at the university include a farm machinery course, an animal husbandry course, training in applied production economics and in the German language. Each student has to do a special write-up on the economics of farm enterprises.
For the practical semester a driving licence for tractors and good driving skills are required. Experience in practical agriculture is advantageous.
Practical semesters completed during previous studies or practical assignments can be recognised.

Enterprise Internship (minimum one month)
Practical training takes place in a firm or institution trading with agricultural inputs or produce, dealing with processing and marketing of produce or offering services for agriculture such as advisory services, agricultural financing, book-keeping or tax consulting.

Forms of assessment

Written examinations are the main form of assessment. In several modules, special projects must be completed by individual students or by teams of students as papers and/or presentations. In some cases these projects are an integral part of the final assessment for the module. In some modules, successful participation in such projects is a precondition for participation in the final examinations.

Course objectives

The objective of the programme is to train graduates in agriculture or related fields to become specialists in applied agricultural management. Their practical skills and theoretical knowledge will enable them to take up leading positions in the management of farms, agribusiness and consultancy firms as well as in agricultural services, administration and applied research. After additional pedagogical training the graduates may teach at agricultural schools or even universities and work in leading positions in adult education.

Language requirements

Admission to the practical study semester: applicants whose native language is not German must prove that they have sufficient knowledge of the German language. This can be done by presenting a certificate from the Goethe Institute language examination (Zertifikat Deutsch) passed with a final mark 2 or by presenting equivalent certificates or by participating in specific examinations offered by the university.

Admission to the second semester: applicants whose native language is not German must prove successful completion of the C1 certificate (Goethe Institute) or TestDaF or DSH examination or of an equivalent test by presenting a certificate. The presentation of such a certificate can be postponed until the end of the second semester if the necessary internal examinations have been passed at the beginning of the second semester. The university organises the required examinations in cooperation with the Goethe Institute.

Required DSH / TestDaF

Yes

Academic requirements

Successful completion with above-average marks of an undergraduate course in agriculture or related fields at a university
Studies are considered to be above average if an overall mark comparable to a "2" in the German grading system was reached in the final examinations; exceptions will be considered by the examinations commission.
For the practical semester a driving licence for tractors and good driving skills are required. Experience in practical agriculture is advantageous.

Enrolment fees

The enrolment fees are 42 EUR per semester.
Costs of about 100 EUR per semester for learning materials and excursions

Costs of living

During the practical semester students have free room and board at their training farms as well as pocket money of at least 240 EUR per month.
While at the university, living expenses are about 600 to 750 EUR per month.

Job opportunities

There are opportunities for finding work in companies around Triesdorf.

Funding opportunities within the university

A limited number of scholarships are allocated by the university. The beneficiaries are determined by the examinations commission on the basis of performance.

Arrival support

Arrivals are usually organised at weekends before the commencement of the one-week introductory course. Students are collected at airports or railway stations or receive clear instructions on how to travel to Triesdorf (Merkendorf) station. On arrival they are provided with accommodation.

Services and support for international students

Students receive extensive support in administrative tasks such as registering at the university, extending visas, obtaining a residence permit, opening a bank account, taking out health insurance, etc.
During the practical semester, students are visited at least once by a member of the university. In addition they can contact their supervisors should problems arise.
Two members of staff are employed full-time to support and advise foreign students.

Accommodation

Accommodation either in student halls of residence or rooms rented privately is organised by the university for students up to the third semester. In the fourth semester the students are responsible for accommodation themselves.