Program Details

Field crops and vegetables cultivation constitutes the main staple food source for the world’s rapidly growing population. In the coming years, these agricultural branches will need to increase yields while minimizing their environmental footprint under continually decreasing resources. In Israel, field crops and vegetables are highly technological and rely on sophisticated agrotechnology and biotechnology.

The MSc in Field and Vegetable Crops degree program aims to prepare students to lead this dynamic field by acquiring a deep understanding of the physiological and biological principles and processes related to crop productivity in the field. Students are encouraged to develop independent critical thinking that enables them to analyze challenges and search for solutions based on professional literature and experimentation.

The curriculum includes basic biological, biochemical, ecological, genetic and molecular research pertaining to crops and vegetables; applied research of agricultural management, and husbandry; and an integration of fundamental research with applied research. Courses provide a deep understanding of crop biology, physiology and developmental processes that determine yield and its limitations. The program aims at preparing students to become active agronomists in complex agro-ecological production systems and agri-business environments. 

The program is offered in a non-thesis (40 HUJI credits) and a thesis (24 HUJI credits) track, each extending over two years.

For more information, click here.

Career & Networking 

There is a growing worldwide demand for agronomists who are specialists in sophisticated vegetable and herb production and use methods of precision agriculture. Since Israel is a guiding force in the area of advanced agriculture, especially in the field of crop production, students enjoy a unique opportunity to meet world-class experts and experience cutting-edge agriculture up close.  

Program graduates pursue careers in crop and vegetable management, as well as in agricultural education and in the fields of high-tech food processing, seeds, chemicals and biotechnology. Many continue on to doctoral programs at Hebrew University or other elite institutions in Israel or abroad, followed by academic careers at research institutions or agricultural experiment stations. Others develop agricultural high-tech products.

Teaching Faculty

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

The head of the teaching program is Prof. Shahal Abbo, who is an expert in Near Eastern crop evolution and grain legumes genetics.

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 includes modern drip irrigation methods, the cherry tomato, returning fragrance to flowers, environmentally safe pesticides, improving pollination by manipulating honeybee behavior, and further environmentally responsible agricultural techniques, many of which can be employed under conditions of water limitations. 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 must have 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 the applicant’s previous academic studies were conducted in English
• a TOEFL score of at least 80
• an IELTS score of at least 6

For the research track, a thesis supervisor must be secured prior to applying. Please go to this website for advice on how to find a supervisor.

It is also possible to start one’s studies in the one-year non-research program in plant sciences and switch to the research track of field and vegetable crops after the first year. This has the advantage that students will have gotten to know the faculty by then and can more easily find a supervisor whose research fields match the student’s interests. Moreover, students in the research track are eligible for scholarships (see below).

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.

 

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