Course details

Summary

Our continuous exposure to advertising and sales pitches leads us to believe that marketing activities begin only when goods or services have been produced. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Marketing is concerned with the analysis of customer needs and securing information needed to design and produce goods or services that match buyer expectations.

Strategic research methods, advertising and promotion, merchandising, sales, and management of products and services are utilised in the process, which applies to profit-oriented firms as well as not-for-profit organisations.

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

The marketing and business skills acquired at UC are relevant globally. A Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing will open the door to an exciting, varied and fast-paced career in anything from advertising and promotion, brand management, product management, market research, retail management, marketing and communications, strategic marketing, direct marketing and sales and merchandising. Most of these jobs require a mix of quantitative, communication and interpersonal skills.

Marketing careers provide a lot of variety, since the roles and functions of marketers are constantly evolving as the business environment changes and a huge number of industries and organisation types the world over require marketers.

Graduates may enter the profession as marketing executives, officers, assistants or coordinators, with good graduates progressing to advisors, specialists and managers within a few years. Many marketing-trained staff end up in senior organisational roles of senior manager, director, chief officer, president or working independently as a consultant.

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.