Overview

The Master of Agricultural Research (MAR) is a postgraduate research degree designed to equip students with specialised knowledge and research abilities in Agricultural Economics and related areas. The programme is intended for bachelor’s degree holders who are interested in research and who meet the necessary admission requirements.

Candidates complete specialised coursework in Research Methodology and Thesis Proposal Development before undertaking an independent thesis under supervision. Research may be pursued in Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Finance, Agribusiness, multidisciplinary agricultural studies, or other relevant areas. The thesis must demonstrate sound scholarship and contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

The programme is delivered online through IOU’s virtual campus and supported through virtual supervisor-supervisee engagement. Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded the Master of Agricultural Research degree. Career paths include management-level positions in agribusiness, industry or government, research roles, and academic positions.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the program, students would be able to

PLO1 Investigate, analyse, think critically, and integrate complex information, problems and concepts in Agricultural Economics.

PLO2 Understand and contribute to innovation within an advanced body of knowledge.

PLO3 Plan an extensive piece of research using advanced knowledge of research principles and methods.

PLO4 Demonstrate creativity and communicate effectively to a range of audiences, justifying the selected research question, research design, and explanation of research results.

PLO5 Implement research that demonstrates mastery, critical reflection, synthesis and evaluation in the application of theoretical knowledge.

PLO6 Disseminate research outcomes to professional and general audiences.

PROGRAM ALIGNMENT WITH IOU’s VISION & MISSION

The MAR aligns with IOU’s vision and mission by:

• Providing facilitated access to quality higher education to students around the world, particularly in Agricultural Economics research.
• Promoting Islamic values of peace, harmony and tolerance through the curriculum, pedagogical practices and teaching approaches.
• Contributing to the establishment and strengthening of knowledge-based communities globally.
• Creating diverse scholarly communities where students engage in intellectual rigour, high ethical standards and critical evaluation.

Semesters

Admission Requirements

Applicants are expected to meet the following requirements:

• Honours level qualification in a related field with a minimum of 65% marks or equivalent.
• A detailed research proposal.
• High level of English language proficiency, such as overall IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.
• Industry experience is essential.
• Research experience is preferable, but not essential.
• Prior publications in peer-reviewed journals are preferable, but not essential.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, candidates must complete the required coursework, successfully complete and defend the thesis, and obtain final thesis approval. The thesis must demonstrate mastery of the scholarly field of research and make a meaningful contribution to knowledge. Candidates are also required to publish, or have fully accepted for publication, at least one research paper or article relevant to the MAR research project in a peer-reviewed academic journal before submitting the final thesis draft.