Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

1. The MPhil Degree is offered both on a part-time and fulltime basis. It is awarded on the successful completion of the required graduate courses and a thesis.

2. The normal time for the completion of this degree is two years for full-time students and four years for part-time students. Entry Requirements

3, This is a research degree and candidates should have strong undergraduate academic qualifications. The normal requirement is at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree (minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent) in the following disciplines or other approved areas:

• Agriculture
• Agribusiness
• Aquaculture
• Forestry
• Natural Resource Management
• Human Ecology

4. Special consideration will also be given to candidates with lower level qualifications but whom, in the opinion of the Board for Graduate Studies and Research, have adequate research or teaching experience in relevant disciplines.

5. Promising research candidates with undergraduate degrees not considered suitable for direct admission may be admitted to a qualifying year. (Please refer to the general postgraduate regulations regarding Qualifying Examinations)

Departmental Course Requirements

6. In addition to the basic requirements for admission, candidates will be expected to have at least nine credits of approved undergraduate Extension courses at Level II/III or the equivalent. Candidates without these required number of credits will be required to take appropriate undergraduate courses, which they must pass before submitting the proposal for the thesis.

Taught Graduate Courses

7. Candidates accepted into the M. Phil. programme will be required to register for at least four taught graduate courses including Research Methodology AGBU 6301. Students who enter the programme with a taught Master’s Degree or Postgraduate Diploma may be granted exemption from the course requirements. However, such students may be required to take additional courses to provide a specific knowledge base for their proposed research.

8. Students who fail more than 50% of their courses in their first attempt will normally be required to withdraw. Only one repeat attempt for each failed course will be allowed.

Thesis

9. The candidate must fulfil the MPhil thesis requirements of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture and successfully defend his/her thesis at a public oral examination