The Master

Training Programme

The programme of the Master in Olive Growing and Oil Technology is spread across two academic years for a total of 120 ECTS. The first year consists of a post-graduate specialisation course and the second year is dedicated to introduction to research and preparation of the Master of Science Thesis.

Year One

The Postgraduate Specialisation Course of the Master in Olive Growing and Oil Technology accounts for 60 ECTS, and comprises lectures, practical field and laboratory work, and technical visits.

The course is divided into three main areas: Production, Industrialisation and Economics.

PRODUCTION

  • I.- THE PLANT (8 ECTS)

  • • Development, growth and physiology of the olive tree (Module 14)

  • • Flowering and fruit set. Structures and processes (Module 15)

  • • Plant material and breeding (Module 16)

  • • Propagation (Module 17)

  • II.- CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES (17 ECTS)

  • • Design and establishment of plantations (Module 18)

  • • Pruning (Module 19)

  • • Nutrition and fertilisation (Module 20)

  • • Soil management and conservation (Module 21)

  • • Irrigation (Module 22)

  • • Irrigation methods and systems (Module 23)

  • • Mechanisation (Module 9)

  • • Experimental methods in olive growing (Module 26)

  • III.- CROP PROTECTION (4 ECTS)

  • • Pests (Module 24)

  • • Crop diseases and health (Module 25)

INDUSTRIALISATION

  • I.- PROCESSING OF TABLE OLIVES (6 ECTS)

  • · Green olives (Module 6)

  • · Black olives (Module 7)

  • II.- OIL PROCESSING AND QUALITY (17 ECTS)

  • · Preliminary operations. Separation systems (Module 2)

  • · Control of the process. Storage (Module 3)

  • · Quality. Bottling of virgin olive oil. Quality in management (Module 4)

  • · Practicals: Placements in industrial oil mills. Tasting course (Module 5)

  • · Industrial projects (Module 8)

  • · Olive oil and human health (Module 1)

ECONOMICS

  • · Production systems, demand and consumption (Module 10)
  • · Commercialisation and marketing (Module 11)
  • · International trade, business strategies for industrial groups and cooperatives (Module 12)
  • · Information systems for characterising the olive oil sector (Module 13)

The course will be held from the end of September 2025 to the end of May 2026 in morning sessions. Full-time commitment is required for the course.

Year Two

Students that have successfully completed all the modules in the Postgraduate Specialisation Course may opt to go on to the second year (60 ECTS) focused on introduction to research.

Students choose their research subject in accordance with their training interests, following acceptance of a project protocol by the thesis supervisor (an experienced tutor with a PhD). They work on their research project under the supervision of their tutor and publish the results in a written thesis that they present publicly before an examining board.

In order to be eligible for a scholarship from the organising institutions covering the second year, participants must obtain an average score of 7/10 or above in the Postgraduate Specialisation Course.

Campus de Rabanales, Edificio C4
Carretera de Madrid km. 396, 14071 Córdoba

Tel: +34 957 218 351

© 2024. Máster Universitario en Olivicultura y Elaiotecnia