Master Sciences et Technologies de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation et de l’Environnement

Master of Science Agrofood Chain

This course is suspended for the academic year 2023-2024 and 2024-2025


Entry requirements : Bachelor’s degree
Degree level : Master’s degree in 2 years delivered by Toulouse INP University and ENSFEA higher education school.
Fields of study : sustainable agriculture, agroecology, food safety, sustainable food systems, rural development
Disciplines : agricultural economics, agronomy, ecology, agricultural economics, food sciences
Teaching language : English
Academic institutes : ENSFEA, Toulouse INP
Location of classes : ENSFEA & INP-ENSAT in Toulouse Auzeville

Futher information


The current context of demographic, food and agro-ecological transitions raises new challenges for actors along local as well as global agricultural food chains : securing food supply in a sustainable way, managing risks and food safety, value enhancement and/or re-use of by-products …
The newly trained graduates shall be able to develop a clear vision about the complexity of agricultural food chains, their contemporary transformation and the emerging issues.
The originality and strength of this program are built upon a multidisciplinary and complex thinking approach consisting in the integration of different disciplines and the partnership with a unique network of research centers and companies.
This program aims to accompany students in the acquisition of :

  • specific knowledge, methods and skills to diagnose problems at all levels of the value chains, develop a prospective analysis of emerging issues, identify current and future needs and work with different stakeholders on the elaboration of innovative and sustainable answers,managerial and interpersonal skills necessary to lead research and development projects in collective settings and an international environment.
  • specific knowledge, methods and skills to diagnose problems at all levels of the value chains, develop a prospective analysis of emerging issues, identify current and future needs and work with different stakeholders on the elaboration of innovative and sustainable answers,managerial and interpersonal skills necessary to lead research and development projects in collective settings and an international environment.

For that purpose, the training approach is based on a combination of lectures, numerous real-life case studies, internships, research-development projects tutored by researchers and professionals.

60 ECTS credits (Semester 1 is S1 and Semester 2 is S2)

  • Agrofood chains, sustainability and innovation : concepts and methods (S1)
  • Fundamentals of agronomy, agricultural economics, ecology and biotechnology sciences (S1)
  • Multidisciplinary courses in industrial organization, rural development, agro-ecology, valorization of biotic and abiotic resources (S2)
  • Fundamentals of research methodology (S1, S2)
  • Case studies and multidisciplinary problem resolution projects (S1, S2)
  • Global seminar in partnership with international universities (S1)
  • Two-month internship in a research lab or interprise (S2)
  • Scientific and corporate communication in French and English (S1, S2)

60 ECTS credits (Semester 1 is S1 and Semester 2 is S2)

  • Managing quality, risk and uncertainty in agrofood chains (S1)
  • Food security, food safety and nutrition (S1)
  • Advanced courses in agronomy, agricultural economics, ecology and food sciences (S1)
  • Advanced courses in research methodology (S1)
  • Project management (S1)
  • Multidisciplinary research projects (S1)
  • Five to six-month internship in a research lab or enterprise/ research essay (S2)

Application procedure

I submit my application by filling out the online application form by clicking on the button below « I am applying for the AFC MOST’s degree in 2nd year ».

Entry requirements

Fees

Applicants will be required to pay  9000 € fees per year. Annual tuition fees can be reduced down to about 5000 € for students from European countries and partner universities, for students holding a scholarship from the French government  and for selected students enrolled in ENSFEA /INP-ENSAT.

Scholarships

Students can apply to different scholarship programs (governmental scholarships, European student mobility programs, French Eiffel and French Embassies’s cholarship programs, training support programs from private foundations and companies).

  • Scholarships offered by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development : the  Eiffel scholarships program,
    Applications are NOT accepted from students directly. They are submitted by the French Higher Institution in which the student is accepted, from October to January.
  • Scholarships offered by the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research : Some institutes of higher education offer scholarship programs to enrolled foreign students on social criteria. To find out you can use the grant search engine from Campus France
  • Grants offered by the host institute : ENSFEA / INP-ENSAT support tuition fees on academic excellence criteria

Services

All the practical information needed for international students is available :

  • before your arrival with TOUL’BOX . The all-in pack is offered by the institute.
  • upon your arrival with the WELCOME DESK. Its mission is to provide services and advice to all students. It is located in the premises of the Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, 41 Allée Jules Guesde à Toulouse.  Reception is provided in English.

Accommodation

  • Students can live in halls of residence short distance to the ENSFEA campus. Applications for student accommodation can be downloaded here : request for student accomodation « Vert Savoir »
  • Other accommodation options are possible : privately owned students’ residences, shared accommodation or private rentals.

Formalities

CVEC
Students admitted to a French institution of higher education are subject to a new fee : the Student and Campus Life Contribution known as the CVEC, which helps to finance on-campus programs. The tax is to be paid to the CROUS (the regional student service agency) before any registration.

Visa
All students need a passport or identify card valid for the whole period of stay. Besides, all non EU students should apply for a visa before coming to France at the Haute-Garonne “Préfecture”

  • You can find practical updated information in the on-line guide

Andrew ALGIE, UK (2011-2013): « I have enjoyed the AgroFood Chain course particularly because of its multidisciplinary nature, interesting topics are covered relating to many aspects of the food chain in a complementary manner that is accessible to students from a wide variety of study backgrounds. The course presents many opportunities to those considering a PhD in this field to develop their research interests and meet potential supervisors. »

Paulina BĄCZYK, Poland (2011-2013): “Master AgroFood Chain provides the opportunity to study with people from all over the world. It is then the great chance to get closer to other cultures and make friendships. The programme itself offers wide range of subjects linked to the agro bio-sciences. During the second year you choose your field of specialization and you start your internship where you participate in the research project. Not only does it show you what real research is about but also you acquire new practical skills and you get more independent and confident in the laboratory environment. The teachers and administrative staff are friendly, professional and happy to help you.

The place of study- Toulouse is a wonderful city, full of people from different parts of the world, where everyone can find something interesting and there is plenty to do after your classes.”

KOSHAL Abdullah (graduated in 2016)
« Building my career in AgroFood-Chain enriched my life, for which I am very grateful to every faculty member of Agrofood-Chain. Study in a highly accredited institute (INP/ENSAT/ENFA) was a dream in my academic life. Study in a class, where 13 nationalities were gathered together, provided a professional environment of study to become world-class professionals. Exchanging of professional and academic experience through group projects among the students was an excellent opportunity, which I find very rewarding. Flexibility in course curriculum, which was an interdisciplinary program, was another greater interest in the master Agrofood Chain, where most programs were structured very well according to today’s challenging and competitive cooperate world. Students had opportunity to emphasize and narrow down topics of specific interest in their field of study in pre-specializations. Agrofood Chain provided opportunity for the students to work with professors on different research topics, and excitedly, today more than 25% of my classmates have been pursuing PhD in France or outside of France. It was an excellent opportunity in terms of practical experience during academic program. Having these facilities can expose students to the real world options, and upon graduation, they are familiar with the work environment. With such diverse academic and international background, international students are better prepared for working with absolute ease anywhere throughout the world. »

Job opportunities

The Agrofood Chain program is designed to train future researchers and executives aiming at international careers in the private or state sectors of agriculture, food, environment and non-food valorization of agro-resources. Researchers in food enterprises and agricultural research institutes, experts in governmental and international institutions, academics, associates in consulting firms, advisors in farmer organizations are examples of job positions held by former students.

Further studies

After their Master Degree, about one-fourth of the students enroll in a Ph.D. program in the areas of agricultural and food sciences.

 
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