Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences (Agricultural Extension)
The Master of Science in Agriculture (Agricultural Extension) is designed to educate and equip professionals with advanced knowledge and practical skills needed to address persistent and emerging challenges in agricultural development. The programme develops graduates who can effectively generate, translate, and disseminate agricultural knowledge, strengthen extension systems, and support farmers and other stakeholders in adopting innovations that enhance productivity, sustainability, and livelihoods.
Building on the broad foundation provided by undergraduate agricultural programmes such as crop science, agronomy, agricultural extension and innovation, plant breeding, seed systems, and agricultural economics the MSc in Agricultural Extension allows students to specialize in understanding and improving communication, technology transfer, behaviour change, participatory development, and advisory services within agricultural systems.
The programme responds to the continuous demand for highly skilled extension professionals from government ministries, local governments, NGOs, civil society organisations, and private sector actors involved in agricultural development. It also supports the national and regional need for a strong pipeline of extension scholars, acknowledging that a master’s degree is the minimum qualification for entry into academia.
Students develop competencies aligned with the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) graduate expectations. These include the ability to critically reflect on extension theory and practice, analyse and creatively address complex agricultural and rural development challenges, make evidence-based decisions, design and implement professional extension projects, and communicate effectively with both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
To support this development, the programme integrates training in research methodology, data analysis, scholarly writing and publication, and use of digital tools in agricultural research and extension. Students gain skills in participatory methods, programme planning and evaluation, innovation systems, community mobilisation, and agricultural communication.
The expected outcomes of the MSc in Agricultural Extension align with international, regional, and national development agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). These frameworks emphasize capacity building for research, technology adoption, and effective extension services.
At the national level, the programme contributes directly to Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan III, the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture, and the Parish Development Model. All these prioritize the need for skilled human resources in agricultural extension to promote innovation, enhance food security, strengthen farmer resilience, and improve livelihoods across rural communities.
Overview
| Code | MAX |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Study time | Fulltime |
| Intake | August |
Entry requirements
Admission to the Master of Science in Agriculture (Agricultural Extension) follows the general regulations of Kabale University and the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Applicants must:
- Hold an honours Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields, or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university:
- BSc Agriculture
- BSc Biological Sciences
- BSc Forestry
- BSc Economics
- Or any other agriculture-related degree deemed equivalent.
- Applicants with a pass degree may be considered if they have:
- Substantial professional experience in agricultural extension, rural development, or related fields, or
- A relevant Postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, or a related field.
- International applicants must provide evidence of equivalence to the above qualifications and meet the university’s requirements for international admissions.
Fees structure
| Tuition Fees per Semester (East African) | UGX 1,500,000 |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees per Semester (Non East Africans) | UGX 2,250,000 |
| Fieldwork/School Practice/Industrial Training/Internship/COBERS Fees (per year) | UGX 1,000,000 (Years 1&2) |
Functional Fees
| Compulsory fees | UGX |
| Application fee | 50,000 |
| Registration fees (per Academic Year) | 60,000 |
| Identity Card (Payable once in the 1st Semester) | 20,000 |
| Student Manual (Payable once in the 1st Semester) | 20,000 |
| Library fee (per Academic Year) | 50,000 |
| Medicare fee (per semester) | 30,000 |
| Computer Laboratory fee (per Academic Year) | 100,000 |
| Laboratory Fee for MSc in Chemistry (Per semester) | 200,000 |
| Examination fee (per semester) | 100,000 |
| Innovation fund (per year) | 100,000 |
| Research fee (per Academic Year) | 200,000 |
| Development Fund (per Academic Year) | 100,000 |
| Student Games Union fee (Academic Year) | 20,000 |
| Student Guild fee (per Academic Year) | 20,000 |
| Contribution to the Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA) (per Academic Year) | 2,000 |
| Certification (per copy) | 5,000 |
| Graduation fee (Payable on Completion of Studies) | |
| a) Ceremony | 80,000 |
| b) Transcript | 50,000 |
| c) Certificate | 50,000 |
| d) Convocation | 20,000 |
| Total | 200,000 |
| Consequential fees | |
| Late Registration (per semester; after the deadline for official registration) | 50,000 |
| Replacement of Transcript (per issue) | 50,000 |
| Replacement of other University Credentials (Admission Letter, Identity Card, Library Card, etc…) | 20,000 |
