Master of Commerce (MCom)
| Course Code | FC066 |
| Course Type | Postgraduate |
| Credit Points Required | 72 |
| CRICOS code | 019181A |
Description
The Master of Commerce has been revised for students commencing in 2012.
The Commerce programs draw on the breadth of research and teaching expertise in the University of Sydney Business School to assist students to develop the advanced skills and knowledge required for a high-level position in industry, commerce, and government. These programs offer specialised education in the following areas: accounting, banking, business information systems, business law, economics, econometrics, finance, international business, logistics and supply chain management, management and organisations, marketing, quantitative business analysis, quantitative finance, strategy and innovation and project management.
Note: Students who commenced their degree prior to 2012 should refer to the course structure, available specialisation subject areas and resolutions in the handbook for the year they commenced. Archived downloadable handbooks can be accessed on the Handbooks website. Students who commenced in 2011 should refer to the information available from the following link: Master of Commerce - degree structure and progression for 2011 continuing students 
Information can also be found under the 'Postgraduate coursework programs for continuing students (discontinued programs)' page under FC014 Master of Commerce.
Degree requirements
To be awarded the Master of Commerce, students must successfully complete a total of 12 units of study (72 credit points), comprising:
- two core units of study (12 credit points)
- two to five foundational units of study (12 to 30 credit points) #
- a specialisation selected from one of the Commerce areas of specialisation
- an optional second specialisation (different to that chosen as a first specialisation); OR elective units of study selected from the areas of specialisation.
# Graduates with a bachelor's degree qualification in Commerce or Business may apply for waivers for foundational units.
Please Note: The information set out here is for students commencing their Master of Commerce degree in 2012. Continuing students should follow the degree structure outline in the Handbook for the year they commenced their degree
Core units of study
Master of Commerce students complete two units of study:
- BUSS5000 Critical Thinking in Business (completed in the first semester of study) #
- BUSS6000 Succeeding in Business (completed in the final semester of study)
# Commencing Commerce students who wish to be considered for a waiver of BUSS5000 must complete a 60-minute invigilated test in one of two scheduled sessions to be held at The University of Sydney Business School in the week prior to semester commencement. For further details refer to the academic literacy assessment in the Master of Commerce program
Foundational units of study
Master of Commerce students complete two to five foundational units of study. The available foundational units are as follows:
(i) Foundational units from the University of Sydney Business School:
- ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
- CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
- FINC5001 Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
- IBUS5001 Strategy, Innovation and 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 from the School of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
Specialisations
Students complete at least one specialisation as a requirement for the Master's degree. For a specialisation, students complete at least one foundational unit of study (six credit points) and four advanced units of study (24 credit points). The foundational unit for a specialisation is completed within a student's first semester of study and the capstone unit for the specialisation is completed in a student's final semester of study. Students select their specialisation and/or electives from the following areas:
(i) Specialisations from the University of Sydney Business School:
- Accounting
- Banking
- Business Information Systems
- Business Law
- Finance
- International Business
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Management and Organisations
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Quantitative Business Analysis
- Quantitative Finance
- Strategy and Innovation
(ii) Specialisations from the School of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
Commerce internship
Students who achieve a WAM of 75%+ in a minimum of the first four units in the Master of Commerce (24 credit points) have the possibility of undertaking an assessable work integrated learning unit (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.
Progression guides
1. 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.
| Year / Semester | Unit of study 1 | Unit of study 2 | Unit of study 3 | Unit of study 4 | Total credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 |
foundational (articulates to specialisation) |
foundational |
foundational |
BUSS5000 |
24 |
Year 1 |
specialisation |
specialisation |
foundational or elective |
foundational or elective |
24 |
Year 2 |
specialisation |
specialisation |
elective |
BUSS6000 |
24 |
2. 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.
| Year / Semester | Unit of study 1 | Unit of study 2 | Unit of study 3 | Unit of study 4 | Total credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 |
foundational (articulates to specialisation A) |
foundational (articulates to specialisation B) |
specialisation B |
BUSS5000 |
24 |
Year 1 |
specialisation A |
specialisation A |
specialisation B |
specialisation B |
24 |
Year 2 |
specialisation A |
specialisation A |
specialisation B |
BUSS6000 |
24 |
Students who intend to meet specific professional body accreditation requirements should check the information listed under the heading Accreditation program requirements as this may impact on the choice of specialisation/s and electives.
