Master of Commerce

Master of Commerce (MCom or MComm; sometimes Magister Commercii) is a postgraduate Masters Degree focusing on commerce-, management- and economics-related subjects. Like the undergraduate Bachelor of Commerce, the degree is offered in Commonwealth nations.

Structure

The Master of Commerce typically requires two years of full-time study. The curriculum is usually concentrated on one subject area — such as accounting, economics, statistics, finance or marketing — and emphasizes underlying theory. Relatedly, programs usually include a thesis component,[1] and may be exclusively research based.[2][3]

Given this structure, the MCom differs from other business and management degrees:

• Its concentration on one area distinguishes it from generalist degrees, such as the MBA. Some universities offer the MCom in general management,[4] although this is more similar to the Master of Management than to the MBA. [5]
• As compared to specialised Professional degrees - such as the Master of Science in Finance or Master of Accounting - the MCom places more emphasis on theory, [6] although sometimes less on practice; generally, though, there is a close correspondence between these degrees and the related MCom; see also Master of Science in Management.

Admission to the MCom is usually on the basis of an existing Bachelor's, or similar compatible degree, generally the Bachelor of Commerce; often, an "Honours degree" will be required. Depending on the degree focus, a related undergraduate major and / or a fairly strong quantitative background may also be a prerequisite. Some MCom programs admit students from non-business backgrounds such as liberal arts, engineering, or the sciences - these programs usually require that students complete a bridging course.

Several programs are structured such that graduates are eligible for membership of various professional bodies or institutes.[7][8][9] In other cases, the institutional qualification program itself, may, in fact, be offered as an MCom degree (e.g. the Australian Institute of Public Accountants offers their IPA program as an MCom in Professional Accounting.[10])

Post Graduation

Based on specialisation, MCom graduates are typically employed in fields related to their degree foci, such as financial services, marketing and project management; graduates also often work in general management and business consulting [11].

The MCom includes a research component and thus provides access to a doctorate; progressing from the MCom, a student can pursue a Doctor of Commerce (DCom), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree program.

See also

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Doctor of Commerce
• Master of Management
• Master of Science in Management
• Master of Business
• Business school
• Business schools listed by country