For over 15 years the Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center of the Ghent University, Belgium has been involved in education and training in aquaculture, especially in larviculture of fish, shrimp and mollusks.
The programme « Master of Science in Aquaculture » is a two years' programme at university level covering the most important aspects of the farming of marine and freshwater organisms.
The M.Sc. is taught in English and is open to holders of a bachelor's degree in exact or applied sciences.
Aim of the programme
This programme aims to train researchers to perform and supervise research in various fields of aquaculture ; to train experts who can draw and implement strategies for future development in the aquaculture industry ; to train key persons who can act as a nucleus in their local environment through dissemination and teaching their acquired knowledge.
Programme
In the first semester basic knowledge in biology, physiology, microbiology, statistics, informatics is broadened/refreshed. The second semester and the second year focus on specific aspects of aquaculture :
larval culture, production techniques, hygiene & disease control.
The whole first semester of the second year students follow the MSc programme of the Agricultural University of Wageningen in the Netherlands as an exchange programme with the Ghent University.
In the last semester thesis work is performed at one of the participating universities.
Admission
The programme is open to holders of an undergraduate degree in aquaculture, biology, agronomy, veterinary medicine, or any related area from a recognized College or University.
Scholarships
The VLIR (Flemish Interuniversity Council) issues a limited number of grants to students from developing countries as listed by the OECD. Since the number of requests for these ICP grants exceeds by far the number of grants available, and since only a restricted number of nationalities can receive a scholarship, we strongly advise you not to rely exclusively on this source of funding and to actively explore all other potential sources (e.g. your own government, FAO, UNIDO, UNESCO, World Bank, service clubs, etc.).
Application
Interested students can request application forms (both for academic acceptance as for the ICP-scholarship) by mail or email via Jean Dhont, MSc Course Coordinator (address below).
Contact
Jean Dhont, MSc Course Coordinator
Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Ghent University
Rozier 44, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
tel : +32-9-264.37.54 ; fax : +32-9-264.41.93 (or +32-55-302871)
e-mail (internet) : jean.dhont@rug.ac.be
www homepage : http://www.rug.ac.be/aquaculture