Crop Protection

The two-year MSc programme in Crop Protection is an international study programme, which was established in 2010 at the University of Göttingen. All courses are held in English. Crop health management and crop protection are key elements for safeguarding and improving crop productivity and resource efficiency in a world with a heavily rising demand for plant products. This programme provides knowledge on major tools in crop health management for crops cultivated in the temperate and warmer climates. The Master's programme is a job- and research-oriented programme and follows an interdisciplinary approach focused on crop protection. Graduate students learn about the basic and applied aspects of research in a broad range of disciplines, including plant pathology, nematology, entomology, virology, weed science, pesticide use, legislation and registration, toxicology, molecular phytopathology, mycotoxin research, plant nutrition and plant breeding. Further courses focus on students' capability for interdisciplinary research, improvement of oral presentation and scientific writing. As part of the compulsory curriculum, students carry out a six-week internship in selected professional or institutional sectors of crop protection, i.e. agrochemical industries, research or consulting institutions, federal regulatory authorities, or breeding companies. Students will acquire specific and broad knowledge and capabilities in crop protection on a regional and global scale. They will develop their social and working skills and learn to apprehend systems by using interdisciplinary approaches. The Master's programme in Crop Protection opens attractive perspectives for an international career in crop health management. Graduates very successfully applied for PhD positions worldwide or directly started their careers in companies, research institutions, and advisory services in Germany or in their home countries.