The Department of Business currently offers the following Honours programs:

• Honours Degree of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA(Hons))
• Honours Degree of Bachelor of Commerce (BCom(Hons))
• Honours Degree of Bachelor of Commerce- Marketing (BCom- Mktg(Hons))

The majority of students will be covered by the above three degrees. Students interested in demography can graduate with either a BA(Hons) or a BCom(Hons).

The Business Department Honours Coordinator: Associate Professor Peter McGraw.

Those interested in Honours in Demography should contact Nick Parr.

The following are FAQs about the Honours program.

Question 1. What is Honours and what can I get from doing it?

Question 2. Is Honours for me?

Question 3. What's involved in the Honours Degree?

Question 4. What is a ‘thesis’?

Question 5. So how does Honours differ from a MCom and a MBA?

Question 6. How is the Honours degree graded and what do the Honours grades mean?

Question 7. Can I study anything I want?

Question 8. Who is able to supervise me?

Question 9. How often should I meet with my supervisor?

Question 10. How do I qualify for Honours?

Question 11. What if my undergraduate degree from Macquarie is not the same degree as my proposed Honours program?

Question 12. What if my degree is not from Macquarie?

Question 13. How do I apply for Honours?

Question 14. Is it possible to do a Honours whilst undertaking other studies?

Question 15. How much does it cost?

Question 16. Can I work fulltime during the Honours degree?

Question 17. Are there any tips for a successful Honours year?

Question 18. I have some other questions, who should I contact?

Question 1. What is Honours and what can I get from doing it?

The various Honours degrees are one additional year of fulltime study. Entry is selective and competitive. As well as being an effective pathway to academic and research careers, an Honours degree signals to potential employers that the holder possesses more developed skills than do applicants with Bachelor degrees. The Honours program is available to students with good academic records who wish to acquire and develop their research skills and enhance their critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills in their chosen areas of study.

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Question 2. Is Honours for me?

An Honours program is designed to extend an undergraduate degree. The program provides and opportunity for students to extend their theoretical and conceptual knowledge and undertake an original piece of research or investigative work.

Successful completion of an Honours program will enhance a student’s ability to progress in fields such as academia or research related/analytical positions in public and private sector organisations. A high quality honours degree is a pre-requisite for admission to many doctoral programs.

If you…

enjoy challenging experiences

have drive, motivation, and intellectual curiosity

can work in teams and independently

have performed well in your degree

want to have an edge against pass-degree holders in the job market

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Question 3. What's involved in the Honours degree?

The program comprises coursework and a major research project (called a thesis). There are six units in the Honours program, comprised of two compulsory units - Honours Research Project BBA 401 and one 3 credit point research methods course in Statistics from either Applied Statistics (STAT270) ; Risk and Chance (STAT273); Market Research and Forecasting (STAT328); Design of Surveys and Experimentation (STAT373). The statistics research methods course must be negotiated with and approved individually by the Honours Coordinator. In addition students must take one elective from the population of BUS800-849 and/or MKTG802-814 offerings (pending availability). Finally, an original piece of research (thesis) of approximately 15,000 words must be completed. This thesis is worth the equivalent of three units.

The one year program is as follows: 

First Semester

• Honours Research Seminar

• One approved statistics research methods unit

• One* approved elective unit from BUS800-849 and/or MKTG802-814. For a full list of units see the Graduate Accounting and Commerce Centre. 

Before the end of First Semester you will be required to present and submit a research proposal** for your thesis. This will be approximately 3000 words.

Second Semester

• Thesis (equivalent to three units)

*You may choose to complete only one elective in First Semester and the other in Second Semester. This reduces your workload in Semester One and gives you some structure for Second Semester. Don’t forget, however, that the thesis (and everything that goes with it – readings; data collection & analysis; writing) takes time also, and you may prefer to have Second Semester to focus solely/wholly on this.

**Details regarding the ‘research proposal’ will be provided very early in Semester One. Generally it comprises a literature review; significance and aims; research methodology; ‘national benefit’; ethical issues etc. (…you will learn how to write each of these sections!)

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Question 4. What is a ‘thesis’?

The thesis is an original, academically written piece of research. The aim is to investigate and explicate a topic of academic and managerial interest, starting with established theory. (Guiding you through your thesis research is an academic supervisor from the relevant discipline area. You will choose your academic supervisor either before, or very early in, the Honours program and work together towards developing your research topic and thesis.)

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Question 5. So how does Honours differ from a MCom and a MBA?

