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, and may be exclusively research based.
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, although this is more similar to the Master of Management than to the MBA.
- 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, 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. In other cases, the institutional qualification program itself, may, in fact, be offered as an MCom degree (e.g. in Australia, the Institute of Public Accountants offers their IPA program as an MCom in Professional Accounting.)
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