Regulations for the Degree of Master of Business (MBus)

  1. The Personal Programmes of Study Regulations apply in these regulations.

Admission

  1. Candidates for the Degree must have
    1. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Banking, Finance and Technology, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Communication, or Bachelor of Management Studies of the University of Waikato with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
    2. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Business with Honours, Bachelor of Communication Studies with Honours, or Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours with at least second class honours (second division), or for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in a subject relevant for the Master of Business with at least a B grade average, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, and
    3. satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
  2. In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the requirements of section 2 of these regulations may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.

Requirements for the Degree

  1. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations is one calendar year or three trimesters. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under section 2(b) of the regulations is two trimesters.
  2. Candidates must enrol in the Waikato Management School and follow an approved programme of study.
  3. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain 180 points at 500 level. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations must gain 120 points at 500 level.
  4. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain at least 120 points from one of the following subjects, including any compulsory papers listed in the relevant subject entry in the Subject Regulations. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations must gain at least 60 points from one of the following subjects, including any compulsory papers listed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Subject Regulations.
    1. Subjects

      Accounting
      Agribusiness
      Economics
      Finance
      Human Resource Management
      International Management
      Leadership Communication
      Management and Sustainability1
      Management Systems1
      Marketing
      Public Relations
      Strategic Management
      Supply Chain Management
      Tourism Management

  1. Candidates must include
    1. a directed study, research project, or dissertation equivalent to 30 points, or
    2. a dissertation equivalent to 60 points, or
    3. a thesis equivalent to 90 points, or
    4. a thesis equivalent to 120 points.

in their main academic area and a research methodology paper worth at least 30 points, as prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Subject Regulations.2

  1. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations may take up to 60 points from outside the field of the Degree. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations may take up to 30 points from outside the field of the Degree.
  2. The field of the Degree comprises all the subjects listed in section 7 of these regulations.
  3. If a candidate fails a paper or papers (worth not more than 30 points in total), they may repeat the paper or papers or take an alternative paper or papers with the same total points value on one occasion only. A candidate who fails a paper or papers worth more than 30 points in total will not be permitted to proceed with the Degree.3

Examination of thesis (90 points and above)

  1. The University will appoint two examiners for the candidate's thesis; one examiner external to the University and active in the research field of the thesis; and one examiner internal to the University, with a good grounding in the research field, who is not directly connected to the candidate, or the candidate's thesis research or supervision.

Award of Honours

  1. The Degree may be awarded with
    1. First Class Honours, or
    2. Second Class Honours (first division), or
    3. Second Class Honours (second division), or
      or without honours.
  2. Except with the approval of the Academic Board, the level of honours will be calculated on the basis of the grades for all of the papers presented for the Degree.

Variations

  1. The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Division or delegated authority may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases.

Notes:

  1. This subject is not offered in 2025.
  2. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations may have fulfilled the requirement to complete a research methodology paper in their qualifying qualification.
  3. Candidates who are not permitted to proceed with the Degree may be eligible to graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma.