Overview

Presentation

The Master of Science AgroFood Chain is a two-year program dedicated to high-level students from around the world. The course trains students to develop knowledge and skills related to the development of innovative sustainable agrofood chains in the current context of economic, demographic, food and ecological transitions.

The program is articulated around three core disciplines: agronomy, economics and ecology. In order for our graduates to acquire a global and comprehensive vision of the existing agrofood chains. These core disciplines are completed by other disciplines, such as plant and animal genetics, biotechnology, product quality, food safety, nutrition and marketing. The main originality and strength of this program are built upon a multidisciplinary systemic approach and learning-by-doing pedagogy, which consists in the integration of all these different disciplines in real-life case studies and tutored projects run individually or by groups.

In partnership with

Objectives

The development of innovative sustainable agrofood chains raises many challenges.

The newly trained graduates shall be able to develop a clear vision about the complexity of different types of agricultural food chains, their contemporary transformation and the emerging issues. 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 from the field to the fork, 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.

Duration

4 semesters

Program Start

First week of September 

Course details

Training content

Organization of the program:

MSc Agrofood Chain is a two-year program: the 1^st year is called M1 and the second one – M2. The first three semesters are based on a combination of lectures, numerous real-life case studies and research-development projects tutored by researchers and professionals. During the M1 and M2, students must complete a two-month and five-month internship respectively in a company or a laboratory. Students receive internship allowances for the five-month internship when it is carried out in France.

Training program:

First year – M1: Semester 1 (S1) and Semester 2 (S2)

• Agrofood chains, sustainability and innovation: concepts and methods (S1)
• Fundamentals of agronomy, agricultural economics, ecology, molecular biology and  food safety (S1)
• Multidisciplinary courses in industrial organizations, rural development, agro-ecology, value enhancement of plant biotic resources (S2)
• Fundamentals of research methodology (S1, S2)
• Case studies and multidisciplinary problem resolution projects (S1, S2)
• Global seminar in partnership with international universities (S2)Scientific and corporate communication in French and English (S1, S2)
• Two-month internship in a research lab or enterprise (S2)

Second year – M2: Semester 1 (S1) and Semester 2 (S2)

• Managing quality, risk and uncertainty in agrofood chains (S1)
• Food security, food safety and nutrition (S1)
• Advanced courses in agro-ecology, agricultural economics, and microbiology (S1)
• Advanced courses in research methodology (S1)
• Project management (S1)
• Multidisciplinary research project (S1)
• Five-month internship in a research lab or enterprise / Master thesis (S2)

The complete syllabus can be seen here.

Fees & Funding

Tuition fees

The annual tuition fees are 9000€. Scholarship could be given to students coming from our partner universities and to students with an outstanding curriculum.

Living costs

Average monthly living costs for a student in Toulouse is between 700 and 1000€. The amount depends a lot on the accommodation you will choose.

Detailed information about living expenses can be found in the Student Guide.  

Scholarships from INP

Acceptance to scholarships from INP can reduce the tuition fees down to 5000€ per year.

Scholarship through a reduction of the fees can be offered to students coming from partner universities.

Exceptionally the same kind of scholarship can be given to top-level students.

Other scholarships:

• Scholarships from the French government (Eiffel scholarship, embassies…)
• Scholarships from the European Union (Erasmus, Leonardo…)
• Scholarships from the French regional authorities (town halls, regions…)
• Scholarships from academic labs or industrial companies.

For other scholarship information, we recommend to check Campus Bourse.

Admission

Access condition

Admission requirements

• For Master 1:  BSc or equivalent after minimum 3 academic years in the fields of plant or animal biology, agronomy, food science, ecology or agricultural economy.
• For Master 2: Master 1 or equivalent degree after 4 academic years minimum.

Language requirements

Student must provide results of tests giving evidence of C1 language proficiency. Scores required:

• TOEIC 701 minimum;
• IELTS 6.5 minimum;
• TOEFL paper 580 minimum;
• TOEFL CBT 237 minimum;
• TOEFL IBT 92 minimum; 
• Cambridge CAE

Required documents:

• Application form
• 1 passport-size photos
• Photocopy of passport or ID card
• Results of English language test (if your mother tongue is not English): TOEIC (750) or equivalent
• Certified academic transcripts
• Certified copies of academic diplomas
• Curriculum Vitae in English or French
• Short statement of motivation in English

• Proof of your scholarship award (if relevant)

All copies must be translated into English or French by an accredited translator.