A Master of Commerce (MCom) degree is a postgraduate coursework program open to all students holding pass-degrees from accredited Universities. The degree’s structure is very similar to that encountered at the undergraduate level. There are no major research pieces to be completed (normal assignments for individual units, however, may require some research). Depending on university and major, students must complete four units per semester over 1 to 1.5 years. For the Honours degree, there are many majors to choose from.

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is very similar to a MCom in its duration, choice of majors, and coursework base. It differs, however, in admission criteria and cost. Most MBA programs require students to possess a minimum of three (3) years work experience. (This is primarily because MBA courses draw from the experiences of students, and tend to focus on real-world case-study material.) Furthermore, a growing number of institutions require applicants to sit the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Finally, the costs associated with MBA programs are high. Australian Universities offering MBA Degrees charge upward of A$20,000, with the mean being approximately A$50,000. (Many overseas institutions charge in excess of A$100,000.)

Completing a MCom and/or a MBA is insufficient for pursuing a higher Degree by Research (i.e. MPhil; PhD etc.).

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Question 6. How is the Honours degree graded and what do the Honours grades mean?

The Honours degree is graded on the students performance across the program. The research and coursework components are given a 60/40 weighting. The degree is graded at four levels:

First Class (H1) (85%+)

Second Class, Division One (H21) (75% - 84%) Threshold for admission to PhD

Second Class, Division Two (H22) (65% - 74%)

Third Class (H3) (60% - 64%)

Meaning of Honours grades

First Class Honours

95%+

Denotes work in the top 1-2% of all candidates for Honours likely to be encountered over an experienced academic’s teaching career in a top Department.

90% - 94%

Outstanding quality of Medal standard, demonstrating independent thought throughout, a flair for the subject, and research at a potentially publishable standard in a refereed academic journal. (90%+ is necessary but not sufficient for the award of a Medal)

88% - 89%

Excellent First Class quality [as defined below], showing a broad and deep command of the field and a significant degree of original thought.

85% - 87%

Clear First Class quality: well researched, well written, and well argued in relation to a theoretical literature - which says something new and worthwhile.

Honours Second Class, Division One

80% - 84%

Shows breadth and initiative in research and reading, sophisticated understanding and some original analysis; makes good attempt to interrogate the underlying assumptions of the evidence and arguments. Properly documented; writing characterised by clear structure and careful expression.

75% - 79%

Sound grasp of subject matter, extensive reading and use of new and appropriate sources in research; ability to use methods and theories of the discipline; competent analysis and evaluation; ability to present material clearly and succinctly and to argue persuasively. Demonstrated ability to undertake higher degree by research.

Honours Second Class, Division Two

70% - 74%

Evidence of reasonably wide reading and some original research coupled with an appreciation of key issues and their context. Engages with the subject and attempts to analyse the material. Makes an adequate attempt to compare various interpretations and to argue for a position within existing debates. Some evidence of ability to think theoretically as well as empirically, and to conceptualise and problematise issues in historical terms. Reasonably well written and documented.

65% - 69%

Limited reading and research; but offers synthesis and evaluation of the material and takes a position in relation to various interpretations of it. Demonstrates: adequate understanding of methodology; broad significance of sources and subject matter; and ability to mount coherent and sustained argument. Weaknesses may include: large gaps in the research; problems with the argument; and deficiencies in clarity or style.

Third Class Honours

60% - 64%

Adequate at Honours level. Identifies some of the issues and arguments and shows some ability to lay out and evaluate the evidence. Research may be insufficient or too narrowly focused; argument may suffer from lack of clarity, weaknesses of structure or difficulty in getting the evidence to convince; and writing may have problems of grammar or expression.

Question 7. Can I study anything I want?

You can study a wide range of topics within the discipline of Business. That said, you should try to match your interests with those of a supervisor. This is so that there is someone to guide you through the phases/tasks associated with the thesis. If unsure where to look, contact the Honours Coordinator who can refer you to an appropriate internal-faculty member. External supervisors (i.e. those from other Universities) are also permitted. Students must arrange these independently.

Past and current honours topics

The following are some of the many topics students have researched:

• Internationalization strategies of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)

• Ethnic entrepreneurship in tourism industries

• Mergers and acquisitions in the Australian wine industry

• Airline alliances

• Interpretations of the ‘Trade Practices Act’

• The merger and acquisition process

• ‘Youth market’ advertising strategies

• Knowledge management

• The Implementation of Strategic HRM
  

• Work Life Balance in the Legal Profession
  

• The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions of Share Prices
  

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Question 8. Who is able to supervise me?

Students are encouraged to search for, and where appropriate, make contact with, internal/external faculty members on an individual basis. A good place to look is the research interests webpage of any department. Alternatively, contact the Honours Coordinator, for further information (see contact details at the end of this page).

