Master of Bioscience Engineering: Agro- and Ecosystems Engineering
KU Leuven
Key Information
Campus location
Leuven, Belgium
Languages
English, Dutch
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
Request info
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Introduction
The Master of Agro- and Ecosystems Engineering (ACE) provides in-depth knowledge of the functioning and management of natural and production-oriented ecosystems. You complement the interdisciplinary core programme with a major specialisation in one out of four different domains: (i) plant production systems, (ii) agricultural and resource economics, (iii) soil and water systems and (iv) forest, nature and landscape systems.
Structure
- The major plant production systems specialises in crop production, production forestry systems (achieved through a semester in Chile) and hortology (achieved through a semester in South Africa).
- The major agricultural and resource economics focuses on the economic and policy-related aspects of natural and production-oriented ecosystems.
- The major soil and water systems offers you an in-depth understanding of the abiotic aspects of natural and production-oriented ecosystems.
- The major forest, nature and landscape systems offers you a thorough knowledge of the biotic aspects of natural and production-oriented ecosystems and teaches you how to optimally manage these systems on a landscape scale.
Strengths
The programme is internationally oriented, focused on training international and local students able to tackle climate- and environmental problems in global agro- and ecosystems.
A core component of the programme is an integrated field project abroad, in a temperate or tropical environment. Here students are not only challenged regarding their scientific knowledge and technical skills, they also develop transferable skills like interactive and multicultural learning in team, project management, efficient communication and economic assessment.
All students can opt for an own initiative exchange semester and/or an international internship and/or an international thesis research project at other partner universities. Students of the major Plant Production Systems are encouraged to make use of specific opportunities for international outgoing mobility: an exchange semester Hortology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa or an exchange semester Production Forestry Systems at the Universidad de la Frontera in Chile.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
The major plant production systems focus on agro-ecosystems and include specialization tracks in crop production, production forestry systems (achieved through a semester in Chile), and horology (achieved through a semester in South Africa).
The major agricultural and resource economics focuses on the economic and policy-related aspects of agro- and ecosystems, with in-depth courses in the field of agricultural, food, and natural resources economics.
The major soil and water systems offer you an in-depth understanding of the abiotic aspects of natural and production-oriented ecosystems.
The major forest, nature, and landscape systems offer you a thorough knowledge of the biotic aspects of natural and production-oriented ecosystems and teach you how to optimally manage these systems on a landscape scale.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
You are prepared to enter any of the various professional fields related to biological production systems and ecosystem management, with particular emphasis on plant production, natural resource economics and policy, sustainable environmental management, and earth observation and geomatics. Employment opportunities abound in national and international public sector organisations, NGOs and private companies. You will be qualified to fill technical, research and/or policy/management-oriented positions.