Course description
This course is aimed at students who wish to pursue postgraduate research in a specialist area of wine and includes appropriate aspects of biology, chemistry, agriculture, geography or environmental science. Projects will be offered in the following areas: molecular biology, organic agriculture, crop production, pest management, sustainable agriculture, weed science, environmental impact assessment, analytical chemistry, geographical information systems, sedimentology, palaeoecology and environmental monitoring.
Future prospects
Successful graduates would be expected to find employment in research environments in both universities and industry. This programme of study will also provide you with the opportunities for a number of career pathways outside research, including advisory and extension services, marketing and scientific writing.
Course content
The course normally takes one year full-time and two years part-time. It consists of three taught modules in research skills, wine production and a specialist module. This is followed by a nine month research project that is linked to the area of specialist study. Applicants would be expected to have the appropriate level of background knowledge in biology, chemistry, geography, environmental science or agriculture but no previous knowledge of wine production is required. Specialist lectures in wine production will be part of the course.
Example research projects are:
* Using molecular markers to study different clones of Vitis vinifera cv. Madelaine Angevine
* The effectiveness of enzymes in increasing terpene levels in wine
* The history and development of organic viticulture in the UK
* The use of imaging technology and GIS in meso- and micro-scale site-grape variety studies
* Using an EIA to study the impact of a major vineyard development
Additional support for international students
Coventry University takes pride in the culture and richness that its international students bring to campus life. Currently over 2,000 international students from some 90 countries are pursuing programmes of study here, with a growing amount enrolling on postgraduate courses. A recent report ranked the University highly in terms of international student numbers, recognising our reputation as a leading international institution.
To meet the needs of this rapidly growing community within the University's student population, our International Office is on hand to provide assistance on all relevant matters such as visas and immigration. It also serves as an information centre to help international visitors locate the many services and activities both on campus and further afield.