Regulations for the Degree of Master of Commerce (MCom)

1. Admission to the Programme

   1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).
   2. Every applicant must either
      1. be a graduate, normally with qualifications requiring a total of at least four years of tertiary study, or
      2. have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).
   3. In considering an applicant's qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualification, as well as the applicant's performance in the programme.

2. Structure of the Programme

   1. The degree may be awarded in any of the subjects listed above. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce) the degree may be awarded in a subject not listed above.
   2. The programme of study shall consist of the preparation and submission of a thesis embodying the results of supervised research. In some cases, a candidate may also be required to take and pass approved papers, normally at 400-level, in addition to completing a thesis.
   3. The candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the thesis, secure the approval of the Head of the Department concerned for the topic, the supervisor(s) and the proposed course of the investigation.
   4. A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
   5. For the thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.

3. Duration of the Programme

   A candidate shall normally follow a programme of study for the equivalent of not less than one year of full-time study and not more than two years of full-time study. Exceptions shall be permitted only with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).

4. Examination of the Thesis

   1. The Head of Department concerned (or nominee) shall appoint a Convener of Examiners who shall oversee the thesis examination.
   2. The thesis shall be assessed by at least two examiners, at least one of whom shall be external to the University.
   3. The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner but may make a report on the work of the candidate to the Convener of Examiners.
   4. Each examiner shall supply a written report on the thesis and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the thesis as submitted, and an overall result selected from the options as specified in clause (e) below.
   5. The examiners may recommend that a thesis:
      1. be accepted without requiring amendments;
      2. be accepted subject to minor corrections being made at the discretion, and to the satisfaction, of the Convener of Examiners;
      3. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, but may be revised and resubmitted for examination;
      4. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, and should be rejected without right of resubmission.
   6. Amendments (regulation 4(e)(ii)) and revisions (regulation 4(e)(iii)) shall be completed by a specified date to be determined by the Convener of Examiners concerned.
   7. A candidate shall be permitted to revise and resubmit a thesis for examination once only.
   8. If a revised and resubmitted thesis is finally accepted, the result shall be either 'Pass' or 'Fail' (i.e. ungraded) and without eligibility for the award of the degree with distinction or credit.
   9. Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Convener of Examiners should so report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce) or nominee who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.

5. Level of Award of the Degree

   The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

6. Variations

   The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not conform to these regulations.