Master of Agribusiness

The Master of Agribusiness is designed for professionals working in areas such as food and fibre production; risk analysis and management; banking and insurance; chemical, fertilisers and other input industries; domestic and international marketing, and forest industries.

This course is distinctive because it integrates business management and marketing with science and technology.

The objectives of the course are to allow candidates to:

• undertake research in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of food and fibre products;
• make a distinct contribution to the knowledge base; and
• advance and communicate research findings.

A person will normally be admitted into the course if they:

• Hold a degree from this or another university or tertiary institution recognised by the Melbourne School of Land and Environment; or
• Can provide the Faculty with satisfactory evidence that they have had adequate training and have the ability to pursue the course of advanced study and research proposed for the degree of Master of Agribusiness; and
• Have undertaken preliminary courses of study required by the Faculty and have satisfied the examiners in relation to any assessments prescribed by the faculty.

The Master of Agribusiness was developed specifically for the agribusiness professional. The course will broaden students' understanding of the industry in which they operate and enhance analytical skills required in the day-to-day work environment. To maximise rewards from undertaking the course, students should have two to five years experience in the agribusiness field. Students do not need an academic background in business or economics, however some understanding of the complex systems involved in agribusiness is assumed.

The University expects its research Masters graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

• an ability to initiate research projects and to formulate viable research questions
• a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report independent and original research on a closely-defined project
• an ability to manage time to maximise the quality of research
• an understanding of the major contours of international research in the research area
• a capacity for critical evaluation of relevant scholarly literature
• well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities appropriate to the discipline
• the ability to analyse research data within a changing disciplinary environment
• the capacity to communicate effectively the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication
• an understanding of and facility with scholarly conventions in the discipline area
• a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship
• a capacity to cooperate with other researchers
• an ability to manage information effectively, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study.

Assessment

Candidates are normally assessed by examination of a research thesis submitted at the conclusion of their studies. Assessment is in accordance with the procedures documented in the Masters (by Research) Generic Guidelines published by the Melbourne School of Graduate Studies. www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/pgstudy/MastersGenericGuidelines.pdf

In the Melbourne School of Land and Environment, the Masters degree is awarded simply as a 'Pass' once all requirements of the examination process have been met. In addition, examiners are asked to select a numeric grade for the thesis for the purposes of assisting subsequent scholarship applications that MSLE Masters graduates may submit to support their study toward the degree of PhD. The numeric grade does not appear on the University testamur or on the student's official record. It is held in the School's Graduate Studies Office and students may request that this information is removed from the faculty file if they so wish.