Application deadline:

 31^st May

Decisions of acceptance are pronounced end of January, March and May, depending when the complete application form is received.

Student Life

Accommodation

INP-ENSAT has a residence of 120 students apartments administered by the CROUS. Should you wish to apply for a room in this residence, you must note it in the course application form.

Unfortunately, it cannot always ensure accommodation for all international students. However, several other accommodation options are available.

Students who wish to find private accommodation can be helped in their accommodation search by the Welcome Desk or Toul’Box.

To learn more about different types of accommodation in France, you can read this article.

Part-time jobs

If you a European national, you do not have any work restrictions in France.

If you are not a EU citizen, normally you will have a long-term student visa (VLS-TS) which allows international students to work for 960 hours over a one-year period (on average, 20 hours per week). Internships are not included in this limit.

Part-time student jobs are available in Toulouse, from bar work to babysitting, for students who speak at least a minimum of French. Announcements are put up on campus announcements boards, and it is recommended that students distribute their CVs in person to local bars and restaurants. 

Student clubs

Life at INP-ENSAT is characterized by a rich associative life, in all areas. It allows for a wide range of activities and opportunities for students to get involved.

You can find the complete list of student clubs and associations here.

Welcome Team for international students:

The Welcome team of the ENSAT students’ office (BDE) will be happy to meet you and make you feel at home. Get in touch: welcometeamensat @ gmail.com (welcometeamensat @ gmail.com)

About School

And after ...

Further studies

All MSc Degree holders are allowable to take a step forward in the academic track to get the PhD degree. About one-fourth of the students enroll in a Ph.D. program in the areas of agricultural and food sciences.

Career prospects

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 hold by former students.

The program was created in 2005 and has since graduated more than 100 students. After graduation, about 40% of students pursue a Ph.D. thesis for a certain number in one of the partner laboratories of the program, about 40% of students find a job within 3 months and the remaining follow another course to further develop certain skills.

The partner research laboratories of the program are:

• UMR 1248 AGIR Agroecology - innovations - territories (INRA/INP-ENSAT)
• UMR 1331 TOXALIM Laboratory in food toxicology (INRA/ENVT/EI Purpan/UPS)
• UMR 1010 LCA Agro-industrial chemistry laboratory (INRA/INP-ENSIACET)
• UMR MA 119 / EA 4212 LEREPS Laboratory on economics, politics and social systems (IEP Toulouse/ENSFEA/UT2J/UT1)
• UMR 5193 Interdisciplinary laboratory Solidarity - Societies - Territories LISST (CNRS/UT2J/EHESS/ENSFEA)
• UMR 5503 Chemical Engineering Laboratory (CNRS/INPT/UPS)
• UMR 1048 I2MC Institute of Metabolic and Vascular Diseases (UPS/INSERM)
• UMR 5245 ECOLAB Functional ecology and environment (CNRS/INPT/UPS)
• UMR 5174 EDB Evolution and biological diversity (CNRS/IRD/UPS)

Four professions are strongly represented among graduates: academics in home universities and other high education institutes, R&D researcher and quality manager in agro-food companies (large as well as small companies), and expert advisor in a private consulting firm. Some students are also employed in NGOs or international institutions.

Graduate residence permit

The graduates of this program can apply for a residence permit "recherche d'emploi / création d'entreprise" ("job search / business creation") for graduate students. This residence permit allows students to remain in France for up to one year to look for employment.

At the end of your studies, if you have obtained your diploma, you can apply for a residence permit "recherche d'emploi / création d'entreprise" (except Algerian students). This residence permit replaces the temporary residence permit that was previously issued to graduate students ("APS Master").

This residence permit can also be requested from abroad: if you leave France at the end of your studies, you can apply for the residence permit "recherche d'emploi / création d'entreprise" at the French consulate in your home country or your country of residence within 4 years after graduation. More information: france-visas.gouv.fr.