 

Question 9. How often should I meet with my supervisor?

There is no definite rule. Most students are in contact with their supervisor at least fortnightly (in some capacity). This is to be discussed and agreed upon with your supervisor(s) on an individual basis.

Question 10. How do I qualify for Honours?

Entry into the program is selective, with students who have completed a Bachelors degree at Macquarie University normally accepted into the program only if their GPA is at least 2.5 overall and at least 3.0 at 300-level. (Please note that these are the minimum requirements only. They do not guarantee entry into the program as it is very competitive.)

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Question 11. What if my undergraduate degree from Macquarie is not the same degree as my proposed Honours program?

Students who have completed degrees at MQ in other fields may be accepted. The above academic requirements are also applicable. Contact the Honours Coordinator directly (see contact details at the end of this page).

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Question 12. What if my degree is not from Macquarie?

Applicants from other universities are considered. Again, entry into the program is competitive, and these applicants must meet similar criteria. Contact the Honours Coordinator directly (see contact details at the end of this page).

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Question 13. How do I apply for Honours?

Application forms are available from the Student Enquiries Service from late August onwards. The deadline to submit applications is October 31^st for entry in Semester One the following year. There are no mid-year intakes.

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Question 14. Is it possible to do Honours whilst undertaking other studies?

You will be unable to undertake other studies at MQ whilst enrolled in the Honours program. Studies at external institutions are not recommended. The Honours academic workload is significant.

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Question 15. How much does it cost?

Fees vary for local and international students. It is best to contact the Student Enquiries Service for further information. Students are liable for Student Activity Fees and HECS.

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Question 16. Can I work fulltime during the Honours degree?

Working fulltime whilst completing the Honours degree is not recommended. Again, the program’s workload is high. Financial assistance is available in the form of Scholarships.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available for Honours students. These are worth A$5,000 for the full academic year, and are awarded on a (very) competitive basis. In some cases, casual academic work within the MQ Business Department can also be arranged to provide financial support. For further information, contact the Honours Coordinator (see contact details at the end of this page). 

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Question 17. Are there any tips for a successful Honours year?

• During the summer break, do some general readings on a topic that interests you, and that you would like to delve further into. This puts you in good stead when classes start. If undertaking four units in Semester One, the workload it considerable. Readings for your thesis are an additional task, so it pays to be well prepared.

• Consider the pros and cons of doing three coursework units in Semester One. Again, students who would like to have some structure in Semester Two may prefer splitting the electives between Semesters. Don’t forget, however, that the thesis itself is equivalent to three units.

• Some students may find the size and scope of the thesis daunting, especially since an entire Semester has been allocated to it. Relax. While developing your research proposal (submitted before the end of first semester) you will have an opportunity to plan your research process. Some students may find the use of a work schedule helpful (i.e. Readings on Mondays through Wednesday; literature search on Thursday and so on. This will offer some structure to the Semester).

• Keep in mind that while the quantity of work in the units may be similar to that of a third year undergraduate program, lecturers expect a higher quality of work.

• Remember: Writing your thesis is not a quick (or even linear) process. It cannot be done (successfully) overnight. Leave yourself plenty of time to research, write (and RE-WRITE) and review.

• Note that most topics (i.e. any involving humans) will require Ethics clearance. The entire process can take up to six (6) weeks, and that’s if you are successful. If the application is rejected then you have to go through the whole process again, meaning less time for interviewing etc. (The MQ Ethics committee meets only once monthly and you are required to submit your application two weeks prior.) You will learn more about this when the Honours program starts, but it’s a good idea to have your submission ready by the end of Semester One, so you can start your research at the beginning of Semester Two. For further information, see Macquarie University's Research and Research Study website.
  

• Expect to receive critical feedback from your supervisor regarding your literature review, research proposal and thesis draft. Use the comments constructively and don’t take them too personally. Think of it as advice: Your supervisor wants to see you do well – they offer advice that will help you on your way. Learn from your mistakes, and improve the next time around.

• Your supervisor is there to guide and support you only. Students are responsible for researching, writing, and submitting the final thesis etc. Do not come into the Honours program expecting your supervisor(s) to write your thesis.

• You should always come prepared (i.e. with questions etc.) when meeting with your supervisor. The onus is on you to work steadily throughout the year.

• At the end of each meeting with your supervisor be sure to plan when you will next meet. This is another way to give your studies structure (i.e. you will have certain tasks to be completed by a date).

• If unsure or in doubt about something, ask questions!

• And lastly, enjoy yourself. Be sure to balance both work and play!

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Question 18. I have some other questions, who should I contact?

The Business Department Honours Coordinator: Associate Professor Peter McGraw

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