Course structures

Course requirements

1. Master of Commerce

To be awarded the Master of Commerce, students complete units of study totalling 96 credit points, comprising:

• a 6 credit point core unit of study (completed in the first semester of study);^
• 12 to 36 credit points in foundational units of study; *
• a 6 credit point capstone unit of study (completed in the final semester of study);**
• at least one specialisation (24 credit points in advanced units of study) selected from the Commerce areas of specialisation; and
• any additional specialisation/s, dissertation and/or elective units of study required to make 96 credit points in total, selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.^

^ Students with prior business experience or relevant qualifications may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to reduce the length of study required.

* Students with a prior business qualification may apply to have foundational units waived.

** Students who are accepted into the 24 credit point dissertation may apply to have the capstone unit of study waived.

The Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce is set out under the Commerce - Units of study table section and the Commerce subject areas section in this handbook.

2. Graduate Diploma in Commerce

To be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Commerce, students complete units of study totalling 48 credit points, comprising:

• a 6 credit point core unit of study (completed in the first semester of study);
• 12 to 18 credit points in foundational units of study; and
• any additional elective units of study required to make 48 credit points in total (excluding foundational units), selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.

The Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce is set out under the Commerce - Units of study table section and the Commerce subject areas section in this handbook.

3. Graduate Certificate in Commerce

To be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Commerce, students complete units of study totalling 24 credit points, comprising:

• 12 to 18 credit points in foundational units of study; and
• any additional elective unit/s of study required to make 24 credit points in total selected from the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.

The Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce is set out under the Commerce - Units of study table section and the Commerce subject areas section in this handbook.

Specialisation subject areas

Master of Commerce

Master of Commerce students must complete at least one specialisation. Within the two-year (96 credit point) degree it is possible to complete two specialisations, however, any reduction in the duration of the degree makes the completion of more than one specialisation difficult. A specialisation usually requires the completion of at least one six credit point foundational unit of study and 24 credit points in advanced units of study 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). Advanced units of study cannot be counted towards more than one specialisation.

Elective (non-foundational) units of study for the Master's degree are selected from any of the Commerce subject areas or from the list of degree-level elective options (which are not part of a specialisation). All the available units are listed in the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.

Graduate Diploma in Commerce

Students enrolled in the graduate diploma select their elective (non-foundational) unit/s of study from the Commerce - Units of study table section and the Commerce subject areas section.

Students should note that specialisations are only awarded at the master's level.

Graduate Certificate in Commerce

Students enrolled in the graduate certificate may select their elective unit of study from the core, foundational or Commerce areas of specialisation. All these units are listed in the Commerce - Units of study table section and the Commerce subject areas section.

Students should note that specialisations are only awarded at the master's level.

Areas of specialisation

• Accounting
• Business Analytics
• Business Economics*
• Business Information Systems
• Finance
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Marketing
• People, Management and Organisations

* This subject area is taught by the School of Economics (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences).

Elective opportunities in the Master of Commerce

Students enrolled in the Master of Commerce can select elective units of study from the Specialisation subject areas listed above or from the stand alone degree-level elective units (as listed in Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.

Specific degree level electives can be taken from the following areas.

(1) Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units of study

(i) Industry Placement Program (IPP) (Master of Commerce only)

Students who achieve a WAM of 65%+ in a minimum of eight units of study (48 credit points) may apply for an assessable work-integrated learning industry placement. Access to these units is subject to the availability of suitable placements, with available placements offered on a competitive basis.

The Business School's Industry Placement Program (IPP) offers placement opportunities in the following locations:

• Sydney - placements with Sydney based firms
• Canberra - placements in government and not-for-profit agencies
• Regional NSW – placements with regional organisations
• International - placements in Asia, Europe, South America and the USA

Note: IPP units cannot be counted towards a specialisation.

Further information on the Industry Placement Program (IPP) can be found at sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program.

The available IPP units of study and all other miscellaneous elective units are listed in the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.

(ii) Student Sourced Placements (Master of Commerce only)

Students who achieve a WAM of 60%+ across two semesters of full-time study (a minimum of eight units of study – 48 credit points) may apply to have their self-sourced placement (if eligible) approved as six elective credit points towards their degree.

Further information on the Student sourced placements can be found at Student sourced placements.

(2) Study tours and immersion programs (Master of Commerce only)

The University of Sydney Business School offers a wide variety of opportunities for students in this area which can be taken as part of the Master of Commerce. For details of available programs and tours please refer to Study tours and immersion programs on the Business School website.

(3) Remote and Rural Enterprise (RARE) Program

RARE is a community-engaged learning program, connecting postgraduate students at the University of Sydney with remote and rural enterprises in Australia to collaboratively complete action-research projects.

Further information regarding the RARE programs can be found on the Real-world experience page on the Business School website.

(4) Dissertation (Master of Commerce only)

Students 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) comprising:

• For full-time students: BUSS7002 Business Dissertation; OR
• For part-time students: BUSS7000 Business Dissertation A and BUSS7001 Business Dissertation B.

Access to these units is subject to the availability of suitable supervisors, WAM performance and interview. Further information, please contact .

Note: These units cannot be counted towards a specialisation. However, they may substitute as a capstone for this degree.

These dissertation units of study are listed in the Table of postgraduate units of study: Commerce.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Business Knowledge: Our Master's programs develop each graduate to be a knowledgeable business practitioner leading to students who are able to demonstrate an integrated understanding of key concepts, techniques and trends in one or more fields of business practice and the challenges and opportunities involved in applying this knowledge in diverse contexts. (Assured in capstone unit).
2. Critical Thinking: Our Master's programs develop each graduate to be an autonomous and constructive critical thinker leading to students who are able to question, assess and respond independently and creatively to assumptions, propositions and debates within one or more fields of business practice. (Assured in capstone unit).
3. Business Analysis and Problem-Solving: Our Masters programs develop each graduate to be a capable business analyst and strategic problem-solver leading to students who are able to apply a range of quantitative and qualitative research skills to identify and diagnose complex and unfamiliar problems and to use the evidence and findings generated to formulate strategically appropriate solutions within one or more fields of business practice. (Assured in capstone unit).
4. Communication: Our Master's programs develop each graduate to be a persuasive communicator and negotiator leading to students who are able to use a range of communications strategies to reach agreement with others about appropriate responses to complex and unfamiliar problems within one or more fields of business practice. (Assured in capstone unit).
5. Team Working: Our Master's programs develop each graduate to be a capable team leader in work-related contexts leading to students who are able to influence others to work collaboratively to address complex and unfamiliar problems within one or more fields of business practice. (Assured in capstone unit).
6. Ethical and Social Responsibility: Our Master's programs develop each graduate to be an ethically- and socially-responsible professional leading to students who are able to demonstrate ethical and social awareness and responsibility in personal decision-making and behaviour within one or more fields of business practice. (Assured in capstone unit).