Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology (Honours)

This is a one-year honours degree that sits on top of an undergraduate pass degree in viticulture and oenology or a closely related field. You spend the year on a supervised research project, usually in a vineyard, winery or lab, and you write it up as a thesis. The point is to take you from someone who can follow a winemaking or vineyard protocol to someone who can design a study, collect and analyse data, and argue a case from evidence.

How the year is structured

Australian honours years are built around a single research unit plus supporting coursework. At Adelaide, that typically means a major project unit worth a large share of the year's credit points, plus seminars or coursework units in research methods, statistics and scientific writing. You work with a supervisor, meet regularly, and present your findings at the end. Assessment is mostly your thesis, with some marks for seminars, a literature review and your final presentation. The year is full-time and intensive; there is little room for a casual approach.

What you actually study

Topics depend on your project, but honours work in this field usually touches vine physiology, soil and water management, grape composition, fermentation microbiology, wine chemistry, sensory analysis, or vineyard and winery sustainability. You might spend a vintage in a commercial winery collecting data, or a season in a research vineyard tracking ripening. Alongside the project you learn how to search the scientific literature properly, design an experiment that someone else could repeat, and use the statistical tools that viticulture and oenology research relies on. You also learn to write for a scientific audience and to defend your work in front of people who will push back.

Where it fits in the Australian system

This qualification sits at AQF level 8, above a three-year bachelor degree and below a master's. It is the standard route into a PhD in Australia, and many students use it that way. Adelaide has long-standing links with the Australian wine industry through its research and teaching vineyards, and honours projects are often connected to industry problems. The degree is not a pathway to registration in a profession, because viticulture and oenology is not a registered profession in Australia. It is a research training year.

Who it suits

You should consider this if you have a pass degree in viticulture, oenology, agricultural science, plant science, biology or a related area, and you want to do research, work in a technical role in the wine industry, or go on to a PhD. It also suits people already working in the industry who want a formal research qualification. International students should note the English requirement published for this course and check the current CRICOS entry for tuition and details. While studying in Australia on a student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances. Confirm all details, including English equivalents and credit, on the official page.

• Vineyard manager or assistant vineyard manager
• Winemaker or assistant winemaker
• Viticulture or oenology research assistant
• Laboratory analyst in wine chemistry or microbiology
• Wine quality assurance or compliance officer
• Technical sales or vineyard advisory roles
• Further study: PhD in viticulture, oenology or plant science

Employers include Australian wine companies, contract wineries, vineyard management firms, research organisations such as CSIRO and state agriculture departments, wine laboratories, and universities. The skills also transfer to horticulture, food and beverage quality roles, and agricultural consulting.