Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours)

Course 204-AA (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Year and Campus:	2008
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level:	Undergraduate

Contact

Undergraduate Student Centre
Ground Floor
Babel Building
The University of Melbourne
(enter from Gate 12, Royal Parade)

Tel: +61 3 8344 5317
Toll Free: 1800 666 300
Fax: +61 3 9347 3986
Email: commerce-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au

Faculty Mailing Address
The Faculty of Economics and Commerce
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Australia

Course Overview:	The honours year is an additional (fourth) year of specialised study in one or two of the following disciplines: accounting, finance, actuarial studies, economics, management, and related areas. It is an integrated program with small classes and an emphasis on research and specialised subject areas. It is normally taken on a full-time basis immediately after finishing the requirements for the three-year pass degree (degree requirements can be found in the Undergraduate Studies Handbook). Provision exists for deferred entry in exceptional circumstances. Intending applicants should note that students must commence the honours year within two years of completing the requirements of the ordinary (pass) degree. The honours year is open to commerce students and all double degree commerce students. Graduates of other institutions are also welcome to apply. The honours degree is an entry qualification for a masters degree and a PhD within Australia or overseas. A good honours degree also assists students in obtaining scholarships or other forms of financial support to undertake higher degrees. Career advancement has also tended to be more rapid for honours graduates.
Objectives:	-
Subject Options:	Accounting and business information systems Students are required to complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year honours. Students must take the following subjects: 306-466 Honours Research Methods; 306-467 Honours Research Essay. plus two or more of the following four subjects: 306-461 Studies in Corporate Reporting; 306-462 Studies in Management Accounting; 306-464 Studies in Business Information Systems; 306-465 Studies in Audit and Assurance Services. The remaining subjects must be approved by the Head of Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems to meet the overall load of 100 points. Actuarial studies Students are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year honours. Students must complete the following subjects: One of 300-400 Actuarial Studies Research Essay and 300-409 Actuarial Studies Projects; and 37.5 points of level-4 actuarial studies subjects; and 12.5 points of level-4 subjects taught by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce; and 25 points of approved level-3 or level-4 subjects taught within or outside the Faculty of Economics and Commerce. Economics Students are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year honours. Students must complete the following subjects: 316-402 Advanced Microeconomics; and 316-475 Economics Research Essay; and 316-403 Advanced Macroeconomics. by the end of the honours year students must have completed at least one level-3 or level-4 econometrics subject in addition to 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics (namely one of 316-318 Applied Microeconometric Modelling, 316-350 Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, 316-401 Microeconometrics, 316-449 Financial Econometrics or 316-470 Econometric Techniques); and three other subjects (if the econometrics requirement has been satisfied in third year then four other subjects), normally level-4 economics subjects. Students may choose up to two level-3 economics subjects (to include an econometrics subject) and one subject from another department within the University with the honours convenor's approval. Students who take 316-469 Financial Economics cannot include 316-351 Economics of Financial Markets in their final honours year program. Finance Students are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points). Students must complete the following: 333-401 Advanced Corporate Finance; and 333-402 Advanced Investments; and 333-404 Research Methods in Finance; and 333-410 Finance Research Essay; and 12.5 points of other subjects taught by the Department of Finance; and 25 points of subjects taught within or outside the Faculty of Economics and Commerce as approved by the Head of the Department of Finance. Level-3 subjects may not be taken with the exception of 316-350 Time Series Analysis and Forecasting. Management and marketing Students are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in the honours year. Students are required to complete the following: 325-408 Management Research Essay; and 325-407 Advanced Management Theory; and 325-410 Advanced Management Research The remaining four subjects (totalling 50 points) may be selected from the list of level-4 subjects taught by the Department of Management and Marketing. Students may also include up to two subjects taught by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce or other Faculty as approved by the Head of Department. No more than two level-3 subjects can be included in the program of study. If students wish to specialise they will be advised regarding a customised program of study in their particular area of interest. Combined honours program All students will undertake a research essay in one of accounting and business information systems, economics, finance or management and marketing plus the following subjects from the relevant discipline for the combined honours program. Up to one level-3 subject may be included in a combined honours program as approved by the relevant honours