Course details

Summary

We live in an ‘Information Age' where access to information, information systems and digital technology play a major role in organisations. With information systems we can change how we work, how we communicate, and how we do business.

Information Systems (IS) is about how businesses use information technology to become smarter, better, faster, and achieve their strategic goals. IS enables businesses to create value, provide solutions to business problems, and use technology to innovate and create new business opportunities. Information Systems addresses the design, development and delivery of solutions to business problems, and the management of IS projects, IS personnel and IS resources.

A Master of Commerce degree will allow you to learn more about your chosen subject area, critically view the world and carry out an independent piece of research. These knowledge, skills and competencies mean MCom graduates are well-prepared for professional roles and business consulting.

If you have been following the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) programme (now the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand), study in the MCom programme counts as one year of professional experience.

The Master of Commerce graduate

As an MCom graduate you will be able to:

• demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of contemporary thought and developments within your specific research area
• evaluate the implications of your own research findings for the wider body of relevant academic literature
• synthesise academic literature and communicate research findings, both orally and in written form, consistent with academics working in your chosen discipline.

Qualification structure

The Master of Commerce degree consists of 180 points of which between 90-120 points is coursework (between six and nine courses), and a 90-point thesis or a 60-point dissertation.

Further study

UC offers a Doctor of Philosophy in a number of commerce subjects.

Career opportunities

Information Systems is one of the fastest growing areas for study and employment. It is on the long-term skill shortage list for New Zealand and there is also a global shortage in this area, ensuring high demand and salaries for graduates. IS graduates with a good mix of business and technical skills and knowledge would be well-placed to take up these opportunities.

For IS graduates there are many exciting career options: business analyst/consultant, business process analyst/consultant, business intelligence analyst, systems analyst, IS implementation consultant, IT project manager, IS manager.

IS expertise is marketable worldwide and can open the door to even more exciting and challenging careers. Many of our graduates are now in key positions all around the world including the UK, USA, Hong Kong and Australia.

If you take Computer Science/Software Engineering with IS, your options also include: solutions architect, software engineer, applications developer, programmer/analyst, database administrator, and website designer/developer.

Entry criteria

Students must have completed one of the following:

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science in Economics or Finance, Computer Science or Management Science
• or a bachelor's degree and relevant graduate diploma.

Prerequisites vary between majors, but normally good grades in 300-level courses in the subject concerned are required.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.