Program Overview

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Master of Business by Research

The Master of Business by Research is a postgraduate degree designed to provide advanced, research-based studies in theoretical and applied areas of business.

Course Overview

This degree aims to extend understandings of knowledge in the discipline area alongside knowledge of research methods in business. Students will undertake a significant independent research investigation resulting in a thesis that will have relevance to business.

Disciplines

Students may choose from the following disciplines:

• Accounting
• Economics
• Event Management
• Finance
• Hospitality Management
• Leisure Science
• Management
• Marketing
• Management Information Systems
• Planning
• Recreation Management
• Sport Management
• Tourism Management

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Research) Award.

Course Code

The course code for the Master of Business by Research is I73.

Entry Requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply. All applicants are required to have a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70 percent or higher in a Bachelor degree in Business.

Academic Admission Requirements

Academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline
• Equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience

English Language Requirements

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0)
• Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent)
• Equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience
• Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page

Fees

For domestic students, the Australian Government's Research Training Program provides tuition fee offsets for up to 2 years full-time (or equivalent) for Master by Research courses. For international students, the estimated 1st year indicative fee is AUD $47,550.

Duration

The duration of the course is 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent.

Availability and Campus

The course is available at the City Campus, with options for full-time and part-time study.

Course Structure

The course structure includes the following units:

Year 1 - Semester 1

• RES5115: Research Preparation: Principles and Approaches (20 credit points)
• RES6101: Educational Research (20 credit points)
• FBL6140: Thesis Preparation (20 credit points)

Year 1 - Semester 2

• FBL6200: Thesis

Year 2 - Semester 1

• FBL6200: Thesis

Year 2 - Semester 2

• FBL6200: Thesis

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Reflect critically on a complex body of global knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate mastery in a field of business.
2. Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to research activities by conceptualising, investigating and addressing a research problem in business.
3. Initiate, create, plan and execute a substantial piece of business research in collaboration with a supervision team.
4. Interpret and communicate complex information, concepts, theories and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
5. Justify research aims, methodologies and results, considering the ethical and social consequences.

Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities exist in research institutions, universities, and private and multinational industries. Possible future job titles include:

• Business Researcher
• Assistant Professor
• Business Research Assistant
• Business Postdoctoral Researcher

Further Study

Students interested in completing doctoral research in Accounting, Economics, Event Management, Finance, Hospitality Management, Leisure Science, Management, Marketing, Management Information Systems, Planning, Recreation Management, Sport Management, or Tourism Management should consider the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).