Master of Commerce

Gain in-depth understanding of contemporary issues in business and society with a Master of Commerce from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Acquire research skills from and be mentored by leading academics. You’ll critically assess contemporary practices and issues in your area of expertise, and have a framework for creating and synthesising evidence to advance your field and society. Investigate contemporary topics such as:

• the intersection of climate change and accounting
• digital marketing and issues of data privacy
• the future of work
• digital government
• evidence-based policy making
• sustainable tourism management
• reputational risks and uncertainties in organisations
• complexity in the real and virtual world
• the economics of disasters.

By the end of your degree, you’ll be equipped to be the go-to expert in your field. Find out about some of the research projects you could be involved in at Wellington School of Business and Government.

Experience our Master of Commerce

Join Dr Ben Walker, who is an academic that teaches on the Master of Commerce, for a short lecture on how to choose a good research topic.

International recognition

Wellington School of Business and Government is among a select group of fewer than 130 business schools worldwide that hold the ‘Triple Crown’ of international business education accreditations. By studying here, you can be confident your qualification will be recognised globally for its quality. Find out more about university accreditations and what they mean for you.

Download the latest prospectus

Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our professional and postgraduate programme prospectus.

Get the prospectus

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Starting part-time in Trimester 2 or 3

For domestic students, it may be possible to start the Master of Commerce part-time in Trimester 2 or Trimester 3, depending on the availability of courses in the subject you’ve chosen. Email [[email protected]]([email protected]?subject=Starting the Master of Commerce in Trimester 2 or 3) to find out more.

Career prospects

Research is a skill that is useful in any career as you learn how to critically assess current practices in your field of expertise, provide empirical evidence for any issues you identify, and propose and evaluate solutions to overcome these issues. The MCom will prepare you to undertake high-quality practice-oriented research in public and private-sector roles, or to continue your academic journey with PhD research.

To find out more about career opportunities with this qualification, see What can I do with my degree in Commerce?.

Study while you work

Studying the MCom part-time allows you to grow your professional career through part-time work while undertaking your study. As a part-time student, you will typically study two courses per trimester, with two days of full-time study per week. Our careers team can assist you with finding part-time employment at a local public or private sector organisation. Alternatively, we can help to identify a project or issue at your current workplace that aligns with your chosen research area.

Workload

If you are studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year. Part-time students doing two courses per trimester will need to do around 24 to 28 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working full time.

You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you’ll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours of work.

Workload

Studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.

You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you’ll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours of work.

Duration

This 180-point programme will take you three to four trimesters of full-time study. If you’re studying part time, it usually takes six trimesters.

Duration

This 180-point programme will take you three to four trimesters of full-time study.

Staircasing options

Depending on your goals and background, you can opt for a shorter postgraduate research qualification by doing a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons)). As well as being a valuable qualification in its own right, courses completed as part of the BCom(Hons) can count towards the full MCom programme, if you decide to continue your studies.

Other staircasing options are provided by the 120-point Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom) or the 60-point Postgraduate Certificate in Commerce (PGCertCom).

Doing a PhD

Once you’ve completed your Master’s degree, you can continue your academic journey by undertaking PhD research. If you’re thinking of doing a PhD, we recommend that you include the 90-point thesis in your course of study. A PhD normally follows a research-based Master’s or Honours programme. However, prospective PhD students with a non-research based Master’s degree—or extensive practical or professional work experience—may be admitted to the Postgraduate Certificate in Commerce with a specialisation in Research. This can provide a stepping stone into the full PhD programme.

The Postgraduate Certificate is also a great option for people looking to undertake a standalone research project with specialised academic input.