Agricultural Economics

About Agricultural Economics

The goal of graduate training in Agricultural Economics is to provide students with the applied concepts and tools to identify, define, and analyze economic problems affecting the performance of the agri-food sector and the environment. Attention is given to:

• the development of analytical skills in Applied Economics related to agriculture, environment, and ecological economics;
• Environmental and Resource Economics;
• International Agricultural Development;
• Farm Management, Production, and Finance.

The program prepares graduates for rewarding careers in research, analysis, and decision-making in academia; private and NGO sectors; and government. For more information on the M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, please refer to Natural Resource Sciences. Further details can also be found on the Agricultural Economics page.

Agricultural Economics Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Admission Requirements

This program provides students with applied economic concepts and tools to identify, define, and analyze economic problems affecting the performance of the agri-food sector and the environment. The ideal prior preparation is an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics or Economics, including undergraduate courses in intermediate economic theory (micro and macro), calculus, algebra, statistics, and econometrics.

Attention is given to the development of analytical skills in the broad areas of agricultural, environmental, and ecological economics. Students may specialize, by way of their research program, in agribusiness, development, finance, marketing and trade, policy, and resource economics. The program prepares graduates for rewarding careers in research, analysis, and decision-making in academia, private, and NGO sectors, and government.

When an applicant does not have sufficient background in economics for admission to the M.Sc., they may be admitted to a Qualifying Year program of undergraduate courses. To enter the M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the Qualifying Year program, a student must earn a GPA of at least a 3.2 in the approved program. In all cases, after completion of a Qualifying Year, an applicant interested in commencing the M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics must apply for admission by the posted deadline.

Details on the M.Sc. are available from Master of Science (M.Sc.) Agricultural Economics (Thesis) (45 credits). Further details can also be found on the Agricultural Economics page.

Financial Aid

Graduate students pursuing thesis-based programs within the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (AES) benefit from diverse funding sources throughout their studies at McGill University. Financial support may come from a combination of guaranteed funding, prospective funding, and employment salary.

Upon admission to a thesis-based program in the Department of Agricultural Economics, a student will be offered a funding package which will include a certain amount of guaranteed funding and may include additional prospective funding. The proposed funding arrangement will be outlined in a departmental funding letter addressed to the student, in supplement to the offer of admission from the University.

Students admitted to non-thesis graduate programs in the Department of Agricultural Economics are responsible for procuring funding (e.g., scholarship or personal funds) to cover their tuition, fees, and living expenses for the duration of their program. Students should give serious consideration to financial planning before submitting an application. You can find tuition and fee information on McGill’s Student Accounts Graduate Fee Calculator or you may contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for your program of interest. Applicants may wish to consult the Fund your Studies web page for financial aid or external scholarship possibilities.

English Language Proficiency

For graduate applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized Canadian or American (English or French) institution or from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, documented proof of English proficiency is required prior to admission. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.

Application Procedures

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply.

See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.

Additional Requirements

The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement
• The GRE – not required, but highly recommended

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Department of Agricultural Economics and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.

Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.

Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.

Location