If you’re an aspiring business leader looking to advance your business or academic career, then the Master of Business could be for you. Offered by the Otago Business School – New Zealand's top research business school – this programme will equip you with the practical skills and real-world experience to tackle business challenges.
You’ll be taught by experienced academic staff who are leaders in their fields and have strong ties with industry partners, providing opportunities for internships, networking, and career advancement.
With three different study paths available, and the option to specialise in various subjects, the Master of Business allows you to tailor your studies to meet your specific career goals. You can complete your degree by either undertaking an independent study (project or dissertation) alongside taught papers, or enrolling in a series of taught papers (coursework only).
The project and coursework options are ideal if you’re seeking to advance your professional career, while the dissertation option serves as a qualification for entry into doctoral-level study.
The standard admission requirement is a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade of B (Otago equivalent), though some subjects (Accounting and Finance, Economics, Finance, and Philosophy, Politics and Economics) require more specific backgrounds.
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Programme details
Regulations for the Degree of Master of Business (MBus)
Admission to the Programme
Every applicant must have been awarded a bachelor's degree with an average grade of at least B, have obtained a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Business with an average grade of at least B, or have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).
In addition to clause 1(a) applicants seeking admission to the subject of:
Accounting and Finance must hold a bachelor's degree with a sciences or quantitative focus
Economics must hold a bachelor's degree including both econometrics and mathematical economics
Finance must hold a bachelor’s degree with a sciences or quantitative focus
Philosophy, Politics and Economics must hold either a bachelor’s degree with a major in the interdisciplinary subject of Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE); or, alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in any subject and have completed the equivalent of 300-level study (at least one paper) in each of three fields: Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).
Subjects of Study
The degree may be awarded in any of the subjects for the degree of Master of Business listed in the MBus Schedule. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce), the degree may be awarded without a named subject.
Structure of the Programme
The programme of study shall consist of one of the following options:
Coursework Option: approved papers at 400-level or higher worth at least 180 points, selected from the papers specified in the Master of Business schedule for the subject concerned; or
Project Option: approved papers at 400-level or higher worth at least 180 points, selected from the papers specified in the Master of Business schedule for the subject concerned, including a project to the value of 40 points; or
Dissertation Option: approved papers at 400-level or higher worth at least 180 points, selected from the papers specified in the Master of Business schedule for the subject concerned, including a dissertation to the value of 60 points.
may, with the approval of the Head of Department or Programme Coordinator concerned, include papers worth up to 40 points from 400- and 500-level papers other than those specified in the Master of Business schedule for the subject concerned.
A candidate who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma in Business shall be exempted from those papers in the programme for the degree which have previously been passed for the certificate or diploma.
With prior approval from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce), papers worth up to a maximum of 60 points in a relevant subject offered by another tertiary institution may be granted transfer credit for equivalent paper(s) within the programme. Such credits will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions
Every programme of study shall satisfy the requirements for prerequisites, corequisites, and restrictions set out on the Prescriptions (published in the Guide to Enrolment).
Duration of the Programme
A candidate for the degree shall normally follow a programme of study for not less than one year (12 months) of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.
Examination of the Project
The applied project shall normally be assessed by the supervisor and one other internal examiner, to be determined by the Programme Co-ordinator.
Each examiner shall supply a written report and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the final manuscript report as submitted.
Where there is a disagreement over a final result, an independent moderator determined by the Programme Co-ordinator shall arrive at a decision.
Examination of the Dissertation
The dissertation shall normally be assessed by the supervisor and one other internal examiner, to be determined by the Programme Co-ordinator.
Each examiner shall supply a written report and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the final dissertation as submitted.
Where there is a disagreement over a final result, an independent moderator determined by the Programme Co-ordinator shall arrive at a decision.
Level of Award of the Degree
The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.
Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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