Commerce

This section outlines the Master’s, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Commerce offered by the University of Sydney Business School.

For details of the combined Master of Commerce programs please refer to the relevant sections as follows:

• For the Master of Commerce and Master of Logistics Management please refer to Combined degrees section of this handbook.
• For the Master of International Business and Master of Commerce please refer to Combined degrees section of this handbook.

 

Course name	Master of Commerce *	Master of Commerce *	Graduate Diploma in Commerce	Graduate Certificate in Commerce
CRICOS code	077328F	019181A	019182M	023939C
Course abbreviation	MCom	MCom	GradDipCom	GradCertCom
Credit points required for completion	96	72	48	24
Duration (minimum)	2 years full-time	1.5 years full-time	1 year full-time	0.5 years full-time
	4 years part-time	3 years part-time	2 years part-time	1 year part-time

* The 72 credit point (12 unit program) Master of Commerce is only available to students commencing in Semester 1, 2013 (March). Students commencing study from Semester 2, 2013 will enrol in the 96 credit point (16 unit program) Master of Commerce. Students commencing the 96-credit point degree may be eligible for a reduction in the volume of learning for certified prior business study or professional business work experience.

I. Master of Commerce (12 unit program)

Note: This course is only available for students commencing study in Semester 1, 2013 (March).

The Master of Commerce is a 1.5-year program of full-time study (or three years part-time) designed to enable graduates with a recognised bachelor’s qualification in any field (and at a standard acceptable to the Business School) the opportunity to acquire an applied understanding of business concepts and practices, including in-depth knowledge in up to two preferred areas of business practice. While designed specifically for those from a non-business degree background, the program is also open to those with a prior bachelor’s qualification or higher in a business-related field. Prior learning in the business field may be recognised by means of waivers.

II. Master of Commerce (16 unit program)

Note: This course is for students commencing from Semester 2, 2013 (July).

The Master of Commerce is a two-year program of full-time study (or four years part-time) designed to enable graduates with a recognised bachelor’s qualification in any field (and at a standard acceptable to the Business School) the opportunity to acquire an applied understanding of business concepts and practices, including in-depth knowledge in up to two preferred areas of business practice. While designed specifically for those from a non-business degree background, the program is also open to those with a prior bachelor’s qualification or higher in a business-related field. Prior learning in the business field may be recognised by means of waivers and/or a reduction in the volume of learning.

III. Graduate Diploma in Commerce

The Graduate Diploma in Commerce is based on the master’s programs but requires the completion of fewer units of study. It is an option for students who do not want to commit to a full master’s program in the first instance, but who still wish to gain a solid grounding in their chosen field. Students can choose to progress to the Master of Commerce after satisfactory completion of the graduate diploma (at a standard acceptable to the Business School).

IV. Graduate Certificate in Commerce

The Graduate Certificate in Commerce is for students who wish to undertake a short academic training course for career purposes, or who would like to experience further study options to ascertain whether a graduate diploma or master’s program would be suitable. It is also an entry point for students with extensive work experience but without a previous academic qualification. Students can choose to progress to the graduate diploma or master’s course in Commerce after successful completion of the graduate certificate (at a standard acceptable to the Business School).

Course structures

I. Master of Commerce (12 unit program)

To be awarded the Master of Commerce, students complete a total of 12 units of study (72 credit points), including:

• two core units of study (12 credit points) - one in the first semester of study and one in the final semester of study
• two to five foundational units of study (12 to 30 credit points)
• one specialisation consisting of four advanced units of study (24 credit points) selected from the 'Commerce areas of specialisation'
• a second specialisation and/or elective units of study required to make 72 credit points in total for the degree (excluding foundational units) selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.^

^ High-performing students who have completed at least 48 credit points of study in the program may be eligible to replace an elective with BUSS6500 Industry Placement, if selected for work placement on competitive merit. High performing students who have completed at least 24 credit points of study may also be eligible to undertake up to 24 credit points of research-based units.

II. Master of Commerce (16 unit program)

To be awarded the Master of Commerce, students complete a total of 16 units of study (96 credit points), including:

• two core units of study (12 credit points) - one in the first semester of study and one in the final semester of study
• four to six foundational units of study (24 to 36 credit points)
• one specialisation consisting of four advanced units of study (24 credit points) selected from the Commerce areas of specialisation
• a second specialisation and/or elective units of study required to make 96 credit points in total for the degree (excluding foundational units) selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce coursework programs.^

^ High-performing students who have completed at least 48 credit points of study in the program may be eligible to replace an elective with BUSS6500 Industry Placement, if selected for work placement on competitive merit. High performing students who have completed at least 48 credit points of study may also be eligible to undertake up to 24 credit points of research-based units.

III. Graduate Diploma in Commerce

To be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Commerce, students complete a total of eight units of study (48 credit points), comprising:

• a core unit of study (six credit points) to be completed in the first semester of study
• two to three foundational units of study (12 to 18 credit points)
• additional elective units of study required to make 48 credit points in total for the course (excluding foundational units) selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce coursework programs.

