Management

Management

BCom (Hons) in International Business 2012

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Graduate Profile and Benefits of the Programme

An Honours degree is an internationally recognised qualification representing a high level of academic achievement. The aim of the Honours Programme is to graduate students who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and understand the relationship between theory, research and practice, and who can use this understanding to effectively inform their behaviour. An Honours graduate is well prepared for professional roles within the field of management and various forms of business consulting. Many Honours Graduates in management and related disciplines are "snapped up" by companies with graduate recruitment programmes.

The programmes in Human Resource Management, International Business, and Strategy and Entrepreneurship provide a thorough grounding in one discipline area so graduates gain an in-depth academic foundation from which to launch or develop their careers. The programme in Management provides a broader foundation and can be tailored to more specialist interests. All programmes emphasise analytical, communication and project management skills. Advanced skills in these areas are highly sought after in industry and commerce. These skills also provide an excellent foundation for further graduate study towards higher degrees.

The Honours Programme is intellectually satisfying in its own right, but is also essential preparation for anyone wishing to undertake a Master of Commerce, PhD or an academic career in management-related areas.

Honours is a short intense programme of study that spans one academic year (February to October inclusive) if completed full-time. The degree may also be completed in up to two years of part-time study.

Other Graduate Programmes in the Department of Management

The Honours Programme constitutes Part I of the Master of Commerce in Management. Part II of the Masters Programme involves completing a research project leading to the submission of a thesis. It can be completed in one year of full-time study. Further details on the Master of Commerce and PhD Programmes at the University of Canterbury are available separately.

Students with significant professional experience seeking an applied graduate programme should consider the MBA Programme.

The Department also offers Honours Programmes in Marketing and in Management Science. Information about these programmes is available separately.

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Entry Requirements

Students will be considered for entry into the Honours Programme if they meet all entry requirements below:

(1) They have completed their first degree and have demonstrated high performance by obtaining at least a B+ average across a minimum of 84 points (for degrees completed pre-2011) or 90 points (post-2011) of 300-level courses.

(2) The 84/90 points at the 300-level must consist of courses in Schedule B, Majoring Requirements, as listed in the 2012 Calendar for the relevant Subject Major.

(3) Have a satisfactory pass in a 200-level course in statistical methods for management. Normally, this requirement is satisfied by passing MSCI 210 (or MGMT280), but students who have passed equivalent (at least 200-level) or more advanced courses in statistics are also encouraged to apply.

FOR GRADUATES FROM OTHER DISCIPLINES

The Graduate Diploma in Management provides an overview of the various functions of management to people with a non-commerce background. It will help students whose first degree is in Arts/Science/Engineering/Education gain an understanding of the concepts, tools, frameworks and language of business. It will also provide students who do not have a degree in Commerce or Management an entry point into the honours and masters programmes in Management.

FOR GRADUATES FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES
The above entry requirements are based on courses at the University of Canterbury. Students whose undergraduate degree or diploma is from another University will be asked to supply an official (certified) transcript and course outlines, so that course equivalence can be established.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS
International students must also demonstrate that they have a suitable standard of oral and written English language competency. Candidates must have achieved at least 7.00 as their overall score in a recent IELTS test or be assessed at an interview as possessing equivalent or better oral and written language competency.

START TIME
The Honours Programme commences each year with the Induction Programme in February. For this reason entry into the Programme is normally in February. Entry in July at the start of Semester 2 is restricted to those enrolling part-time, and must be approved by the Head of Department.

Students are required to attend the Honours Induction Programme. This is COMPULSORY and is scheduled in the week before classes start. In 2012 classes start on 20 February, and the Induction Programme will be on Friday 17 February.

What to Expect

The Honours Programme differs significantly from undergraduate studies. The smaller classes allow for more interaction with the lecturers and this ensures students can participate more fully in the life of the Department. This makes for a friendly and enjoyable learning environment.

