Postgraduate Doctoral Study in Agricultural Economics

Welcome

The postgraduate study in Agricultural Economics at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb has existed and thrived for four decades as the only study of its kind in Croatia. This Agricultural Economics Postgraduate Study Application is supplemented and tailored to the ECTS system, so it is compatible with other postgraduate studies in Europe and worldwide.

The postgraduate study is organized by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb. Co-organizers of the postgraduate study are three agri-economic departments of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb: Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Department of Farm Management and Department of Marketing in Agriculture.

Interdisciplinarity

The postgraduate studies are intended to educate the students for an academic degree of doctor of philosophy in the scientific field of agriculture, branch of economics, and make them capable of independent work and promotion of this scientific branch and its interdisciplinary. It correlates agriculture, as a biotechnical science, with economy, as the social scientific discipline, including the rural sociology.

The postgraduate study in Agricultural Economics introduces its postgraduate students to the principles of agricultural production economics, cost theory and farm management, to the market research and marketing of agricultural and food industry products, than contemporary agricultural - and broader - rural policy, co-operative movements and other forms of business associations, than rural sociology and methodologies of rural communities research, rural financing, and public administration.

This doctoral studies enables also the contemporary knowledge in management skills in general, as well as in financial management and the complex background system for decision making process in agriculture and agribusiness.

Implementation of adopted knowledge and qualifications

Based on knowledge gained during the studies, doctors of philosophy in agricultural economics may work at farms and in agri-business, in complementary sectors, processing industry, trade, tourism and similar branches of economy.

They may also find employment in public sector, administrative and technical services supporting agriculture, fisheries, and agricultural production, such as ministries and other institutions, agricultural directorates and agricultural extension and similar institutions, banks and state institutes. Doctors of philosophy are trained for work at universities and scientific research institutions, and for translation of scientific knowledge to practical use, publishing scientific papers etc.

The professionals awarded this academic degree will be capable of creating and implementing scientific research projects and programs (national and international), including the ones that create the baseline of the agricultural policy measures and agricultural legislation.

Compatibility with related international curricula

As regards the concept, contents and courses, the Curriculum and Program of the postgraduate study is compatible with a number of similar programs in Europe and world. It certainly does not copy the curricula of any of the below enlisted studies, but agrees with them to a certain degree.

• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences-Economics and Business Administration -Uppsala, Sweden.
• International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies-Montpellier, France.
• Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, UK.
• Agricultural University of Norway (NLH) AAS Aberdeen, Norway.
• University of Wageningen, Department of Agricultural Economics, The Netherlands.
• University of Saskatchewan Department of Agricultural Economics, Canada.
• Universität Hohenheim, Master Program ENVIROFOOD. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Germany.

The doctoral program student may select courses from other doctoral programs of study available from the University of Zagreb, and from programs of other universities, in line with the inter-university cooperation. The students' mobility is guaranteed also by the possibility to achieve ECTS points by taking modules and by scientific work in other scientific and high-school institutions in Croatia or abroad.

Admission requirements

The enrolment in the Doctoral studies in Agricultural economics is organized on the basis of a competition, officially published by the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb, on the suggestion of the leader of the Study. The requirements are as followed:

1. Completed undergraduate studies and/or graduate studies (MS by Bologna system); BSc (diploma) or equivalent by previous system;
2. Completed Master degree study;
3. Completed studies abroad, due to the point 6.1. (items 1 and 2),  with recognized diploma in Croatia.
4. Advantage would have candidates, due to the items 1 and 2, who have diploma in the field/branch of agricultural economics.
5. For candidates who don't have the completed studies in the scientific area of biotechnical sciences, some additional modules could be determined to take, which is arranged by the Rules on Doctoral study in Agricultural economics;
6. Candidates with grade point average (GPA) during the undergraduate studies not less than 3.50 (or equivalent), or exceptionally with the special decision of the respective Faculty Board, on the basis of elaborated written recommendations of three university professors;
7. Written recommendation, or confirmation of the candidate's mentor that the dissertation is made on his/her research project, or of the project leader (in cases where mentor is not the project leader) or the written statement of the candidate about his/her own financing of the research within the dissertation
8. The masters of science and masters students with all exams completed would be enabled to enroll to the third year of the Doctoral study, with the mentor's confirmation and approval of the expert commission from the Doctoral Study Teaching Staff Council.

The admission requirements on the Doctoral study are published in public competition in newspapers.

Study organization and implementation

The Doctoral study in Agricultural economics for the scientific degree of doctor of philosophy is organized to last three years (180 ECTS points in total). By direct teaching process (exams and seminars) candidates can achieve at least 42 and most 54 points. Credit points evaluation of the teaching process consist of passing two core modules and three to five elective modules, as well as two seminar papers, while the rest of the points (up till 180 ECTS points at least) are realized by scientific and teaching work and by defending the dissertation, due to the following points-system:

Time-table

First semester

The teaching activities are organized through lectures for five to seven modules, during 15 weeks (per 6 ECTS points per module). For smaller groups of students, teaching can be organized in blocks and, if the number of student is less than five, the teaching can be organized through consultations with respective teachers involved in modules. The module Scientific research methodology is core for all students of the Doctoral study. The other core module for participants is the module directly connected with the dissertation research area on which mentor/tutor is the module coordinator or the associate. The rest of the modules - at least three, five the most - student takes on the suggestion of his/her mentor and with confirmation of the Doctoral Study Teaching Staff Council.

Students of the Doctoral study in Agricultural economics can take modules from other doctoral studies home and abroad, by the approval of mentor and the Doctoral Study Teaching Staff Council.

In arrangement with the mentor, student chose themes for two seminar papers from the field of his/her dissertation. These papers should be evaluated by the mentor during the next semesters (according to the time-table of the Doctoral study).

Second semester

Student of the Doctoral study prepare and present in public one seminar evaluated by his/her mentor. Also agreed with the mentor, the student prepares and defends in public the dissertation theme in front of professional commission, whose members are suggested by the  Doctoral Study Teaching Staff Council, and approved by the respective Faculty Board. The student's mentor can not be a president of this commission.

Third semester

To register in the second year of the Doctoral study (the third semester), the student needs to pass the exam from the core module Scientific Research Methodology, the exam from the core module directly connected to the dissertation research area, and successfully defend one seminar paper from the dissertation research field. The student is expected to work on his/her dissertation, to participate in teaching and/or scientific and professional activities, to publish scientific papers, to improve himself/herself scientifically, to participate actively (with papers) on domestic and international meetings etc. These activities (according to the credit groups) are proved by mentor and registered in the matriculation book (with associated ECTS points).

Fourth semester

The student continues with the activities mentioned in the third semester.

Fifth semester

The requirement for the registration into the third year of the Doctoral study is that student passes all exams from the elective modules (3-5), to successfully defend the second seminar paper from the dissertation research area and to fulfill the activities from teaching, scientific and professional work.

Sixth semester

The student finalizes the dissertation, as well as teaching, scientific and professional activities.

Admission to the dissertation defense

Fulfilled all requirements of the Doctoral study (120 ECTS points).

Requirements for admission to the higher study year

Finalization of the Doctoral study

The Doctoral study for the student-participant on this doctoral study is finished by a public defense of the dissertation in a front of professional commission, after the completed procedure prescribed by the Statute of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb.