Program Details

Israel is not only a major exporter of agricultural produce but also of agricultural expertise. Students in the MSc in Horticulture degree program benefit from this extensive knowledge and learn how to apply it. The program provides a solid understanding of the fundamental processes of fruit trees, ornamental plants, flowers and forest trees from the perspective of physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and ecology. The curriculum covers a wide range of fields, including plant protection, soil and water, genetic engineering, biotechnology, and food science.

Hebrew University’s Department of Horticulture conducts a wide range of cutting-edge research in fields such as genetic engineering of fruit trees and ornamental plants, culture-based plant propagation, protein engineering and genomics, and molecular control of processes such as aging and wilting, flower and fruit development, flower pigmentation, hormone signals, and more. Students are taught the most advanced tools for conducting biological and agricultural research and applications.

While researching their theses, students draw on the theoretical tools they acquired in order to explore problems rooted in the practical needs of agriculture and forestry both in Israel and on a global scale. They apply the knowledge and skills they learn in class in researching real-life issues that impact agriculture, and they explore practical solutions for advancing the science of horticulture.

The 2-year program is offered as a non-thesis track (40 credits) and a thesis track (24 credits).

For more information, click here.

Career & Networking 

Hebrew University’s Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment has played a critical role in developing Israel’s advanced agricultural technologies, and students in the master’s program benefit from the opportunity to meet and learn from leading experts in their field.

Many graduates continue on to doctoral studies at Hebrew University or other prestigious institutions around the world. Others pursue careers in the biological high-tech industries, agricultural production companies, or Ministry of Health extension services, to name a few.

Teaching Faculty

Students in this program benefit from the extensive experience of the teaching staff, which is comprised of scientists with global reputations and leading academics affiliated with the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

The head of the teaching program is Prof. Alexander Vainstein, whose research interests include metabolic engineering of plants and yeast, and site-specific genome modification and genetic engineering in plants.

The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Ranked among the top 30 agricultural schools worldwide, the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment is committed to responsible preservation of the environment for future generations and to developing ways of increasing sustainable food and water resources. The long list of world-changing breakthroughs developed by the faculty’s researchers include modern drip irrigation methods, the cherry tomato, returning fragrance to flowers, environmentally safe pesticides, improving pollination by manipulating honeybee behavior, and a slew of other advanced environmentally responsible agricultural techniques, especially under conditions of scarce water. Teaching and research activities consistently advance modern agriculture while training tomorrow's scientists and agriculturists.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the program must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent from a recognized university in a relevant field, such as agricultural science or nutrition science, and a GPA of 80 or above (letter grade B-).

Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must demonstrate a high level of English proficiency by providing one of the following documents:

• proof of university-level exemption from English-language studies
• an official letter stating that the courses at the university where the applicant studied are conducted in English
• a minimum TOEFL score of 80 
• a minimum IELTS score of 6

A thesis supervisor must be secured by the candidate prior to applying to the thesis track.

For further application details, please visit the program website.

For detailed information on admission requirements, based on the country where you completed your undergraduate studies, please click here.

Tuition and Scholarships

Hebrew University offers full tuition scholarships to MSc students in research tracks in Natural and Exact Sciences.
Additional merit-based and need-based scholarships and living stipends may be available.

Further Information

Prof. Alexander Vainstein, Program Head: alexander.vainstein@mail.huji.ac.il

Program Website

 

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