Master of Commerce Frequently Asked Questions

Key changes to our Master of Commerce and Master of Commerce (Extension) include:

Core units

There are two new core units on offer to equip you with the right mindset to understand that problems are best approached from multiple perspectives and that multiple skills are required to solve them. The new units are:

• Creative and Analytical Mindsets
• Responsible and Business Mindsets

Specialisations

We have revised our specialisations to eight areas of study that will build on the knowledge you have been introduced to in the core units. These specialisations will deliver technical skills that are at the heart of business, in areas that are easily recognisable to industry. Specialisations include: 

• Accounting
• Business Information Systems
• Data Analytics for Business
• Economics
• Finance
• Global Logistics
• Marketing
• Strategy, Innovation and Management

Degree level selective units

We have introduced degree level selective units designed to broaden your perspectives. You will look at how the technical skills acquired in your specialisation may be applied to different types of work or career environments and how your skills can be used in important new areas of business. This will allow you to grasp the multidimensionality of your specialised learning. 

Capstone units

Capstone units specific to each of the specialisations have been introduced to ensure that every part of the curriculum introduces, develops and assures all of the University of Sydney graduate qualities.

Master of Commerce

Our Master of Commerce is designed for students prior business or management qualifications or experience seeking to build on your existing expertise. To meet admission criteria, you will need to have either a bachelor’s degree in business, or a bachelor’s degree in another discipline with at least one year of full-time relevant business work experience.

Key features of our Master of Commerce include:

• 18 months in duration
• Choose one specialisation
• Integrated capstone experience
• Dedicated industry engagement experiences

As a shorter degree, you will accelerate your career in business and return to the workforce sooner with up-to-date skills and technical know-how.

Master of Commerce (Extension)

Our Master of Commerce (Extension) is designed for students with no prior business experience, who are looking to make a career change or who wish to undertake a longer program which allows for completion of two specialisations, participation in a global exchange program or dissertation (high achieving students only). 

Key features of our Master of Commerce (Extension) include:

• Two years in duration
• Choose up to two specialisations
• Integrated capstone experience
• Dedicated industry engagement experiences
• Choose from either:
  • A research extension (potentially qualifying you for postgraduate research);
  • An international exchange opportunity; or
  • Additional elective units of study from an extensive collection

The Master of Commerce is a 1.5-year degree consisting of 12 units of study (72 credit points), made up of:   

1. Two core units of study (12 credit points) 
2. One to three foundational units of study (6-18 credit points)  
3. One specialisation selected from the eight commerce areas of specialisation (24 credit points in addition to the foundation unit)  
4. One specialisation capstone unit of study (6 credit points) 
5. At least two degree level selective units of study (a minimum of 12 credit points) 
6. Any additional elective units of study required to make 72 credit points in total

Information on the units available can be found on Sydney Courses.

The Master of Commerce (Extension) is a 2-year degree consisting of 16 units of study (96 credit points), made up of:   

1. Two core units of study (12 credit points) 
2. One to three foundational units of study (6-18 credit points)  
3. One or two specialisations selected from the eight Commerce areas of specialisation (24 credit points in addition to the foundation unit for each specialisation)* 
4. One specialisation capstone unit of study (6 credit points) 
5. At least two degree level selective units of study (a minimum of 12 credit points) 
6. Any additional elective units of study required to make 96 credit points in total. 

Information on the units available can be found on Sydney Courses. 

*Please note, high achieving students who are accepted into the dissertation will complete one specialisation and the dissertation in the Master of Commerce (Extension). 

Professional accreditation information can be found on the Business School website where information on accreditation and accredited units is updated regularly. 

Students who complete the Master of Commerce or Master of Commerce (Extension) with a specialisation in Accounting may be eligible to receive exam exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Please visit the ACCA exemptions calculator for further information.

The Master of Commerce allows you to complete one specialisation.

The Master of Commerce (Extension) allows you to complete one specialisation and up to two specialisations.

Admission criteria for our programs can be found on the relevant Sydney Courses pages:

• Master of Commerce
• Master of Commerce (Extension)

English language requirements

The University of Sydney standard English language requirements can be found here.

In response to COVID-19 disruptions, temporary arrangements have been made for students who are applying for full unconditional offers for semester 1, 2021. More information can be found here.

Please note: The University of Sydney acceptance of these tests is not related to any visa requirements. It is the students’ responsibility to check the Home Affairs website for all visa related information.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with an overall credit (65%) average grade or higher, you will be eligible for our Master of Commerce (Extension), subject to meeting other admission criteria. 

If you have a non-cognate bachelor's degree with at least one year of full-time relevant business work experience, you will be eligible for both our Master of Commerce and Master of Commerce (Extension), subject to meeting other admission criteria.

Yes. As a general guideline, if you have a qualification in business with a minimum credit average, you may receive credit for up to two foundational units of study (12 credit points) to study the Master of Commerce or Master of Commerce (Extension).

If you have completed some postgraduate business study (not yet counted to a qualification), you may be eligible for additional credit.

Applicants’ credit eligibility is assessed based on a specific credit matrix. If your prior studies are relevant to the MCom specialisations, regardless whether your degree has a name in business or not, you are encouraged to submit a credit application to have your credit eligibility assessed along with your course application.

View our Master of Commerce recognition of prior learning credit matrix (PDF 87kb).

For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.

If you want to change your course from Master of Commerce to Master of Commerce (Extension), you must apply for the Master of Commerce (Extension) before you start your third semester. 

Please refer to the course resolutions for Master of Commerce (Extension) here to find out the maximum credit students may be granted through Recognition of Prior Learning.

Please apply for the new course before the admissions deadline for the following semester.  You can find the admissions deadline for the coming semester here.

This depends on whether you meet the admission criteria for the Master of Commerce.

In order to be considered, you are required to apply for the Master of Commerce online*.

Should the transfer be successful, you will be eligible for a full credit transfer where applicable to the Master of Commerce.

* The application process is the same as when students applied for the Master of Commerce (Extension). 

You will be required to submit a separate application for the new degree via Sydney Courses.

You may be eligible to graduate with a Graduate Certificate in Commerce if you have successfully completed four units of study within either the Master of Commerce or Master of Commerce (Extension).

You may be eligible to graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Commerce if you have successfully completed at least eight units of study within either the Master of Commerce or Master of Commerce (Extension).

We offer a range of support services to help you succeed during your studies, including mentoring, workshop and study groups, and a dedicated careers service.

Our Maths in Business and Peer-Assisted-Study Sessions (PASS) are available and free to all Business School students and will help you strengthen your academic skills. These workshops are highly recommended for those who do not have previous qualifications or experience in business.

The University offers a range of scholarships for eligible domestic and international students.

Please visit the scholarships website for a full list of available scholarships and eligibility criteria.