Doctor of Commerce

This qualification recognises distinguished, original contributions, over a number of years, to advancement and consolidation of knowledge in disciplines which make up the curricula for a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Applicants for a D.Com are recognised internationally in a particular field and will have demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of, and expertise in, this field.

Learning achieved by meeting the outcomes of a qualification of the University listed below (under Formally Accredited Learning) is assumed to be in place. Such learning includes:

• The ability to conceive and plan original academic research, to execute the research and to write it up for publication
• Doctoral-level knowledge and understanding of both the structure and the context of the disciplines studied, or related concepts and knowledge systems underlying the discipline and of the research methods appropriate to the issue addressed.

Formally Accredited Learning and Subsequent Experience

The typical applicant has extensive experience and output, either accepted for publication or published, of a quality acceptable to the University and has one of the following:

• A Bachelor of Commerce with Honours of the University of at least five years standing, or
• The degree of Master of Commerce and Bachelor of Commerce of the University of at least four years standing, or
• A Doctor of Philosophy of the University of at least two years standing,
• Or equivalent University-approved qualification.

Consult the application information for the year of study for which application is being made.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applicants who fall outside of the normal admissions process who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have a qualification or experiential- or work based learning which has taken the learner to an equivalent level of a qualification specified above (under Formally Accredited Learning), may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning.

1. The applicant has made a distinguished contribution to knowledge in the discipline through the cumulative impact of original research either published or of a publishable standard.
2. The applicant has sophisticated examples of the construction and advancement of knowledge which have been put into the public domain.

Critical Cross-field Outcomes

a) "Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made" - see Exit Level Outcomes (ELO) 1.

b) "Working with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community" - see ELO 1 & 2.

c) "Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively" - see ELO 1 & 2.

d) "Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information" - see ELO 1.

e) "Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion" - see ELO 1 & 2.

f) "Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others" - see ELO 1 & 2.

g) "Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts does not exist in isolation" - see ELO 1.

h) "Contributing to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of:

• (i) "Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively" - see ELO 1.
• (ii) "Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities" - see ELO 2; note also that learners act in accordance with the code of conduct of the University and, where relevant, that of the professional discipline being studied.
• (iii) "Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts" - see ELO 2.
• (iv) "Exploring education and career opportunities" - see ELO 1.
• (v) "Developing entrepreneurial opportunities" - see ELO 1 & 2.

The applicant demonstrates, through a coordinated compendium of original, relevant, published work (or work accepted for publication) submitted for examination, a distinguished contribution to the discipline of international standard.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment of the compendium of work referred to under Associated Assessment Criterion above, represents an integrated assessment. The applicant is awarded the degree on approval of a submission of a portfolio of original published work (or work accepted for publication) in a focused area of the field of study.