Poznań University of Life Sciences

Master`s Degree Program in Agronomy is addressed to foreigners holding a BSc degree in a discipline related to the content of the programme. The programme of studies consist of the following subjects: agrobiotechnology, methodology of agricultural experiments, environmental management, instrumental analyses, agrophysics. Very wide range of specializations are selected by each student in accordance with students interests:

1. Module I – biomass and bioenergy, seed grain quality, drying and storage techniques, crop irrigation, crop technologies, forage plant cultivation on arable land;
2. Module II – weed biology and control, principles of breeding for resistance, plant disease epidemiology, physiological foundations for plant resistance to pathogens and pests;
3. Module III – sustainable systems of crop fertilization, diagnostics of nutritional disorders in crop plants, nutrient management;
4. Module IV – non-fodder utilization of grasses and grass communities, grassland management, grassland phytochemistry, optimization of forage production on grassland, biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems, forage seed production;
5. Module V – ecology of microorganisms, plant tissue and cell culture, genetic engineering, microbiology of natural environment, microbiology of plant and animal products.

The modules will be available on condition studies are undertaken by at least  5 candidates. Obligatory subjects comprise about 35% of the programme of studies, the rest are selected from specialization courses.

Course overview

The Faculty of Agronomy and Bioengineering at the Poznań University of Life Sciences is our oldest faculty, with a history of almost 100 years. Our assets are connected with the combination of experience and advanced techniques and technologies both in our research and teaching practice. The Faculty has highly qualified staff and excellent teaching and research facilities, including our own experimental stations.

The Master’s studies programme comprises over 800 hours of lectures, laboratory classes, seminars, field trips and inspections, e.g. visits at pesticide manufacturing plants both in  Poland and other EU countries. The programme is focused on broadly understood issues connected with agriculture in various management systems (conventional farming, organic farming, sustainability farming). The curriculum is based on a module system* making it possible to  intensify and rationalize the teaching and learning system. Interdisciplinary studies include the latest advances in theory and practice in the field of Agronomy and Agriculture, making it possible for our graduates to acquire skills and qualifications needed to work within the broadly understood agricultural sector, particularly plant breeding and seed production, plant protection against  agrophages, renewable energy sources or plant nutrition.

Career opportunities

The graduate agronomists have many career paths, but their careers are generally focused on increasing the quality and amount of food produced for the nation`s food supply. They can be teachers, agricultural business consultants or researchers, they might work on farms or in agricultural labs and mills. The graduates will be required to write a Master’s  thesis and pass the examination.