IV. Graduate Certificate in Commerce

To be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Commerce, students complete a total of four units of study (24 credit points), comprising:

• a core unit of study (six credit points) to be completed in the first semester of study
• two to three foundational units of study (12 to 18 credit points)
• additional elective units of study required to make 24 credit points in total for the course (excluding foundational units) selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce coursework programs.

Core units of study

Master of Commerce students must complete both core units of study. Students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Commerce complete only BUSS5000.

• BUSS5000 Critical Thinking in Business (must be completed in the first semester of study)
• BUSS6000 Succeeding in Business (must be completed in the final semester of study)

Foundational units of study

Students enrolled in the Commerce programs must choose their foundational units of study as follows:

• Master of Commerce (12-unit program): two to five foundational units (12 to 30 credit points)
• Master of Commerce (16-unit program): four to six foundational units (24 to 36 credit points)
• Combined Master of Commerce degree programs: a maximum of three foundational units (maximum of 18 credit points)
• Graduate Diploma in Commerce: two to three foundational units (12 to 18 credit points)
• Graduate Certificate in Commerce: two to three foundational units (12 to 18 credit points).

(i) Foundational units of study offered by the University of Sydney Business School:

• ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
• BUSS5001 Firms, Markets and Business Management
• CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
• FINC5001 Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
• IBUS5002 Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• IBUS5003 Global Business
• INFS5001 Project Management
• MKTG5001 Marketing Principles
• QBUS5001 Quantitative Methods for Business
• TPTM5001 Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• WORK5003 Management and Organisations

(ii) Foundational units of study offered by the School of Economics (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences):

• ECMT5001 Principles of Econometrics
• ECON5001 Microeconomic Theory

Specialisations and electives

Master of Commerce - 12 and 16 unit programs

Master of Commerce students in both the 12 and 16 unit programs must complete one specialisation. A second specialisation may also be taken in a different field. For a specialisation, students complete at least one foundational unit of study (six credit points) and four advanced units of study (24 credit points) in a single subject area. Foundational units are normally completed within a student's first semester of study (full-time), or first two semesters (part-time). Elective (non-foundational) units of study are selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce coursework programs.

Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Commerce

Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate students select their elective (non-foundational) unit/s of study from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce coursework programs which includes the Commerce areas of specialisation. Four electives chosen from one subject area will not constitute a specialisation as specialisations are only awarded at the master’s level.

Areas of specialisation

(i) Specialisations offered by the University of Sydney Business School:

• Accounting
• Banking
• Business Information Systems
• Business Law
• Finance
• International Business
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Marketing
• People, Management and Organisations
• Project Management
• Quantitative Business Analysis
• Quantitative Finance
• Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

(ii) Specialisations offered by the School of Economics (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences):

• Econometrics
• Economics

For details of the structure and units available under these specialisations, please refer to the ‘Areas of specialisation’ section in this handbook.

Industry placement

Students who achieve a WAM of 65%+ in a minimum of eight units of study in the Master of Commerce (48 credit points) may apply for an assessable work integrated learning unit -BUSS6500 Industry Placement (six credit points). Access to this unit will be subject to the availability of suitable placements, with available placements offered on a competitive basis and subject to WAM performance and interview by the Program Director.

Please note: This unit cannot be counted towards a specialisation.

Dissertation

Students in the 16 unit (96 credit point) program who achieve a WAM of 80%+ in a minimum of eight units of study (48 credit points) in the Master of Commerce may apply to complete a research dissertation (24 credit points) consisting of three units of study: BUSS6998 Business Research Methods (six credit points), BUSS6999 Business Research Presentation (six credit points), and BUSS7000 Dissertation (12 credit points). Access to these units will be subject to the availability of suitable supervisors and subject to WAM performance and interview by the Program Director. Students in the 12 unit (72 credit point) program must achieve a WAM of 80%+ in a minimum of four units of study (24 credit points) to be eligible to apply to complete a research dissertation.

Please note: These units cannot be counted towards a specialisation.

Professional accreditation program requirements

I. Australian Computer Society (ACS) accreditation

Students planning to satisfy the accreditation requirements of the ACS should include in their degree a prescribed set of units of study, including a specialisation in Business Information Systems. The required units of study are listed below:

• The foundational unit of study INFS5001 Project Management and two other foundational units of study; and
• At least five INFS coded 6000-level elective units of study (30 credit points).

II. Professional accreditation in accounting

Students seeking associate membership of CPA Australia or the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA) should complete the Master of Professional Accounting which is accredited by both CPA Australia and the ICAA. Depending on their choice of units of study, however, students enrolled in the Master of Commerce or a combined Master of Commerce program may also be able to cover the core knowledge areas required for associate membership of CPA Australia or the ICAA.

