1. Admission to Candidature
1.1. An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture shall:

(a) have fulfilled all of the requirements for admission to the degree of Bachelor of Agriculture in the University; or

(b) have fulfilled all of the requirements for award of the Graduate Diploma in Rural Science; or

(c) have fulfilled all the requirements for some other qualification approved by the school as equivalent to that specified in Rule 1.3.(a).

(d) A candidate who has been recommended by the school for award of the Graduate Diploma in Rural Science may be permitted to transfer to candidature for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture.

(e) A candidate for the Graduate Diploma in Rural Science who has completed units counting at least 24 credit points and who has satisfactory academic record may be permitted to transfer to candidature for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture.

1.2. Admission to candidature and the date of commencement of candidature shall be determined by the school on the recommendation of the relevant postgraduate course coordinator.

2. Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Agriculture
2.1. Each candidate shall complete a course of study approved by the school and pass such examinations as shall be prescribed.

2.2. (a) The course of study shall comprise the completion of units with a total value of at least 72 credit points including graduate-level units with a value of at least 48 credit points, including RUSC 695.

(b) All units for the degree must be at 300 level or higher.

(c) The unit RUSC 695 involves a research project and thesis. The project topic must be approved in advance by the Postgraduate Course Coordinator on the recommendation of the head of school, who will also appoint a supervisor for the project. The project may take the form of a design or a field or laboratory investigation or other research.

2.3. The prescribed course of study may be reduced by up to 24 credit points for candidates who have transferred to candidature in terms of Rule 1.3.(d).

2.4. Depending upon the candidate’s academic and professional background and the nature of the research project, the school may permit the candidate to undertake part or all of the project away from the University.

3. Period of Candidature
The requirements for the degree shall be completed over a period of not more than two years in the case of full-time candidates or over a period of not more than five years in the case of part-time candidates except that:

(a) where the prescribed course of study has been reduced in terms of Rule 1.3.(e) the period of candidature may be reduced by up to one semester for full-time candidates or by up to five semesters for part-time candidates;

(b)  in exceptional circumstances and on the recommendation of the candidate’s supervisor, the period of candidature may be extended.

4. Advanced Standing
On the recommendation of the relevant postgraduate course coordinator, a student may be granted advanced standing to a maximum of 24 credit points towards the Master in terms of Advanced Standing Rule 2 provided that:

(a) the maximum advanced standing which may be granted in terms of Rule 2.1.(a) for an awarded Graduate Certificate or a Graduate Diploma in a relevant area offered by the University shall be for units counting 24 credit points; or

(b) the maximum advanced standing which may be granted in terms of Rule 2.1.(b) shall be for units counting 24 credit points; or

(c) the maximum advanced standing which may be granted in terms of Rule 2.2.(b) shall be for units counting 12 credit points; and

(d) the maximum advanced standing which may be granted in terms of Rule 2.3. shall be for units counting six credit points;

(e) advanced standing shall not be granted for RUSC 695.

5. Supervisor’s Reports
The supervisor shall report to the school on the progress of the candidate’s work after two semesters from the date of enrolment and at any other time considered expedient.

6. Presentation of Thesis
6.1. The thesis shall be written concisely in English and, except with the special permission of the school in exceptional circumstances, shall not exceed 20 000 words, exclusive of tables, plates, figures and appendices. A successful thesis shall show capacity on the part of the candidate for independence of thought and critical evaluation of the candidate’s own and published work in his or her field of study. The candidate shall state generally in the preface and specifically throughout the thesis the source of his or her information and the extent to which he or she has used the work of others. The candidate may not present as the thesis any work that has been the basis of the award of a degree of this University or other institution but is not precluded from incorporating such work in the thesis provided that, in presenting the thesis, the candidate indicates the part of the work that has been so incorporated.

6.2. The candidate shall submit to the Student Centre two copies of the thesis bound in a form approved by the school. The candidate shall submit with the thesis a statement from his or her supervisor certifying that the thesis is in a form suitable for examination.

7. Examination of the Thesis
Rules for Examination of Theses can be found here.