Dartington Trust

MSc Regenerative Food, Farming and Enterprise

It is precisely at this time of global upheaval that we want you to come to Dartington Trust to share with us the ways in which you are moved to live and act differently. With a focus on interactive, experiential and participatory learning, Dartington Trust offers the practical skills and strategic thinking required to face the ecological, economic and social challenges of the 21st Century bringing together the leading thinkers, activists and practitioners internationally, to deliver a unique brand of small group learning experiences. Dartington Trust has an enviable reputation for cutting-edge learning. 

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Core modules

    • Soil Health (SCH5550)

      This module explores how soils work and promotes a thorough understanding of the relations in the web of soil life that the programme builds on. It shows how improving the biodiversity of plants, fungi, fauna, and microorganisms can produce healthier soil structures, now called ‘soil health’ This benefits water, nutrients and carbon cycles. The module evaluates factors affecting soil health, and indicators of improvement, to judge the wider impacts on the environment, climate change, erosion and flooding.

    • Food Economy (SCH5552)

      New food economies pose a challenge to existing conventional food systems that deliver ‘cheap’ food while ignoring environmental, health and social costs. Students will explore alternative economic models and see how food systems can contribute to that and improve health. This module explores how much of our wealth comes ultimately from the soil and that, by nurturing soils, we can provide more resilient and sustainable food systems, healthier food, and regenerate local economies.

  • Final year

  • Core modules

    • Regenerative Practices (SCH5551)

      This module investigates a wide range of regenerative practices around the world, that include cover crops, no-till, animal grazing and promoting biodiversity. Students will liaise with College partners in a discourse about the most appropriate agricultural approach for any situation, taking in related concerns like seed sharing, organic, community growing and local food processing. Students will put techniques into practice and monitor their performance, with soil health indicators.

    • Establishing an Enterprise (SCH5553)

      This module examines the design and development of a regenerative food/farm enterprise, as a food producer-led activity. It will show how value can be added with innovation when production systems can be linked more directly with consumers. It will explore different models of social/ecological/regenerative enterprises and the process of enterprise design. This is to provide a framework to go on and design an enterprise, whether starting or scaling up, using market research, networks and social media.

    • Dissertation/Project (SCH5554)

      This module encourages students to demonstrate their capacity for independent research study and practical application by using their knowledge of regenerative practices to a topic appropriate to the degree, such as soil health indicators, consultancy tools, nutrition measurement, local food initiatives, government policies, and consumer choices. Students are expected to submit their plans, practices and policies in a political context, and a wider philosophy about how we treat our earth.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Entry requirements

UK/EU

A relevant degree with honours or an equivalent professional qualification. Other qualifications accompanied by substantial experience in an appropriate field may also be considered. Non-standard applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

International

Please view the country specific pages for further information regarding the equivalency of your degree. International applicants will be required to provide evidence of their English language ability, for example by achieving an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each element) or equivalent, see our English language requirements. Pre-sessional English language courses are available if you do not meet these requirements.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for postgraduate taught programmes. Tell me more about scholarships and bursaries.

Fees, costs and funding

As this course is delivered by one of our partner colleges, please contact the college directly for information on fees and funding.

How to apply
For further information and to apply for this course, please contact the college's admissions team directly using the contact details below. 
Our partnership with Dartington Trust
The University of Plymouth has developed partnerships with institutions around the world with the sole purpose of making higher education more accessible to those people who need something just a little different.

Our Academic Partnerships enable students to enrol for a degree at a partnership institution closer to home, or engage in distance learning – even when they’re in the middle of the ocean. They are there for those people looking to return to education, or enhance their professional development. Full- or part-time; foundation degree to masters-level – we cater for a huge variety of needs and aspirations.

Many of our partners offer specialist degrees, unique facilities, and smaller class sizes at a competitive price. And as a student of two institutions, you get the best of both worlds; a supportive learning environment as part of a close-knit community, and a university-level qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. You’ll enjoy not only the facilities and services your partnership institution provides, but also all of the additional support and resources you need from us, and you’ll automatically become a member of our Students’ Union, too.

We are continuing to grow the number of partner institutions and expand our academic community to new locations around the UK and overseas. Why not visit the Academic Partnerships page on our website for a full list of partners and for more details on studying with us?

One of our partners delivers this particular course – so please visit their website for full course details, entry requirements, tuition fees and information on what student life is like there. 

Open days

Partner college open days

This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.

University of Plymouth open days

You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.

Studying with Dartington Trust

Study with some of the biggest international names in social, economic and ecological thinking for the 21st century. Experience our radical blend of traditional and reflective learning in a communal living and working environment.
 
Schumacher College