| Retake/Supplementary/Missed/Special Exam fee (per course) | 50,000 |
| To be remitted to NCHE via www.ura.go.ug | |
| Contribution to National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) Collections (per Academic Year) | 20,000 |
Fees Structure 2025-2026
Course details
- LH Lecture Hours
- CH Contact Hours
- TH Tutorial Hours
- CU Credit Units
| Year Semester 1 | |||||
| Code | Course name | LH | PH | CH | CU |
| MAX8111 | Applied Extension methods and approaches | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8112 | Seed production and quality control | 30 | 30 | 45 | 4 |
| MAX8113 | Biometrics | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8114 | Project Planning and management for Extension | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8115 | Technological Changes and Agricultural Modernization | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8116 | Adult Learning Methods | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MCAR8008 | Computer applications in research | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| Total Semester Load | 28 | ||||
| Year I semester II | |||||
| MAX8121 | Rural Livelihood and Food Systems | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8122 | Programme Development and Evaluation | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8123 | Agricultural Communication of Innovations | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MRTM | Research methods | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8124 | Gender in Agriculture and food systems | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| MAX8125 | Agricultural policy analysis and Rural development | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| ABE8304 | Scholarly writing and presentation skills | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| Total Semester Load | 28 | ||||
| Year II semester 1 | |||||
| MAX8211 | Dissertation | 5 | |||
| MAX8212 | Agric-Innovations and incubation | 45 | 30 | 60 | 3 |
| MAX8213 | Approaches to Crop production and utilization | 30 | 30 | 45 | 3 |
| Electives (students choose one) | |||||
| MAX8214 | Applied Meteorology and Weather management in Agriculture | 45 | 30 | 60 | 3 |
| MAX8215 | Integrated Pest Management | 30 | 30 | 45 | 3 |
| MAX8216 | Animal Health and Nutrition | 45 | 30 | 60 | 3 |
| Total Semester load | 14 | ||||
| Year II semester II | |||||
| MAX8211 | Dissertation completion | ||||
| Total Graduation Load | 70 | ||||
L = Lecture hours, CH = Contact Hours, PH = Practical hour, CU = Credit Units.
CREDIT UNITS: 70
Career opportunities
Graduates of the MSc in Agriculture (Agricultural Extension) are equipped with advanced competencies that prepare them for a wide range of professional roles in agricultural development, advisory services, and knowledge transfer systems. Career opportunities include:
- Agricultural Extension Officers / Specialists
Providing advisory services, training, and technology dissemination to farmers and farmer groups, and strengthening extension delivery at district, national, and regional levels. - Research and Development Officers
Designing, conducting, analysing, and interpreting applied research on agricultural extension, farmer behaviour, innovation adoption, communication strategies, and rural development challenges. - Policy Analysts / Policy Advisors
Supporting government ministries, local governments, NGOs, and development agencies with evidence-based policy guidance on agricultural extension systems, rural transformation, food security, climate change adaptation, and community livelihoods. - Programme Planners and Managers
Designing, managing, and evaluating agricultural extension and rural development programmes, including value-chain development projects, community-based initiatives, and agricultural innovation platforms. - Agricultural Communication and ICT4Ag Specialists
Developing and managing communication strategies, digital extension tools, agritech solutions, and information systems that support farmer decision-making and enhance knowledge access. - Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Experts
Leading monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment of agricultural and rural development interventions. - Community Development and Farmer Empowerment Officers
Facilitating participatory approaches, community mobilisation, farmer organisation development, and gender-responsive extension. - Consultants in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Offering technical expertise to government bodies, NGOs, private sector firms, and development partners on extension methodologies, capacity building, and rural advisory services. - Academic and Scholarly Careers
Joining higher education institutions as lecturers or researchers and contributing new knowledge to agricultural extension through publication of original research in reputable journals.
Target Audience
The programme targets graduates with backgrounds in agriculture and related fields who wish to develop specialised skills in agricultural extension, advisory services, communication, and rural development. This includes:
- Fresh graduates with degrees in agriculture, agricultural extension, agronomy, agricultural economics, agribusiness, environmental science, rural development, or related biological sciences.
- Professionals already working with government ministries, local governments, NGOs, civil society organisations, agricultural research institutions, or private companies.
- Self-employed practitioners or innovators in agriculture seeking to strengthen their knowledge in extension, farmer engagement, and agricultural knowledge systems.