convenor. Accounting and Business Information Systems Students undertaking 306-467 Honours Research Essay must also enrol in 306-466 Honours Research Methods and one of the following subjects: 306-461 Studies in Corporate Reporting 306-462 Studies in Management Accounting 306-464 Studies in Business Information Systems 306-465 Studies in Audit and Assurance Services or students undertaking the research essay in another discipline must take three accounting subjects as approved by the Head of the Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems. Economics Students undertaking 316-475 Economics Research Essay must also enrol in three other level-4 Economics subjects as approved by the Head of the Department of Economics (316-4XX); or Students undertaking the research essay in another discipline must enrol in three economics subjects as approved by the Head of the Department of Economics. Finance Students undertaking 333-410 Finance Research Essay must also enrol in 333-404 Research Methods in Finance and two level-4/6 Finance subjects as approved by the Head of the Department of Finance or Students undertaking the research essay in another discipline must also enrol in the following: 333-401 Advanced Corporate Finance 333-402 Advanced Investments 333-618 Advanced Derivative Securities Management and Marketing 325-407 Advanced Management Theory and 325-410 Advanced Management Research and one other level-4 management and marketing subject (325-4XX).
Entry Requirements:	Eligibility Students who have reached the required standard must make a formal application to the General Manager for admission to fourth-year honours. The Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) is offered for full time, Semester 1 entry only. Intending applicants should note that students must commence the honours year within two years of completing the requirements of the ordinary degree. To be eligible for consideration applicants must have: completed the requirements of the pass degree (double degree students see Double degree students and eligibility also); and achieved an average mark of H2B in at least four subjects at level-3 in the intended area of study (including subjects nominated by the department as relevant to the discipline); and achieved a mark of H2B or better in three of the four subjects. Selection into honours is at the discretion of the relevant Head of Department. Some departments will impose a quota on the number of places available in their respective honours programs. In these instances the criteria listed below refers to the minimum level of achievement required to be considered for entry. Intending honours students should lodge a formal online application available at the Honours website http://www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/students/honours, no later than the last Friday of November. Double degree students and eligibility To be eligible for entry to the Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) students undertaking a BA/BCom, BA(M&C)/BCom, BAgSc/BCom, BAg/BCom, BE/BCom, BForSc/BCom, BFor/BCom, BCom/BIS, BCom/BSc or BPC/BCom must have either completed the requirements for the double degree (ie. completed 500 points and satisfied the minimum requirements of the BCom and the other component of the double degree) or completed at least 300 points within which the normal BCom requirements are met. That is: at least 200 points of commerce subjects have been completed; and between 87.5 and 125 level-1 points have been completed, of which at least 50 points are commerce; and at least 75 level-3 points have been completed, of which at least 50 points are commerce. Commerce/law students intending to undertake commerce (honours) must complete 75 level-3 commerce points if they wish to gain entry to honours in their fourth year of study. Commerce/law students should consult a commerce course adviser if they intend varying the standard course structure for the Commerce/law degree. In addition double degree students must have: achieved an average mark of H2B in at least four subjects at level-3 in the intended area of study (including subjects nominated by the department as relevant to the discipline); achieved a mark of H2B or better in three of the four subjects. Accounting To be eligible for admission to honours in accounting and business information systems, students must have satisfied the requirements of the pass degree and must have achieved a grade average of H2B in at least four level-3 subjects offered within the Faculty of Economics and Commerce. In addition, three of the four subjects must be from the Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems, at least two of them core, with a mark of H2B or better. Core subjects 306-301 Financial Accounting 306-302 Enterprise Performance Management 306-304 Auditing and Assurance Services 306-317 Strategic Enterprise Systems 306-316 Electronic Commerce 306-330 Business and Financial Analysis Electives 306-303 International Accounting 306-313 Management Control Systems 306-318 Designing Accounting Systems 306-320 Knowledge Management Systems In addition students should complete either 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics. Selection into honours is at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems. Actuarial studies To be eligible for admission to honours in actuarial studies students must have: satisfied the requirements for the pass degree; and achieved a grade of H2B or better in any four level-3 actuarial subjects. Note: A subject worth 25 points is treated as the equivalent of two 12.5 point subjects in the assessment of applications for honours. Selection into honours is at the discretion of the Director of the Centre for Actuarial Studies. Economics To be eligible for admission to honours in economics students must have satisfied the requirements