Academic standards are high and students are required to take more initiative and responsibility for their own learning by seeking out additional sources of information and managing their study programmes. The academic staff are facilitators rather than directors and ‘policers’ of students’ learning. This encourages students to engage with their lecturers and fellow students in interesting and varied ways as they learn to question and challenge "received wisdom" and to think about how the knowledge and skills they are learning can be applied. In short, students are provided with a stimulating and engaging environment in which they are encouraged to demonstrate academic and social maturity and to acquire a professional work ethic.

Each course has its own flavour and assessment requirements. Across the programme, assessment tasks include oral and written assignments, independent study and collaborative activities. Where possible, scope is given for students to tailor their assignments to their personal interests to ensure that their studies are stimulating and relevant to their academic and career goals.

The Honours Programme culminates with the oral and written presentation of the results of a research project. This project can take several forms. It can involve empirical research or working with literature to produce a conceptual paper, or a combination of both. Each project is unique, allowing students to match their topic and approach to their interests, abilities and the supervision opportunities available.

Management Honours is not just about study. The small Honours classes are highly interactive which flows through into enjoyable out-of-class activities which facilitate the development of lasting social and professional networks.

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Programme Structure

The BCom (Hons) programme requires students to take papers worth a total of 120 points.

All students are required to take a 30-point paper on research methods (MGMT 620), which serves as a prerequisite for a 30-point dissertation (MGMT 680), where students carry out an independent piece of academic research. In sum, these two papers are worth 60 points, or half of the requirements for the BCom (Hons) qualification.

Students in International Business take MGMT 643 and MGMT 644, and a further 30 points selected from courses in MGMT, MKTG, FINC and EURO. The selection of courses must be approved by the Head of the Department of Management. Note that additional entry requirements exist for some of the courses that can be taken.

COURSE DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of courses through the year is shown below. Each course typically has 2-4 hours class time each week in addition to independent study and, in some cases, small group activities.

Semester 1 (February - June)

Semester 2 (July - October)

Research Methods for Management

Management Dissertation

2 x Subject Courses

2 x Subject Courses

 

Note that entry into the Honours Programme is normally in February. Entry at the start of Semester 2 is restricted to those enrolling part-time and requires special approval.

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Brief Course Descriptions

See all 600 Level MGMT Courses

Staff Research Interests

Staff involved in the Honours Programme have a wide range of research backgrounds and interests. MGMT 680 dissertations may be carried out in these and other related topic areas. Supervisors will be assigned following discussions with students about their project interests.

Leo Paul Dana

Culture and enterprise, with a focus on indigenous people, including the Maoris and other island people. Applicants should have a well-balanced background including experience in anthropology, economics, ethnography and sociology.

Herb de Vries Small business management and entrepreneurship, with a particular interest in entrepreneurship among immigrant and minority groups.

Bob Hamilton

Small business development, corporate performance and aspects of industrial economics.

Paul Knott

The practice of strategy; the nature, extent and impact of the use of tools, concepts and ideas in strategy activity.

David Stiles

Strategy formulation and implementation in the public or private sectors. Topics of particular interest iclude the application of strategy in the cultural settings of emerging and transition countries; higher education policy and strategy; joint ventures in China; the interrelationships between strategy, organisational image and identity; and strategy-as-practic in organisations.

Other academic staff research interests can be viewed here.

Fees, Allowances and Financial Assistance

DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
To determine what fees you will pay, go to Enrol at UC. Fees are listed for each individual course so you can total the fees for each course you intend to enrol in. For more information about fees and student loans, please contact Student Administrative Services on 0800 827748 (within New Zealand) or email enrol@canterbury.ac.nz . For information about student allowances, please contact Study Link on 0800 88 99 00.

Many scholarships are available for graduate students.  Information on scholarships is available at the following web sites:

There are often tutoring and research assistant positions available for graduate students within the Department. If you are interested in these, please contact the Programme Coordinator.

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Application Procedures

TWO steps must be completed by all applicants. The order in which these steps are made is important. Please read the following instructions carefully.

STEP ONE - Application to the Department of Management
FOR BOTH NEW ZEALAND AND INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
ALL prospective students need to apply to the Department of Management using the Application Form. This application must be completed and processed before the applicant completes the online enrolment or face-to-face enrolment at the university. Applicants will receive a letter from the Department notifying them of the outcome of their application.

