International Agribusiness and Rural Development — IARD

The MSc programme International Agribusiness and Rural Development (IARD) is offered jointly by the University of Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Talca (Chile). The focus of the programme is on International Agribusiness and Rural Development Economics.
The core study programme consists of 15 modules covering international agricultural economics, agricultural and rural development policy as well as business administration, management and agribusiness marketing, development economics and rural sociology.
The course is of 21 months' duration (including a two-month German language course in Latin America). There are three teaching semesters with a total of 15 modules. The students start their studies in Chile. After two semesters, some students can be selected to continue their studies in Germany according to their academic performance and also depending on language skills and other criteria, while other students finish in Chile. The programme starts every year in January. The semester in Germany starts in October.
Students who continue their studies in Germany will be part of the MSc programme Sustainable International Agriculture (SIA) with a specialisation in International Agribusiness and Rural Development Economics (IARD).

Educational organisation

During the three teaching semesters, students are expected to attend a total of 15 modules; the last semester is dedicated to field research and the writing of the Master's thesis.

Study abroad unit(s)

Students spend the first and second semester at the University of Talca (Chile). After two semesters, the students can continue their studies in Germany depending on the financial sources, academic performance, language skills, and other criteria. Students who are not selected for Germany will finish the programme in Talca.

Internships

None

Forms of assessment

The Master's programme consists of 15 modules with six ECTS each, a Master's thesis in the fourth semester with 24 ECTS and a colloquium with six ECTS. There are exams (oral, written or seminar presentation with submission of a report) at the end of each module.

Course objectives

• To apply economic theory to problems of agribusiness and rural development
• to analyse and understand the decisions made by enterprises in agriculture and agribusiness
• to develop solutions and strategies to combat hunger, poverty and resource depletion
• to acquire methodological and theoretical skills for scientific analysis

Language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English have to prove a good working knowledge of English. Their proficiency in English must be certified in an internationally recognised test. The following tests and levels are accepted:

• at least 79 points in the new internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• at least 550 points in a paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• International English Language Test System (IELTS) with at least 6 points
• UNIcert level III
• C1 certificate of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

The language test certificate should not be more than two years old at the time of application. Exempted from the requirement to prove language proficiency are students with English as their first language and students with a one-year study or work experience in an English-speaking country within the last five years.
Spanish can be useful for the two semesters in Chile.

Academic requirements

• BSc degree (or equivalent) in agricultural sciences, business administration, economics, social sciences, forestry, veterinary sciences, or food and nutrition sciences. Successful applicants will have a good to excellent grade average.
• professional experience of at least two years in a field related to the course focus (for DAAD scholarship)
• last academic degree should preferably not be more than six years old
• very good command of English: TOEFL iBT: 79 points or IELTS: 6.0

Enrolment fees

Enrolment fees are approx. 300 EUR per semester. Fees include a pre-paid semester ticket which entitles students to use regional trains free of charge within the federal states of Lower Saxony and Bremen, as well as city buses. Students of the University of Göttingen receive discounts for cultural events. Meals and drinks are also available at reduced prices at all university canteens.
http://www.uni-goettingen.de/fee

Costs of living

The average cost of living in Göttingen is modest compared to other major university cities in Germany. Currently, expenses for accommodation, food, health insurance and books reach approx. 700-750 EUR per month. Please note that fees for health insurance may vary according to age. Living expenses might be slightly higher.

Job opportunities

The university supports students in finding part-time jobs in local industries and businesses. A number of student jobs are also available at the university. Please note that restrictions may apply with your scholarship or work contract.

Arrival support

The International Office provides a complimentary pick-up service ("Buddy Exchange Service") from Göttingen railway station to the accommodation. German students help newly arrived students to adapt to the university and the city during their first weeks. There is also an orientation week for new international students, which provides valuable information about Göttingen and the university.

Services and support for international students

The International Office assists international students with all administrative questions regarding their stay in Germany, e.g. enrolment, visa, foreigners' registration office, health insurance and financing of their studies. Furthermore, it features a broad cultural programme, e.g. international cultural evenings, language workshops, theatre courses, films, dance classes, theatre and opera visits. Trips to various tourist destinations in Germany are offered throughout the year.

Accommodation

The International Office, in collaboration with the student services organisation ("Studentenwerk"), helps students find adequate accommodation. Many international students live in student residences. These have single apartments or shared apartments with individual rooms. There are also apartments available for couples and families with children.