of the pass degree and they should complete: 316-312 Macroeconomics; and 316-313 Microeconomics; and 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics; and another level-3 economics subject (prefix 316) or other approved subject. Normally students should have achieved an average grade of H2B in at least four economics subjects at level-3 and have achieved a grade average of H2B or better in three of the four subjects. Students are strongly advised to give early consideration to a topic for their fourth year research essay. They will need to obtain approval for it from an advisor during semester one of their fourth year. Selection into honours is at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Economics. Finance To be eligible for admission to honours in finance, students must have completed the requirements of the pass degree, must have achieved an average grade of H2B in at least four subjects offered within the Faculty of Economics and Commerce and must have achieved an H2B in at least three of the four subjects. These four subjects must include: 333-301 Investments and 333-302 Corporate Finance. Students must also have passed 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics. Selection into honours is at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Finance. Students should note that a quota will be applied to the number of places available for honours in finance. Management and marketing To be eligible for honours in management and marketing students must have completed the requirements of the pass degree, must have achieved an average grade of H2B in at least four level-3 management and marketing subjects and must have achieved an H2B in at least three of the four subjects. Selection into honours is at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Management and Marketing. Students should note that a quota may be applied to the number of places available for honours in management and marketing. The current English language requirements for undergraduate programs offered by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce will apply. Combined honours program Students may undertake a combined honours program across two disciplines within the Faculty. For example honours in economics/finance or accounting and business information systems/management and marketing. Requirements for entry to a combined honours program where one discipline is: Accounting and business information systems Three of the following subjects, including at least one core subject: Core subjects 306-301 Financial Accounting 306-302 Enterprise Performance Management 306-304 Auditing and Assurance Services 306-317 Strategic Enterprise Systems 306-316 Electronic Commerce 306-330 Business and Financial Analysis Elective subjects 306-303 International Accounting 306-313 Management Control Systems 306-320 Knowledge Management Systems 306-318 Designing Accounting Systems In addition students should complete either 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics. Economics Three level-3 economics subjects (316-3XX) including at least two of the following: 316-312 Macroeconomics 316-313 Microeconomics 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics Finance 333-301 Investments, 333-302 Corporate Finance and either 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics Management and Marketing Three level-3 management and marketing subjects (325-3XX).
Core Participation Requirements:	Students with a temporary or permanent disability or medical condition requiring additional assistance should contact the Faculty's Disability Contact Officer (FDCO). The FDCO can ensure that students with special needs have access to a number of University services provided by the Disability Liaison Unit (DLU), including alternative examination arrangements (such as additional writing time or a venue which is wheelchair accessible), notetakers or sign language interpreters, specialised equipment (such as computer screen reading software) and overall support in liaising with academic and other general staff. Students who think that they may require alternative exam arrangements should discuss this matter with the Faculty's Disability Contact Officer early in the academic year (or, in the case of acute conditions, as soon as possible). Some form of documentation will normally be required. It is possible for students with permanent disabilities with non-changing effects to have appropriate examination arrangements on an on-going basis if they register with the DLU. Note that English as a second language is not grounds for alternative exam arrangements. For more information on the wide range of services that the DLU provide, go to their website http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability or visit them on campus to make a time to discuss your needs.
Graduate Attributes:	None
Notes:	The BCom (Honours) course consists of the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points). Grades are awarded for each individual subject and an overall grade result is returned for the course. Students are required to complete the equivalent of eight subjects and to obtain a minimum of a pass in each of them. Students are not allowed to repeat an honours subject/component for which they have received a mark of less than 50 per cent. The honours degree is only awarded to students who pass all subjects of the course and who complete the year with an average grade of H3 (65 percent) or higher. In determining the final grade, individual subjects are weighted according to their points value. Students who do not meet these requirements will not be awarded the Honours degree. These students will still be able to take out the pass degree if previous commerce studies were undertaken at the University of Melbourne.

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