Monash University Calendar

Faculty of Information Technology regulations

Master of Business Systems

Master of Business Systems

The degree

1.1 The degree of Master of Business Systems shall be awarded in one grade only.

1.2 The degree may be undertaken in two ways. One is by research resulting in the completion of a major thesis which shows independence of thought and demonstrates the ability of the candidate to carry out research in the selected field. The other is by coursework and a minor thesis.

Admission to candidature

2. An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree of Master of Business Systems shall have:

2.1 qualified for a bachelors degree with at least second class honours which the faculty board of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology (hereunder called the faculty board) considers is acceptable as a suitable preparation for the proposed course of study; or

2.2 qualifications and experience which in the opinon of the faculty board are a suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study; or

2.3 qualified by completing successfully a preliminary examination or course of study and been recommended for candidature by the head of the department in which the studies are to be undertaken.

Conditions of candidature

3.1 A candidate shall, to the satisfaction of the head of the department concerned, attend such lectures, tutorial classes and seminars and complete such exercises and laboratory work as may be prescribed and pass the examinations, provided that if the faculty board considers that the candidate has not complied with the prescribed requirements, admission to the examinations may be refused.

3.2 The faculty board may permit a candidate to transfer from part-time to full-time candidature or vice versa, on condition that the requirements of candidature, unsatisfied at the date of transfer shall be completed by the candidate within such time as the faculty board shall determine.

3.3 A candidate who has pursued the candidature for the minimum period prescribed may be permitted by the faculty board to write the thesis away from the university provided that the thesis is submitted within the maximum period prescribed by that or such shorter period as the faculty board may determine.

3.4 A member of the full-time academic staff of the university may, on the recommendation of the head of the department where the staff member is employed and the head of department where the staff member intends undertaking his or her study, apply in writing to the faculty board for admission to candidature as either:

3.4.1 a full-time or part-time staff candidate by research; or

3.4.2 a part-time candidate by coursework.

3.5 The approval of faculty board to grant an application for admission as a staff candidate pursuant to subsection 3.4 shall normally only be given where the staff member's research commitments are closely aligned with the course of study or research to be undertaken by the staff member for the degree.

3.6 A person who has been a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at this university for a minimum period of one year may at the discretion of the faculty board be admitted to candidature for the degree by major thesis and be given credit for the period of candidature served for the Doctor of Philosophy.

Course of study

4. Except with the permission of the faculty board, a candidate undertaking the degree by coursework:

4.1 shall complete a course of studies as may be prescribed from time to time by the faculty board, and shall submit a minor thesis showing wide reading and understanding in an area related to the course of studies being taken for the degree.

Appointment of supervisors

5. On admitting an applicant to candidature, the faculty board shall on the recommendation of the head of the department concerned, appoint a member of the staff of the university as supervisor, and may also appoint an associate supervisor, who shall be responsible to the faculty board. An associate supervisor need not be a full-time member of the academic staff of the university but shall be of recognised standing in their field.

Academic progress

6. The faculty board may review the academic progress of a candidate and, after taking into account any recommendations from the head of the department and the supervisor, and after giving the candidate an opportunity to be heard, may terminate the candidate on the grounds of unsatisfactory performance.

Time limits

7.1 Except when the faculty board permits otherwise, a candidate shall complete the requirements for the degree within the prescribed period after having been admitted to candidature, such period being:

7.1.1 in the case of a full-time candidate not less than one year and not more than two years;

7.1.2 in the case of a part-time candidate not less than two years and not more than four years.

7.2 Where the faculty board grants an application by a candidate for the candidature to be changed from full-time to part-time or from part-time to full-time, the faculty board shall determine the period within which the candidate shall meet the requirement.

Admission without formal supervision

8. Notwithstanding other sections and subsections contained herein, the faculty board may, on such conditions as it may determine, admit a candidate who:

8.1 holds a degree of not less than four years standing of this university to submit for examination a thesis consisting of published or unpublished work embodying the results of an investigation carried out by the candidate without formal supervision or attendance at the university but otherwise complying with the requirements of degree, provided that in the opinion of the faculty board the degree concerned is a suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study.

