The MPhil in Biological Sciences provides students with an opportunity to undertake a period of study and research in Crop Science, one of the Faculty’s key research pathways.
Global food security sits at a nexus. Do we continue with unsustainable practices benefiting farmers in high and middle income countries, while small-holders barely produce enough to support themselves? Or can we find a new way for agriculture that delivers food in an equitable and sustainable manner? Envisioning agriculture in 2050 needs to consider the global population, the planets’ biodiversity, global climate change and the current inequities in the system.
The MPhil in Crop Science will explore new ways of thinking about what agriculture should be in 2050 and how we might get to that point. We will take a broad view of potential solutions, with an emphasis on practical, scientific approaches, from genetic engineering to regenerative agriculture. Field-based study is made possible through our partnership with Niab . Our aim is to train future leaders to take creative approaches to global food security.
A major theme of the course will be connecting knowledge across scales to provide the students with an integrated perspective on food security that spans plant biology, global ecology, conservation and economics.
The course draws upon the breadth and international strengths in crop science within the Department of Plant Sciences, the Crop Sciences Centre and the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge and Niab along with associated research institutes; notably the Departments of Biochemistry, Genetics, Zoology, the Gurdon Institute, and the Centre for Development Studies.
Completing this MPhil will be a springboard for entry into a wide range of careers, including advanced research in industry or academic settings.
The MPhil is offered by the Faculty of Biology as a full-time period of study and research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge in Crop Science.
The MPhil course adopts interactive and discussion-based teaching, much of which is seminar-style or workshops where student participation and discussion are strongly encouraged. This is complemented with extensive lab-based training through a research project (up to 32 weeks + 6 weeks writing up time) during which students are integrated into one of the many participating research groups (following an introduction available projects and groups).
The main aims are to give students with relevant experience the opportunity:
MPhil students meet regularly as a cohort for taught components, comprising up to 60 hours of interactive, seminar-based teaching, featuring 4 interconnected and interdisciplinary thematic modules: (i) The future of sustainable agriculture; (ii) Crop development, metabolism and physiology; (iii) Plant-biotic interactions and (iv) Crop Improvement. This is augmented student-led literature review sessions ("journal clubs"), designed to foster critical analysis and presentation skills via discussion of recent discoveries in the field.
Additionally, training is provided in key professional research and transferrable skills, such as time and data management, laboratory record keeping, research ethics and integrity, scientific communication skills and academic writing, and data analysis skills including statistics.
All students will be members of the University's Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (PSLS) which offers a wide variety of core skills and professional development training. Visit the Researcher Development page on the PSLS website for more information.
All written assessed work for the MPhil is marked by two assessors. Students can also expect to receive termly formal feedback reports via the online Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting System.
The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University's expectations regarding feedback.
Applicants for this course should have achieved a High II.i Honours Degree .
If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.
You should already hold, or expect to obtain, at least a high 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent) in any subject relevant to the programme (including Biosciences, Biomedical science, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology, Psychology, Medicine, Statistics, Epidemiology, Agriculture, Botany, Plant or Crop Sciences, Crop Protection, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics, and related subjects).
University Minimum Academic Requirements
Score : Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)
Score : Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).