Master of Economics (Honours) - MEc(Hons)


General information

Course code: 0027 · Normally completed in three semesters of full-time study or six semesters of part-time study
The Master of Commerce (Honours) and Master of Economics (Honours) courses are designed for graduates of the honours programs of the Bachelor of Commerce or the Bachelor of Economics, or of the Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce or Postgraduate Diploma in Economics who have majored in accounting and finance, management, econometrics or economics. The course has been designed to extend the disciplinary competence of candidates and provide them with research training. It involves a combination of both coursework and supervised research. In addition, there are courses offered jointly by all departments.
Applicants for admission to candidature for the Master of Commerce (Honours) or Master of Economics (Honours) research degree must have qualified (a) for either the degree of Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Economics with honours with an average grade of 70 per cent or above in the relevant specialisation; (b) for either the Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce or Postgraduate Diploma in Economics with an average grade of 70 per cent or above in the relevant specialisation; (c) for other degrees considered equivalent to (a) or (b) provided that, in the opinion of the faculty board, the degree concerned is suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study.
No credit for work done previously is available in these masters degrees.
Masters candidates may be able to upgrade to doctoral candidature after 12 months provided that satisfactory progress has been made and certain conditions are met. Details of upgrade procedures are available from the manager of Research and Higher Degrees.

Course structure

The requirements for each of the departments of Accounting and Finance, Management, Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton) and Economics are set out below.

Coursework and minor thesis option

Candidates are required to select four subjects, as set out in the section on each of the departments. Candidates are required to include in the four subjects at least two level 5 subjects from the department in which they wish to enrol. Normally, the coursework component is taken over the first two semesters and students should achieve an average grade of 70 per cent or above before proceeding to write the thesis component. In addition, candidates are required to write a minor thesis on a topic of their own selection. The thesis, of approximately 25,000 words, constitutes 67 per cent of the course and the topic must be related to the department in which the student is specialising. A member of the department will be appointed as supervisor. In some instances, students may have more than one supervisor appointed, and the second supervisor may be from another department.

Major thesis option

Candidates are required to write a thesis on a topic of their own selection. The thesis constitutes 92 per cent of the workload and the topic must be related to the department in which the student is specialising. A member of that department will be appointed as supervisor. In some instances, students may have more than one supervisor, and the second supervisor may be from another department. In addition, candidates will be required to attempt one level 5 subject from the department responsible for the supervision of their thesis. Candidates will be required to select a subject related to the topic of their thesis.

Graduate seminar

All candidates are required to attend the graduate seminars organised by the department in which they are enrolled. They will be expected to attend and participate regularly in the seminar series. Students are required to present at least one seminar. Although the graduate seminar is an unweighted subject, students enrol in the graduate seminar in each department in the same way as other subjects although it does not count as one of the subjects towards the degree. Students must receive a pass in the seminar unit to satisfy the requirements for the degree.

Department of Accounting and Finance

Course director: Dr Paul Mather

Coursework and minor thesis

1. Two subjects from the following:

2. Two subjects selected from the preceding level 5 graduate subjects, special subjects taught by the department, and AFC5000 (Reading subject) or from level 4 graduate subjects taught by the department or from the graduate subjects taught by the departments of Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton) and Economics.
3. Graduate seminar:

4. Minor thesis (see above for details).

Major thesis

1. One level 5 graduate subject taught by the department. The subject to be taken should be related to the thesis topic and in special circumstances, the head of the department may approve as the level 5 subject a special subject based on a level 4 graduate subject or an AFC5000 (Reading subject) taught by the department.
2. Graduate seminar:

3. Major thesis (see above for details).

Department of Business Law and Taxation

Coursework and minor thesis

1. Four subjects:

2. Minor thesis.

Major thesis

1. One level 5 subject taught by the department. The subject should be related to the thesis topic.
2. Graduate seminar. Students may be required to participate in the departmental seminar program.
3. Major thesis.

Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Course director: Professor Maxwell King

Coursework and minor thesis option

1. Two subjects:

2. Two subjects selected from:

3. Graduate seminar:

4. Minor thesis.

Major thesis

1. One level 5 graduate subject taught by the department. In special circumstances, the head of the department may approve a special subject based on a level 4 graduate subject taught by the department or an ETC5000 (Reading subject) as the subject to be taken. The subject must be related to the thesis topic.
2. Graduate seminar:

3. Major thesis.
The attention of students is drawn to the Master of Economics (Honours) by coursework and minor thesis offered jointly with the Department of Economics. Details are set out in the Department of Economics section.

Subjects
Level 4

See the course structure for the Postgraduate Diploma in Economics.

Level 5

Department of Economics

Course director: Associate Professor Dietrich Fausten

Economic history

Students proceeding by major thesis will be required to take ECC5500 (Reading subject). The subject must be related to the thesis topic.

Economics

All students entering the graduate program within the Department of Economics (except economic history) are required to have passed the undergraduate subject ETC2410 or ETC3440 (Practical econometrics), or equivalent subjects, or an examination set by the department at an equivalent level in quantitative economic analysis. Students are not permitted to take ETC3440 (Practical econometrics) as a special subject.
Students may select joint courses offered by the Department of Economics with the departments of Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton), and Accounting and Finance, respectively.

Coursework and minor thesis option

1. Two subjects:

2. Two other level 5 subjects.
3. Graduate seminar:

4. Minor thesis.

Major thesis option

1. One level 5 subject.
2. Graduate seminar:

3. Major thesis.

Level 5 subjects

Department of Economics and Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Coursework and minor thesis option

1. Two subjects from those listed (at least one of ETC5400 and ETC5410 must be chosen):

2. Two subjects from level 5 subjects of the Department of Economics.
3. Graduate seminar:

or

4. Minor thesis.

Department of Management

Coursework and minor thesis

The minor thesis option is not offered in the Department of Management. Only the major thesis option is available in this department.

Major thesis

1. One level 5 graduate subject offered by the department. The subject taken should be related to the thesis topic.
2. Graduate seminar: Students may be required to participate in the departmental seminar program.
3. Major thesis.