The Postgraduate Diploma in Co-operative Organisation/Food Marketing/Rural Development is a full-time programme running for 9 months from the date of first registration for the programme. Please note that as part of the FE6104* Practical Training Placement module, students will be placed for a minimum of eight weeks during the Summer in a relevant work environment.

The programme is open to graduates from a wide range of disciplines, including: Food Business, Food Science, Agricultural Science, Commerce, Education, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Geography and Law.

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Core Modules
Students take 55 credits as follows:
FE6109 Co-operative Organisation: Theory and Concepts (10 credits)
FE6111 Co-operative Organisation: Theoretical Application and Practice (5 credits)
FE6112 Rural Development: Theory and Practice (10 credits)
FE6113 Rural Development: Application and Practice (5 credits)
FE6114 Introduction to Food Marketing (5 credits)
FE6115 Food Marketing and the Consumer (5 credits)
FE6116 Marketing Strategies for Local Development (5 credits)

FE6104* Practical Training Placement (10 credits) - Students will be placed for a minimum of eight weeks during the Summer in a relevant work environment.

*As part of FE6104 Practical Training Placement, a report must be submitted for the Autumn Examination on a date specified at the beginning of the academic year. Programme leadership will be provided by the Department/Associate School of Food Business and Development in association with the Centre for Co-operative Studies.

Elective Modules
Students take 5 credits from the following:
FE4002 Global Food Policy (5 credits)
or
FE4008 Food Security and the Developing World (5 credits)
or
any other 5-credit module which may be made available by the Department/Associate School of Food Business and Development and the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, depending on the prior qualifications and interests of each student and subject to the approval of the Programme Leader.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2018 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2017/2018.

MSc Degree in Co-Operative Organisation/Food Marketing/Rural Development
Students achieving an average mark of at least 50% at the first attempt across all modules at the University Examination for the Postgraduate Diploma in Co-Operative Organisation/Food Marketing/Rural Development are eligible to proceed to Part II of the MSc Degree in Co-Operative Organisation/Food Marketing/Rural Development.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Co-operative Organisation/Food Marketing/Rural Development (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Communicate and work effectively to a high professional standard;
• Demonstrate advanced analytical and problem solving skills associated with effective practice;
• Engage in the application of advanced frameworks and techniques in organizational settings;
• Demonstrate advanced analytical skills associated with the key challenges and decisions facing those along the food supply chain;
• Demonstrate research proficency through the completion of independent food business research.