Powerful, sustainable agriculture in harmony with the environment and society is a fundamental pillar of community development worldwide, particularly for food security and regional development.

The Master's program in Agricultural Sciences, with a specialization in Sustainable Agriculture and Regional Development, offers individuals the chance to expand their knowledge across a broad range of agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, innovation, economics, policy-making, and regional development. Numerous themes are covered in specialization, such as agricultural systems and production, food systems and food security, government policy and support, including public administration systems and policy instruments, prosperity and the circular economy, climate change, regional development, rural innovation, and land use, all in the context of sustainability.

The program is taught in interdisciplinary collaboration with the University of Iceland, and mandatory courses are taught on-site at both Hvanneyri and Reykjavík. Through this partnership, students can select courses from both universities, as well as across university faculties, beyond the 40 ECTS credits required for mandatory courses. The research project scope allows students to tailor the program to their specific field of interest.

Jón Grétar Sigurjónsson is the graduate studies program coordinator. For more information, contact [email protected].

The research-based M.Sc. usually involves a 60 ECTS independent research project and 60 ECTS in courses. Only 14 ECTS are compulsory courses; a course in scientific writing, a course on research ethics, and (active participation in) graduate school seminars. The rest of the courses should support the student´s in their individual research project. These can be taken at AUI or other qualified academic institutions within Iceland or abroad.When a student applies to the research-based M.Sc., they will be appointed a contact person from AUI’s academic staff, if theyr haven’t already found one. This person helps the student to develop a research project idea, find at least two qualified supervisors to form a M.Sc. committee, and to make suggestions on which courses should be included in the project plan. The course selection should support the research theme in a logical manner, fulfilling the general learning outcomes of AUI’s M.Sc. studies.

Programme director for graduate studies Jón Grétar Sigurjónsson

For inquiries about graduate studies at AUI, please contact the Academic Affairs office at nemendaskrá