Master of Science in Tropical Natural Resources Management

  Admission requirements | Study programme | Studying abroad | Assets | Career prospects| Registration fee | More information | Application

Fact sheet

The Master's

The Master’s programme in Tropical Natural Resources Management provides students with in-depth knowledge of three areas (subject majors): (1) plant production (2) the economics and policy aspects of natural resource use in the tropics, and (3) sustainable soil management. Students will acquire knowledge of biological production systems in the (sub)tropics and gain insight into the different environmental factors that interact with and may affect these agro-ecosystems.

The first area teaches students how to analyse, design, and manage plant production systems in the (sub)tropics, and also covers the related aspects of integrated soil fertility and integrated pest management as well as marketing.

The second area examines how and why actors in biological production systems make decisions concerning the management of such systems and concerning the use of natural resources. Students learn to optimise these decisions at both the micro (management) and the macro (policy) level. This will enable them to translate knowledge into projects, interventions and policies for the sustainable management of natural resources while improving food security and reducing poverty.

The third area, finally, focuses on the diversity of soils in the tropics and their potentials. Students also learn how to study, describe, and predict soil processes quantitatively and to use this information when making decisions on sustainable soil and water management, including soil and water conservation.

This Master’s programme is highly multi - disciplinary and internationally oriented, with participants from many different countries and continents. Moreover, students are given the opportunity to spend a few months in the tropics to carry out fieldwork for their Master’s thesis.

Admission requirements

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Study programme

Fine-tuning your programme

The Master of Tropical Natural Resources Management is a two-year-programme, requiring 120 credits. It consists of three specialisations or subject majors: Plant Production, Resource Economics and Policy, and Soil Conservation. Students take the common core courses (33 or 34 credits) as well as all courses from one of the 3 areas of specialisation (29 credits). Together with the Master’s thesis (30 credits), these common and specialisation courses constitute the major (92 or 93 credits). Students complement their programme by selecting minor courses (20 credits) and elective courses (7 or 8 credits), which broaden their academic education, and adds interdisciplinarity.

Minor courses are preferably selected from one of the other two specialisations or, alternatively, from other Master’s programmes offered by the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering.

To a detailed overview of the programme

Studying abroad

All students are given the opportunity to conduct part of their Master’s thesis research at a partner institution or organisation abroad.

In addition, European residents can undertake their Master’s thesis research at a European university within the framework of the Erasmus programme.

Assets

Tropical Natural Resources Management

The tropics and subtropics support more than three quarters of the world population. The majority of population growth is expected to occur in developing countries, many of which are located in (sub)tropical regions. The challenge is to increase food production in the (sub)tropics while conserving the natural resource base: preserving ecosystems, maintaining biodiversity, protecting ground- and surface water, and conserving the soil.

Small-scale farmers in (sub)tropical areas are faced with a multitude of constraints: irregular rainfall, pests and diseases, low soil fertility, lack of knowledge, lack of capital, poor access to markets, etc. Together, these constraints lead to low resource use efficiency: land, water, plant nutrients, solar radiation and labour are used inefficiently. Increasing population pressure therefore leads to a rapid expansion of farm land and threatens the natural resource base. Developing sound solutions that improve agricultural production systems in a sustainable way calls for an interdisciplinary approach. It demands experts with in-depth knowledge of one of the key disciplines underpinning tropical agricultural production systems as well as a good understanding of the broader biophysical and socio-cultural context.

Research on Tropical Natural Resources Management

KU Leuven has a long tradition of research in the field of biological production systems and natural resources management in the tropics. In the area of plants, current research focuses on the conservation, characterisation and management of plant genetic resources and the sustainable protection of agricultural crops. In the area of soil and water management, current research highlights integrated soil fertility management, irrigation management, soil conservation and the development of simulation models that describe soil processes. Research in the area of natural resource economics and policy focuses on measuring sustainability aspects of the food chain and developing food markets and supply chains. Lecturers contributing to the programme are involved in numerous research projects in the tropics. These projects provide excellent opportunities for students wishing to conduct thesis-related research in the tropics.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Master’s programme in Tropical Natural Resources Management may be employed in various professional fields related to tropical agriculture and food production systems, with particular emphasis on plant production, natural resource economics and policy, and sustainable soil management in the tropics. Because of the programme’s interdisciplinary approach, responsibilities may range from technical support over project management to policy advice. Graduates will be employed in public sector organisations, both nationally and internationally, in NGOs and in private companies. The generic nature of most of the knowledge and the expertise gained in the programme ensures that graduates will also find job opportunities outside the tropics in NGOs, in public and private organisations, in agencies and administrations involved in R&D related to the tropics and the sustainable development of natural resources. Finally, this Master’s programme provides an excellent preparation for undertaking PhD research.

In Belgium, graduates of the programme are entitled to use the title of ‘Bio-ingenieur’.

Registration fee

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More information

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If you have other questions, contact:

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
KU Leuven
tel. + 32 16 32 17 44

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