8.2 A candidate shall also, if required by the faculty board, present for such oral or written examinations in the branch of knowledge appropriate to the subject of the thesis as may be prescribed by the faculty board.

Submission of thesis

9.1 A candidate shall, if undertaking the degree by research, submit a major thesis embodying results of an investigation carried out by the candidate, under supervision. The thesis shall demonstrate the candidate's ability to carry out research in the field concerned and shall show independence of thought. If required by the faculty board, the candidate shall also present for such oral or written examinations in the branch of knowledge appropriate to the subject of the thesis as may be prescribed by the faculty board; or if undertaking the degree by coursework shall complete a course of studies as may be prescribed from time to time by the faculty board, and shall submit a minor thesis showing wide reading and understanding in an area related to the course of studies being taken for the degree.

9.2 A candidate shall state in the thesis, generally in a preface and specifically in notes, the extent of work the candidate claims to be his or her own.

9.3 A candidate may not submit for the degree work previously accepted for a degree in any university, nor may the candidate, without the permission of the faculty board, submit work which has previously been submitted for any such degree.

9.4 Three bound copies of the thesis shall be lodged with the registrar and unless previously published, shall be A4 size. Unless previously published, the thesis shall be:

9.4.1 typewritten or printed on paper of size and quality approved by the faculty board; and

9.4.2 bound in a form approved by the faculty board.

9.5 One copy of any thesis accepted for the purpose of the degree shall be lodged by the registrar in the library of the university. Of the other copies, one shall be held by the faculty and one shall be returned to the candidate.

9.6 The copy of any thesis lodged in the library of the university may be made available by the university to any person for consultation or copying provided that for a period of three years after the thesis is lodged, it shall not be made so available without the consent in writing of the author.

10. When a candidate has submitted a thesis, the supervisor shall submit a statement certifying;

10.1 to the best of the supervisor's knowledge, the extent to which the work was carried out by the candidate; and

10.2 whether, in the supervisor's opinion, the thesis is properly presented and is prima facie worthy of examination.

11. Where the supervisor does not certify that the thesis is properly presented and is prima facie worthy of examination, the faculty board shall determine whether the thesis be examined.

Leave of absence
12. The dean may grant a candidate leave of absence for such period and on such conditions as the dean may determine.

Award of degree

13. On receipt of the thesis, the faculty board shall on the recommendation of the head of the department concerned appoint at least two examiners. In the case of a major thesis at least one of the examiners shall, unless the faculty board otherwise resolves, be external.

14. On receipt of a minor thesis, the faculty board shall on the recommendation of the head of department concerned, appoint two examiners.

15. In the case of a candidate by major thesis being a member of the academic staff of the university, the thesis must be examined by two external examiners.
16. The reports of the examiners shall be transmitted to the faculty board which shall decided whether:

16.1 the candidate has satisfied the requirements for the degree;

16.2 the candidate has failed to satisfy the requirements for the degree; or

16.3 the candidate be given leave to resubmit an amended thesis within such further period as it may prescribe.

Effect of changes in regulations
17. A candidate shall comply with these regulations as from time to time amended or remade provided that where the faculty board is of the opinion that any candidate for the degree has been adversely affected by a change in these regulations since the candidate first enrolled as a candidate for the degree, the faculty board may act to remove the adverse effects on the candidate by permitting him or her to qualify for the degree under these regulations as if they were in force without the particular change or changes which adversely affected the candidate.

Reversion from Master of Business Systems to Graduate Diploma in Business Systems
18. A candidate who has failed to achieve the necessary standard in the requirements for the degree:

18.1 may, if judged by the faculty board to be of sufficient merit be given such credit for such subjects for the Graduate Diploma in Business Systems and may be admitted to, the appropriate diploma upon completing such work, if any, as the faculty board may determine;

18.2 shall not, except with the permission of the faculty board, present for any subsequent final examination for the degree.

18.3 a candidate who abandons or is required to discontinue his or her candidature for the degree may qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Business Systems by completing such work and by passing such examinations as may be presented by the faculty board.

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