Please Note: The information listed in these program of study examples is meant as a guide only. Students should always check the requirements for individual units of study. Students are usually able to complete the units of study for their degree in different sequences to those listed above. You are advised to plan their degree based upon your individual needs and to contact the Student Information Office if you need any assistance in planning your progression in your degree.
Degree progression examples - specialisations and specialisation combinations
The following downloadable degree progression examples illustrate all single specialisations and some specialisation combinations which can undertaken in the Master of Commerce. Students should note that many other combinations of specialisations can be completed other than those illustrated in the examples below.
One specialisation
- Specialisation in Accounting
- Specialisation in Banking
- Specialisation in Business Information Systems
- Specialisation in Business Law
- Specialisation in Economics
- Specialisation in Finance
- Specialisation in International Business
- Specialisation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Specialisation in Management and Organisations
- Specialisation in Marketing
- Specialisation in Project Management
- Specialisation in Quantitative Business Analysis
- Specialisation in Quantitative Finance
- Specialisation in Strategy and Innovation
Two specialisations
- Specialisations in Accounting and Business Law
- Specialisations in Accounting and Finance
- Specialisations in Banking and Finance
- Specialisations in Business Law and Business Information Systems
- Specialisations in Finance and International Business
- Specialisations in International Business and Marketing
- Specialisations in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and Business Information Systems
- Specialisations in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and Project Management
- Specialisations in Management & Organisations and Project Management
- Specialisations in Management & Organisations and Strategy & Innovation
- Specialisations in Quantitative Business Analysis and Economics
- Specialisations in Banking and Quantitative Finance
- Specialisations in Quantitative Finance and Quantitative Business Analysis
- Specialisations in Strategy & Innovation and Marketing
Accreditation program requirements
Australian Computer Society (ACS) accreditation program
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 foundation unit of study INFS5001 Project Management from 'Foundational units of study'
- At least five advanced Business Information Systems (INFS 6000-level) elective units of study (30 credit points) including INFS6020.
For further information, click on the following link: ACS accreditation.
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 Masters of Commerce or a combined Master of Commerce program can cover core knowledge areas required for associate membership of CPA Australia or the ICAA.
As a guide, choice of the following units of studies are suggested to maximise the coverage of the foundation core knowledge areas that are required by the two main professional accounting bodies in Australia:
1. CPA Australia accreditation
Foundational units of study
- ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
- CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
- QBUS5001 Quantitative Methods for Business; OR ECMT5001 Principles of Econometrics
- FINC5001 Capital markets and Corporate Finance
Accounting specialisation units of study
- ACCT5002 Managerial Accounting and Decision Making
- ACCT6001 Intermediate Financial Reporting
- ACCT6010 Advanced Financial Reporting
- ACCT6014 Designing Accounting Systems
Non-specialist units of study
- ECON5003 Economics for Accountants
- CLAW6002 Corporate Structures in Practice
Note. From 2004, CPA Australia has allowed graduates to complete auditing and taxation core knowledge areas, which would normally be required for accredited degree, as part of their professional CPA Program electives if not part of the units of study that they have competed in their university degree.
2. ICAA accreditation
Foundational units of study
- ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
- CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
- FINC5001 Capital markets and Corporate Finance
Accounting specialisation units of study
- ACCT5002 Managerial Accounting and Decision Making
- ACCT6001 Intermediate Financial Reporting
- ACCT6007 Contemporary Issues in Auditing
- ACCT6010 Advanced Financial Reporting
Non-specialist units of study
- CLAW6002 Corporate Structures in Practice
- CLAW6026 Taxation Law and Practice
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 CPA or CA status. In addition, they can seek advice from the CPA/ICAA accreditation liaison officer in the Discipline of Accounting.
Entry requirements
For entry into this degree, students must have completed a bachelor's degree, graduate diploma/certificate or equivalent from a recognised tertiary institution with a minimum credit (65 per cent) average.
For details of the English language requirements for entry into this course, please refer to the webpage titled English Language Requirements for International Students under the Admissions information on the University's website.
Minimum duration of degree
| Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|
| 1.5 years | 3 years |