Postgraduate course information

The Graduate School of Business offers a range of Master of Business (MBA) programs and a number of Master's degrees, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates by coursework. In addition, Doctoral programs and Master's (by thesis) programs are also offered.

The location and contact details for the Graduate Student Office can be found in the Information for Business students section.

Postgraduate research

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy program, an applicant should:

• hold a relevant Bachelor's degree with First or Second Class Honours, Division 1
• hold a Master's (by thesis) degree
• possess an equivalent qualification, or
• be a graduate of at least two years' standing of this University or another tertiary institution, whose research publications and written reports on work carried out by the applicant satisfy the Academic Board that the applicant has the ability and experience to pursue their proposed course of study.

Each applicant is required, prior to application, to discuss a thesis topic with the relevant School Research Coordinator, who will advise whether appropriate supervisors and resources are available. Applicants are also required to submit a brief thesis proposal with their application.

Course structure

Based on the candidate's proposed area of research, the University allocates a principal supervisor who has expertise in this area. Co-supervisors are also appointed on the same basis.

While candidates with an insufficient background in research methods and/or theoretical knowledge in the core fields of study may be required to do some coursework, the final assessment for the degree is based on submission of a thesis of approximately 50,000–70,000 words. The thesis is examined by three examiners, of which at least two are external to the University and are experts in the area of research addressed in the thesis. Guidelines for presentation and submission of the thesis are available from the University Graduate School.

Both the candidate and the candidate's principal supervisor are required to submit progress reports at the end of each semester. In addition, a student's candidature is assessed before or at the end of the first two semesters of candidature in the case of a full-time student, or the first four semesters in the case of a part-time student. The following components, considered by a Review Panel, constitute the assessment: satisfactory semester progress reports; successful completion of prescribed coursework prior to the assessment; a written thesis proposal; and an oral seminar on the research topic and written proposal.

The thesis proposal is a substantive piece of scholarship that should identify the research topic/questions, justify its/their significance and original contribution to knowledge in the field of study, do the former against a critical review of the relevant literature, address resource implications, and outline the proposed research design and methods. Candidates should seek advice from School Research Coordinators on how to formulate a thesis proposal.

A student who does not satisfy the requirements for the assessment will not be permitted to proceed with his or her candidature, unless, with the approval of the Academic Board, the student is invited to re-attempt the assessment.

Master's degrees (by thesis)

Course structure

Based on the candidate's proposed research topic, the University allocates a principal supervisor who has expertise in this area. Co-supervisors are also appointed on the same basis.

Students are required to complete the two-subject sequence relevant to their thesis topic. In addition to these subjects, candidates may be required to enrol in subjects specified by their supervisors.

The main requirement of the degree is the preparation of a thesis of 40,000–50,000 words, which presents the results of original research of a theoretical or applied nature. The thesis is examined by two examiners, of which at least one is external to the University, and who are both experts in the area of research addressed in the thesis. Guidelines for presentation and submission of theses are available from the University Graduate School.

Both the candidate and the candidate's principal supervisor are required to submit progress reports at the end of each semester. In addition, a student's candidature is assessed before or at the end of the first two semesters of candidature in the case of a full-time student, or the first three semesters in the case of a part-time student. The following components, considered by a Review Panel, constitute the assessment: satisfactory semester progress reports; successful completion of prescribed coursework prior to the assessment; a written thesis proposal; and an oral seminar on the research topic and written proposal.

The object of this assessment is to ensure that the student is equipped with the knowledge to carry out their research program, and that sufficient progress has been made to enable completion within the prescribed time. As part of this assessment the student normally presents a seminar to the University on their topic and methodology.

A student who does not satisfy the requirements for the assessment will not be permitted to proceed with his or her candidature, unless, with the approval of the Academic Board, the student is invited to re-attempt the assessment.

Postgraduate coursework

Exemptions

Exemptions are granted on the basis of the successful completion of equivalent subjects from either recent undergraduate or recent postgraduate studies. Students should lodge an Application for Subject Exemption form if they wish to apply for exemptions from subjects within their enrolled course.

Postgraduate subject exemptions are not normally granted where prior studies were undertaken in a course studied more than 10 years previously. Postgraduate subject exemptions are also not granted for prior sub-degree TAFE studies. In both instances, students can apply to the Graduate Student Office.

Faculty of Business Subject Exemption forms for postgraduate students are available at:

Exemptions from electives are only considered for prior postgraduate studies.

Students who have completed a UTS Faculty of Business Honours degree or equivalent as determined by the Head of the UTS Graduate School of Business may be eligible for up to an additional four subjects (to a maximum of 24 credit points) of exemptions where equivalent coursework subjects exist (effective 12 July 2002).

The maximum number of subject exemptions allowed in each course under the Faculty of Business policy is detailed below.

Graduate Certificates

Exemptions are not permitted except where an exemption has been approved for a specified UTS Executive Development course.

Graduate Diplomas

A maximum of five subject exemptions is permitted, of which two core subjects can be approved from prior undergraduate study.

Master's degrees (excluding MBA)

A maximum of eight subject exemptions is permitted, of which four core subjects can be approved from prior undergraduate study.

MBA

A maximum of 10 subject exemptions is permitted, of which four core subjects can be approved from prior undergraduate study.

Articulation

While courses are offered as stand-alone qualifications, they are also components of integrated programs of study that enable students who satisfactorily complete a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma to apply for entry to a higher-level course within their chosen field of study. Where a student articulates from one level of study to another, only one testamur is issued. For further information, contact the Graduate School of Business.

Internal Course Transfer forms are available at:

Progression

Graduate Diploma students who have three failures during their candidature will have their University enrolment reviewed by the Faculty Board in Business.

Master's students who have failures during their candidature will have their University enrolment reviewed by the Faculty Board in Business.

Electives

Postgraduate students are not permitted to undertake undergraduate subjects, including language subjects, as electives in any Faculty of Business postgraduate program. Students may only enrol in postgraduate subjects as electives.

Majors and sub-majors

To have a major or sub-major noted on a student's final transcript, a student must complete at least 75 per cent of the subjects in that major at UTS, under any approved postgraduate course.

Semester load

Full-time study is usually undertaken at the normal load of 24 credit points per semester. Students who wish to undertake more than the normal full-time load in one semester must have their Study Plan endorsed by a Graduate Student Adviser from the Faculty Student Office.

Part-time study is usually undertaken at the normal rate of 12 credit points per semester.

Attendance

Postgraduate Business degrees are offered on campus only, but some subjects are also offered in block mode. The usual attendance per subject is three hours per week, while subjects offered in block mode usually involve five or six full days of attendance spread over the semester.

Most degrees are offered part time (one or two subjects per semester) or full time (three or four subjects per semester). An extra two subjects (if offered) may be taken in Summer session to fast-track study.

Local students may attend part time or full time. International students must enrol in a minimum of three subjects per semester to meet DIMIA (Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs) requirements, and a maximum of four subjects per semester.

Subject attendance requirements

For detailed information as to the campus, day and time that individual subjects are offered, refer to the UTS: Class Timetable at:

Forms

All postgraduate forms are available at:

with the exception of Recognition of prior learning (exemption) and graduation forms, which are Faculty-specific and are available at: