Master of Commerce (MCOM) - MCom

This program is offered only to continuing students. No new admissions will be accepted. Students who are interested in this study area should contact us.

Contact us

Current students

Telephone 1800 007 252 (within Australia freecall), +61 7 4631 2285 (from outside Australia), email usqassist@usq.edu.au or submit a question via USQAssist.

Program focus

The Master of Commerce (MCom) will service the needs of the commercial community for a flexible postgraduate award offered in external mode, in the specialist areas of accounting, finance and commercial law.

Professional accreditation

Students completing the Master of Commerce (with at least four courses being Finance courses) will meet the education requirements for professional membership of the Finance and Treasury Association Limited (FTA) and Senior Associate membership of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia).

Program aims

The Master of Commerce is offered to graduates of commerce, business or related degrees who reached a satisfactory level of achievement in that academic program.

The Master of Commerce will service the needs of the commercial community for a flexible postgraduate academic program offered in external mode, in the specialist areas of accounting, finance and commercial law.

Admission requirements

Subject to approval by the Director, USQ Australian Graduate School of Business, admission to the Master of Commerce degree will be available to graduates with commerce, business or related degrees who have completed either:

• an approved undergraduate degree at an appropriate level

• an approved undergraduate degree and a graduate diploma or qualifying program in the intended field of study

• an approved undergraduate degree and the CPA program of the Australian Society of CPAs or the CA program of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia

• an approved undergraduate degree and demonstrated substantial experience in professional activities relevant to the proposed program of study

• such other qualifications as the Dean of the Faculty may deem appropriate.

International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/UNIPREP program.

Program fees

Tuition fee

Domestic fee-paying places are funded entirely through the tuition/direct fees paid by the student. Tuition/direct fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. For more information about Tuition Fees, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ Fees.

International fees

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the International Fee Schedule provided by USQ International.

Program structure

The program comprises 12 courses, of which eight courses must be selected from the Master of Commerce specialisation lists (below). The remaining four courses are electives. The electives may:

• be from other courses in the Master of Commerce and/or from the list of courses in the Master of Management or Master of Business Administration (excluding Master of Business Administration core) or any other Faculty of Business postgraduate course subject to the approval of the Head of School. If a student wishes to have a specialisation noted on their testamur, they must complete the requirements of that specialisation or where no specific requirements are defined a minimum of four units from that specialisation.

• include a one course Study Project (requires approval).

Note: It is assumed that students, when selecting 8000 courses, have a basic knowledge in these areas (that is, either from their undergraduate degree or from relevant work experience).

Program structure

Students have a maximum of 6 years to complete this program.

Major studies

Accounting

Four core courses and eight elective 8000 courses:

Advanced financial management

Four core courses, three compulsory courses and five elective 8000 courses:

Students are advised to study the courses in the following order: FIN5000 Financial Management, FIN8102 (may be studied concurrently), FIN8103, FIN8104 (may be studied concurrently), ACC8105 (formerly FIN8105), FIN8107.

Law

Four core courses and eight elective 8000 courses:

The Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia (IPAA) is a professional association having membership based on insolvency and reconstruction practitioners, lawyers and others interested in the insolvency profession. As part-qualification to full membership of the IPAA, applicants must undertake an insolvency education qualification program. Completion of the USQ subjects LAW8110 Advanced Insolvency Law and Practice 1 and LAW8111 Advanced Insolvency Law and Practice II substantially satisfies the academic requirements. In addition, the IPAA requires participation in their state-based workshops. When enrolling in each of the two insolvency courses, students who are interested in using the courses for professional membership purposes should contact the IPAA directly to enquire about enrolment in the relevant workshop program.

The Executive Officer

Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia

Chartered Accountant House

GPO Box 3921

SYDNEY NSW 2001

Telephone: +61 2 9290 5700

Facsimile: +61 2 9290 2820

http://www.ipaa.com.au/home.asp

Other courses

Students wishing to complete a project as part of the program must first obtain permission from the Director, USQ Australian Graduate School of Business before enrolling in BUS8101 Business Project A or BUS8102 Business Project B. Enrolment in the project courses are contingent upon the availability of a suitable supervisor.

IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to the computer requirements section of the Faculty of Business website.

Other program requirements

Students must maintain good standing in this program. Please refer to Academic Regulation 5.9 of the University Calendar.

Exit points

A student who chooses not to complete or who does not maintain good standing in this program will be permitted to exit with a lesser qualification as set out below, provided that they have met the requirements of that program:

• a student who successfully completes eight Master of Commerce units may, upon application exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. A student who has successfully completed all the requirements of at least one specialisation may have one specialisation shown on their testamur

• a student who successfully completes all requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate in Business may, upon application, exit with that qualification. A student who has successfully completed all the requirements of a four unit specialisation may have that specialisation shown on their testamur.

Exemptions

Candidates for admission to the Master of Commerce may be eligible for a maximum of six units of exemption on the basis of prior successful completion of relevant, equivalent postgraduate study from a recognised university or institution. In order for an exemption to be granted, the claim must meet the following specific requirements:

• the course passed was taken at least at Masters or equivalent level

• the course was passed within five years prior to the application (courses up to 10 years old may be considered if evidence is provided that the applicant has been employed in that field)

• the course passed is equivalent in objectives, content and weightings to a course prescribed in the Master of Commerce course, or alternatively, the course is suitable as an elective

• students who have successfully completed CPA or CA programs may apply for up to five exemptions for elective courses.

Claims for exemption should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment in a course. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with the Faculty’s exemption policies. Exemptions approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by USQ.

Note: Where exemptions are granted, maximum and minimum duration will be adjusted in the same proportion as exemptions, e.g. where six exemptions are granted, maximum time will be three years and minimum duration will be two terms.

Recommended enrolment pattern

Please refer to the program structure. Students requiring assistance should contact the Program Administrator.