How can I find out if I am eligible?
To find out if you are eligible for a postgraduate program you MUST lodge a proper application. Staff at the GSO cannot make a pre-assessment of your eligibility by e-mail. We need all your documents, properly verified before we can see whether you are qualified for a program. You will receive an offer for a program if you are eligible and places are available.
Go to the application section to find out how to apply. Applications from Australian citizens and permanent residents are processed through the Universities Admission Centre. Applications from international students are processed by the Macquarie International.
How is my application assessed?
Your application is assessed according to admission criteria that are available on this web site. Go to Admission Rules for Australian and International Students for a description of the admission criteria. (You will need Acrobat Reader on your computer to view this.)
Please note that the number of places that can be offered in GSO programs is limited each semester. So entry is competitive and satisfying the entry requirements does not mean automatic acceptance into the program.
When will I find out if I've been accepted?
If you are an Australian student your application is processed soon after the published closing date for that program. It will take about two weeks after the closing date for the Univerities Admission Centre and Macquarie's Postgraduate Studies Section to finalise document processing and send out offer letters.
Applications from international students are processed by Macquarie International as they are received. If there is no problem with student documentation, offer letters are sent out by Macquarie International within three weeks of receiving the application.
All queries about the progress of an application should be directed to the Postgraduate Studies Section (for Australian students) or Macquarie International (for international students).
How much will it cost to complete a degree?
The tuition fee varies depending upon the type of degree and whether you are an Australian student or an international student. Current information on fees is available by going to the Fees page.
International students also need to consider living costs while in Sydney. As a guide, it will cost about $20,000 per year for accommodation and living expenses. The actual amount depends upon the type of accommodation required. The Macquarie International will help with accommodation and provide advice on living in Sydney. Useful information about accomodation is on the Macquarie International web site.
When do I have to pay tuition fees?
Australian students are sent an invoice for tuition fees at the start of semester. Australian students then have another two weeks to pay fees.
International students must pay their first semester fees in advance of enrolment. Fees for a later semester are payable two weeks after classes start in that semester.
Fees are based on the number of units studied in each semester. So the programs are really "pay as you go".
Can I get credit for postgraduate units already completed?
You will get "advanced standing" in your Macquarie degree program if you have completed a masters degree at another university and the masters degree is in a field that is relevant to your Macquarie program. Also, the units completed must be of the same standard as a Macquarie postgraduate unit. The amount of advanced standing will be determined at the time your application for a Macquarie degree program is considered (but not before) provided sufficient information is contained in your application for an advanced standing assessment to be made.
For more information, including application procedures for advanced standing, refer to the Advanced Standing policy document.
Can I get credit for the units I studied in my undergraduate degree?
For the MCom and MIB programs "advanced standing" for completed undergraduate units is not available except that undergraduate units may remove the requirement to complete a preliminary program.
Where and when are classes held?
Nearly all classes are held at the Macquarie University campus at North Ryde, Sydney. Some classes are held at the International Campus in Manly. Some units are also available fully on-line. Classes are held according to the published timetables. Some classes are held during the day and some during the evening. A small number of classes classes are held on weekends.
How many hours per week will I have to attend lectures?
Postgraduate classes are normally held once per week in sessions lasting three hours (although, there are some exceptions to this, for example block weekend sessions and computer laboratory sessions). In addition to classroom hours, students are expected to spent between 8-10 hours per week on reading, assignments, case studies and group projects in each unit studied. So a student taking four MCom units will be expected to attend classes and study for a total of about 40 hours per week. Each semester is 13 weeks long.
What is a standard part-time or full-time load?
In the MCom and MIB, a full-time load is three or four units each semester. A part-time load is two or less units each semester. International students must study full-time and are expected to study four units each semester in order to complete the degree in minimum time. However, international students can take a part-time load in their final semester provided they take all units required to complete the degree in a part-time semester.
How is my performance in a unit assessed?
Each student's performance in a unit is normally assessed by a combination of weekly assignments, a large project or case study (often done on a group basis) and a written examination. The methods of assessment used are made known to students in the first week of classes. The mix of assessment methods varies between units, some units will rely more on a final examination than other units. However, this does not mean that units with less emphasis on a final examination are any easier to pass. There is a uniform standard of competence required in each unit.
Will I be able to enrol in my preferred units?
All students who take a program of study that has core units will be able to enrol in each core unit within the minimum period of candidature. A core unit that is not available to a student because the class is full or is not offered in a semester will be available in the next semester.
In degree programs with elective units, a wide choice is generally available. However, owing to unexpected student demand, some students may not be able to enrol in their first choice of elective unit because that unit is full. Students who miss out on a unit in their first semester will be able to enrol in that unit in the next semester, if that unit is offered. If the unit is not offered in the next semester, a suitable substitute unit will be available.
Can I transfer to another degree after I have enrolled?
It is possible to transfer to a new degree program, for example switch from the MIB to the MCom in Business, although certain conditions apply. First, applicants must meet the entry standards for the proposed new degree. Second, transferring students are required to discontinue their existing degree and re-enrol as a new student in the new degree. Re-enrolment as a new student in a new degree can only take effect at the commencement of the subsequent semester. Additionally, as a new student, it is possible that new fees will apply if there has been a recent fee increase.
Australian students should contact the Postgraduate Studies Section ((02) 9850 7343) and international students should contact Macquarie International ((02) 9850 7346) to commence degree transfer arrangements.
Are there any scholarships available?
There are no tuition scholarships available for coursework programs for Australian students. Australian students can apply for Fee Help.
International students can apply for a Macquarie University International Scholarship (MUIS). However, these are very competitive.
Can I study some of my subjects overseas?
Macquarie University has exchange agreements with over 200 overseas universities. Students in the MCom and MIB can participate in short summer or winter courses in overseas universities, semester length exchange placements or double degrees. See International Study Programs.
I'd like to get some work experience, is that possible?
International students who have completed one semester of postgraduate study can apply to take a supervised workplace internship in their second semester of study for credit toward their MIB or MCom degree. Students will gain experience of Australian workplace culture and environment while being involved in a range of activities such as research, planning, marketing and organisation within the context of a specific project. For internship opportunities, contact Macquarie International, Internships Department.
Also refer to the MCom in Business and MIB programs for more information about business internships.
Will my postgraduate degree help me to find a good job?
The Career Development Office at Macquarie has a searchable Graduate Destinations data base that contains information about student outcomes once they complete the MCom or MIB. You can see what graduates do next and what interesting jobs they have been able to find for themselves.
Some international students in the MCom or MIB will have an opportunity to undertake a business internership for credit, which will provide valuable experience toward securing a worthwhile career path (see above).
To find out what MCom and MIB graduates have said about their degree program go to Students@GSO.
