Master of Commerce

The degree is designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research. The thesis should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge and make an independent contribution to original research.

Supervised research on approved topics may be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis in the discipline of Actuarial Studies.

• To provide students with the opportunity to acquire an in-depth knowledge about a particular topic;
• To provide students with a capacity to read and critically evaluate the scholarly literature in the discipline;
• To provide students with the capacity to pursue independent research by providing training in research methods;
• To provide students with an understanding of and commitment to research ethics and high standards of scholarship;
• To provide students with an opportunity to contribute original research in the field which may lead to publication and to provide students with the on-going capacity to publish independent research findings; and
• To provide an appropriate foundation for students intending to proceed to a PhD program.

Course Requirements

Candidates will be required to pursue original research on an approved topic for at least one year full-time, or two years part-time. Candidates must consult with the Head of the relevant Department or Centre before lodging their submission for approval of their research project with the Manager (Professional Programs). When a candidate is accepted for the Degree of Master of Commerce by thesis a supervisor is appointed and the candidate should consult with the supervisor regularly.

Candidates are required to complete an annual report each year before re-enrolment will be permitted. Candidates are required to present the results of their research in the form of a thesis of about 30,000 words or, on the recommendation of their supervisor, a series of papers.

Three copies (typewritten, double-spaced) of the thesis must be submitted and, if passed by the examiners, one will be deposited in the University Library. Theses submitted for examination must be lodged with the Executive Officer (Research and PhDPrograms) who will arrange for the appointment of external examiners and the conduct of the examination process.

Masters Thesis Guidelines and Codes of Practice can be found at www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/research/

Admission to Master of Commerce courses normally requires either:

• (a) A four-year honours degree in economics, commerce or related discipline of at least second class honours (H2B 70-74%) standard; or
• (b) Successful completion of a preliminary course, normally the relevant Postgraduate Diploma, at an overall standard at least equivalent to that required for second class honours.

The Faculty of Business and Economics welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the Faculty’s programs.

The BCom and Masters degrees of the Faculty of Business and Economics equip graduates with the knowledge and technical skills necessary to understand and participate in the modern business world. The degrees include the following academic requirements for study:

(1) The ability to explain and evaluate concepts, theories, institutional arrangements and operations of modern mixed economies;
(2) The ability to critically evaluate the economy, commerce and business in the broader social and political context;
(3) The ability to explain and apply concepts across a range of commerce and business disciplines in solving business and policy problems; and
(4) The ability to contribute positively to the development of organisations and society in relation to business, government and the commercial professions.

All students of the Faculty’s courses must possess intellectual, ethical, and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the Faculty. Candidates for the BCom degree and for FBE Masters degrees must have abilities and skills in communication; in conceptual, integrative, and quantitative dimensions; and in behavioural and social dimensions.

I. Communication: The student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and/or written form. A student must have the ability to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and application of a discipline, principles or practices during assessment tasks, and in some discipline streams.

II. Intellectual‐Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The student is expected to have the ability to develop problem‐solving skills and demonstrate the ability to establish study plans and priorities. These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities. Students should also have the ability to comprehend complex disciplinary and cross disciplinary information related to the BCom and Masters degrees.

III. Behavioural and Social Attributes: A student must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment and the emotional health required for full utilisation of his/her intellectual abilities. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students. Integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that are deemed necessary for students enrolled in FBE courses.

Students who feel their disability will prevent them from participating in tasks involving the inherent academic requirements of the BCom and FBE Masters courses are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit. Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, but students should participate in the course in an independent manner.

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate the following attributes and skills:

• Independent research;
• Critical evaluation;
• Analysis, interpretation and synthesis of information;
• Problem solving;
• Time management, which should be developed by completing a major research project within a limited period of time and maximising the quality of research; and
• Effective management of information, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate.

Code of Conduct for Research

All staff and graduate students in the Faculty must accept the obligation that in conducting and reporting on their research they will do so in a scholarly fashion and will provide sufficient documentation to enable others to replicate their results without inordinate difficulty. Amongst other things this implies that authors of papers applying econometrics/statistical procedures must ensure that they describe data sources, data transformations, packages used and estimation methods employed in sufficient detail that another researcher could replicate the study.

All staff and graduate students are expected to behave in a scholarly fashion, reporting the results of their research honestly, with full documentation on data sources etc. and with proper acknowledgement of any assistance they may have had from others.

Details of the Code of Conduct can be found at www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/research/

Assessment

Current assessment for M Com (Management) and Masters of Commerce by Research (Actuarial)

H1 80-100%

H2A 75-79%

P 65-74%

Candidates achieving an overall average of H1 or H2A will be awarded the Master of Commerce (Honours) degree.