It is important that you give an up-to-date contact address, telephone number and email address (if possible) so that we can contact you as we may require you to attend an interview. If you will be away from your usual address around the time of enrolment then please state this in your application and give an alternative address and telephone number where you can be contacted.

ALL enrolment forms must have an official verified transcript of the applicant's academic record attached. No form will be processed without a verified transcript.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS must send all their documentation to the Department of Management. This must include evidence of English language proficiency for applicants for whom English is not their first language. The Department will assess the student's suitability for entry into the Honours Programme. The Department will send a letter to notify the student whether they have been assessed as being suitably prepared for the programme. This letter should not be confused with official notification of entry to the University.

The Department of Management will forward its decision and the applicant's documentation to the International Office. This is because students whose first degree is not from a New Zealand University must be granted admission ad eundem. Admission ad eundem is processed by the International Admissions Officer in the International Office. It is the International Office that is responsible for confirming if a student is eligible for entry to the University of Canterbury.

FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS enquiries about admission ad eundum should be made by email to international@canterbury.ac.nz , telephone +64 3 364 2459, or by post to the International Office, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

FOR ALL APPLICANTS enquiries about the Management Honours Programme can be made by email to irene.edgar@canterbury.ac.nz

DUE DATE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS FOR THE BCOM (HONS) IN MANAGEMENT
Applicants who have already graduated with their first degree can apply to the Department from 1 October 2011.

Applications for students who have completed their first degree in 2011 but have yet to graduate can also apply from 1 October 2011 but decisions will be provisional until final grades for 2011 courses are released by the University.

Applications close 10 February 2012

All applications for first semester entry are due on or before 10 February 2012. Early application is advisable as it will ensure you are informed quickly of acceptance or rejection. It will also help us to plan the year's courses, projects and facilities.

IMPORTANT NOTE: only applications accompanied by all required documentation will be processed.

Send application forms and documents to:

Mrs Irene Edgar
Management Honours Administrator
Department of Management
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8020
NEW ZEALAND

OR Hand to: Management Department Administrators, Level 4, Law Building

STEP TWO - Formal Enrolment at University of Canterbury
FOR NEW ZEALAND APPLICANTS
This step is only to be completed once the application in Step One has been approved. Students can then complete a University application. To obtain a University application and enrolment handbook, please contact Student Administrative Services on 0800 827 748 (within New Zealand) or email enrol@canterbury.ac.nz .

FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Step Two is only to be completed once you have received a reply to your application to the Department of Management (See Step One) AND confirmation from the International Office that you have been granted entry to the University of Canterbury. Step Two involves completing a formal enrolment procedure. To obtain a University enrolment application and enrolment handbook, contact Student Administrative Services on 0800 827 748 (within New Zealand) or email enrol@canterbury.ac.nz.

Compulsory Induction Programme and Starting Dates

PLEASE NOTE these important dates:

An Induction Programme is conducted for accepted applicants prior to the start of Semester One. This is usually in the week prior to the start of teaching. In 2012 classes start on 20 February, and the Induction Programme will be on Friday 17 February 2012.

You will be notified of the exact time and venue of the Induction Programme when you get confirmation of your acceptance into the Honours Programme.

Subject classes begin on Monday 20 February 2012. A list of class times will be sent to you with your acceptance letter from the Department of Management.

Contact Information

For general and administrative enquiries contact:

Irene Edgar or Donna Heslop-Williams
Departmental Administrators
Management Reception, Level 4 Law Building

Telephone: +64 3 364 2606

Alternatively email or write to:
Irene Edgar
Email: irene.edgar@canterbury.ac.nz
Department of Management
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

For academic enquiries please email:

Associate Professor Colleen Mills
B.Com (Hons) in Management Coordinator
Email: colleen.mills@canterbury.ac.nz

For general information on University courses and enrolment procedures contact:
Student Administrative Services on 0800 827 748 (within New Zealand)
or see our web page.