As a guide, choice of the following units of study are suggested to maximise the coverage of the foundation core knowledge areas that are required by the two main professional accounting bodies in Australia:

Foundational units of study

• ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
• BUSS5001 Firms, Markets and Business Management; OR (ECON5001 Microeconomic Theory AND the non-foundational unit, ECON5002 Macroeconomic Theory)
• CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
• FINC5001 Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
• QBUS5001 Quantitative Methods for Business OR ECMT5001 Principles of Econometrics.

Accounting specialisation units of study

• ACCT5002 Managerial Accounting and Decision Making
• ACCT6001 Intermediate Financial Reporting
• ACCT6007 Contemporary Issues in Auditing *
• ACCT6010 Advanced Financial Reporting
• ACCT6014 Designing Accounting Systems

Non-specialist units of study

• CLAW6002 Corporate Structures in Practice
• CLAW6026 Taxation Law and Practice*

* Note: Students enrolled in the 12-unit Master of Commerce cannot complete all the required units of study covering the core knowledge areas for CPA Australia and ICAA joint accreditation requirements as part of their degree. However, CPA Australia allows graduates to cover auditing and taxation core knowledge areas within the elective component of their professional level CPA Program, if not part of the units of study that they have completed in their university degree. In addition, students are encouraged to seek advice from the ICAA as to any transition arrangements in moving from the 2012 accreditation requirements to the new joint-body 2013 requirements.

Students enrolled in the 16 unit Master of Commerce, commencing Semester 2 2013, can complete all the required units of study covering the core knowledge areas to meet the joint accreditation requirements for CPA Australia and the ICAA, depending on the area(s) of specialisation, and electives units of study, they select.

As recent changes have occurred in the foundation core knowledge area requirements of both professional bodies, students should check each of the ICAA and CPA Australia websites for current requirements for associate membership and further professional program requirements to achieve CA or CPA status. In addition, they can seek advice from the CPA/ICAA accreditation liaison officer in the Discipline of Accounting.

Progression guides

The following tables show degree progression examples for a student enrolled in the Master of Commerce, the Graduate Diploma in Commerce or the Graduate Certificate in Commerce.

I. Master of Commerce (12 unit program)

The following table shows an example degree progression for a student who wishes to attain one specialisation in the Master of Commerce on a full-time basis undertaking four units of study per semester (commencing from Semester 1).

 

Year	Semester	Units of study
1	1	foundational (articulates to specialisation)	foundational	foundational	BUSS5000
	2	specialisation	specialisation	foundational OR elective	foundational OR elective
2	1	specialisation	specialisation	elective	BUSS6000

The Business School website illustrates other units of study progression sequences for specific specialisations for the Master of Commerce. This information can be accessed at sydney.edu.au/business/courses/FC066/.

II. Master of Commerce (16 unit program)

(i) The following table shows an example degree progression for a student who wishes to attain one specialisation in the Master of Commerce on a full-time basis undertaking four units of study per semester (commencing from Semester 2).

 

Year	Semester	Units of study
1	2	foundational (articulates to specialisation)	foundational	foundational	BUSS5000
2	1	specialisation	foundational	foundational OR elective	foundational OR elective
	2	specialisation	specialisation	elective	elective
3	1	specialisation	elective	elective	BUSS6000

(ii) The following table shows an example degree progression for a student who wishes to attain two specialisations in the Master of Commerce on a full-time basis undertaking four units of study per semester (commencing from Semester 2).

 

Year	Semester	Units of study
1	2	foundational (articulates to specialisation A)	foundational	foundational (articulates to specialisation B)	BUSS5000
2	1	specialisation A	foundational	foundational or elective	specialisation B
	2	specialisation A	specialisation A	specialisation B	specialisation B
3	1	specialisation A	foundational or elective	specialisation B	BUSS6000

The Business School website illustrates other units of study progression sequences for specific specialisations for the Master of Commerce. This information can be accessed at sydney.edu.au/business/courses/FC076/.

III. Graduate Diploma in Commerce

The following table shows a course progression example for a student enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Commerce on a full-time basis completing four units of study per semester.

Please note: Students cannot be awarded a specialisation in the Graduate Diploma.

 

Year	Semester	Units of study
1	1	foundational	foundational	foundational or elective	BUSS5000
	2	elective	elective	elective	elective

IV. Graduate Certificate in Commerce

The following table illustrates a course progression example for a student enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Commerce on a full-time basis completing four units of study per semester.

 

Year	Semester	Units of study
1	1	foundational	foundational	foundational or elective	BUSS5000

Please note: The information listed in these examples is based on the unit of study offerings for 2013 and is intended as a guide only. Students are usually able to complete the units of study in different sequences to those listed (including enrolling in units in Summer or Winter School sessions when available). Students are advised to plan their degree based upon their individual needs and to contact the Student Information Office if they need any assistance in planning their progression in their course.