1. Handbook
  2. Courses
  3. Master of Philosophy - Agricultural Sciences
  4. Attributes, outcomes and skills

Master of Philosophy - Agricultural Sciences (MR-PHILAGR) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

You’re viewing the 2021 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2021 version of this course

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course students should be able to:



  • demonstrate advanced learning in research skills and mastery of appropriate techniques, such as the use of archival or primary evidence, analysis of data, judgment of conflicting evidence, etc;
  • demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of their research;
  • present the results of their research in publishable quality or work towards incorporating their findings in further research;
  • gain access to certain types of employment through this specialist qualification; and
  • demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics or code of practice.

Graduate attributes

Research masters degrees at the University of Melbourne seek to develop graduates who have a capacity for defining and managing a research project characterised by originality and independence. Their training equips them for more sustained and original work at the doctoral level or for applied research positions in a wide variety of contexts. 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.

Last updated: 4 June 2022