Faculty of Economics and Commerce : Guide to courses

15. Postgraduate courses

Table of Contents

 15. Postgraduate courses

Graduates with a BCom pass degree or its equivalent may apply for enrolment in a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics or Finance, or in a Graduate Diploma in Employee Relations and Human Resource Management or Actuarial Studies.

It is expected that diploma students will perform at honours level during their courses.

 15.1. Postgraduate Diploma in Economics

The PGDipEco advanced course of study normally takes one year full time or two years part time, entailing two or four consecutive semesters in economics and related disciplines. It provides introductory training for students seeking to do an MCom degree by coursework or by thesis.

Admission is open to graduates in economics and to others with approved tertiary qualifications. Those without an adequate economics background will be required to undertake preliminary work. The course assumes ability to cope with work of honours degree standard.

 15.2. Postgraduate Diploma in Finance

The PGDipFin advanced course normally takes one year full time or two years part time (two or four consecutive semesters) and provides a basic understanding of modern finance and financial economics.

Admission is open to graduates with an economics or finance background or equivalent. Applicants without the appropriate background are required to undertake preliminary work.

Preliminary work normally involves satisfactory completion of the undergraduate subjects Business Finance, Accounting Concepts, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. An applicant may be required to complete other preliminary work.

 15.3. Graduate Diploma in Actuarial Studies

The Graduate Diploma is designed for students who have not undertaken an undergraduate actuarial program but who decide to pursue a career in actuarial science. To obtain entry to the program, students must have completed a degree from a recognised university, have a good academic record, and have an appropriate background (e.g. in statistics or applied mathematics). The course requires one year of full-time or two years of part-time study.

 15.4. Graduate Diploma in Management Studies

The graduate diploma is designed to give graduates from any discipline the opportunity to acquire specialised expertise associated with particular sub-disciplines of management that complement their interests, such as human resource management, international management, operations and strategic management, and marketing management; and to provide a coherent education in management that will complement students' existing expertise with an understanding of management research and theory. The course requires one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.

 15.5. Graduate Diploma in Employee Relations and Human Resource Management

The GDipER&HRM course, normally takes one year full time or two years part time (two or four consecutive semesters), and offers advanced studies in employee relations and related disciplines.

Admission is open to graduates from any discipline. Candidates who have not previously studied employee relations or human resource management will usually enrol as part-time students in order to sequence their studies appropriately.

 15.6. Master of Commerce by coursework or thesis

The MCom degree by coursework is a one-year, full-time (two-year, part-time) program specialising in economics or finance.

The course consists of six coursework subjects plus production of an article for publication or a research report, which counts as a double subject.

Candidates for an MCom degree by thesis pursue original research on an approved topic for at least one year full time, or two years part time.

Each candidate has a supervisor appointed by the Faculty. Candidates present the results of their research in a thesis of about 50 000 words or (on the recommendation of their supervisor) a series of papers.

The MCom degree by thesis should be completed within two years for full-time candidates and four years for part-time candidates.

Admission to the MCom degree course (whether by thesis or coursework) is open to students with a first or second-class BCom(Hons) degree or its equivalent.

 15.7. Master of Applied Commerce

The Master of Applied Commerce degree draws upon the strengths of the Faculty's marketing, management, economics, accounting and finance areas to offer a coursework degree for those already in or intending to pursue a management career. The Master of Applied Commerce includes foundation subjects in accounting, finance, information systems, marketing, human resources, strategic managerial accounting, quantitative methods for managers, and a synthesis subject in management strategy. In addition to these nine core subjects three elective subjects may be selected, such as Product Management, Service and Relationship Marketing, Management Control Systems, Marketing Strategies and Plans and other subjects offered in the Faculty for which the student has suitable preparation.

Full-time students will take four subjects per semester for three semesters (about 16 months). Part-time students will usually enrol in two subjects per semester for six semesters.

 15.8. Master of Applied Finance

The Master of Applied Finance is a two-year part-time or one-year full-time program. The program has been designed to suit the needs of financial managers and financial markets practitioners.

The philosophy behind the program has been to provide an intensive, practically oriented advanced program in finance that meets the needs of participants and their workplaces.

Graduates of the course will have an enhanced understanding of financial markets and activities and be able to operate more effectively in these areas.

 15.9. Master of International Business

The Master of International Business is a program designed to prepare students for a future in international business. The program is offered on a two-year part-time or one-year full-time basis.

The program deals with the problems and challenges facing business organisations that do business across borders and between cultures. The Asian region is used as a focus of study to explore strategic management issues.

Peer learning between students is encouraged by the use of case studies and small project teams. This gives students the opportunity to work in small cross-cultural groups.

 15.10. Doctor of Philosophy

Studies for a PhD may be pursued in any department of the Faculty, including the Faculty's Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (MIAESR). Intending applicants should approach the relevant head of department for further details and seek advice from the University's Office for Research. Applications may be lodged at any time.

 15.11. Doctor of Commerce

The DCom degree may be taken by a graduate of the University of Melbourne, or any other tertiary educational institution, of not less than seven years standing after first qualifying for a degree. The candidate must satisfy the Faculty of adequate training and experience in a discipline recognised by the Faculty.

Candidates submit for examination published or unpublished original work which in subject, scope and character is deemed appropriate by the Faculty.

Status:                   Official 2001
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