Master of Economic and Regional Development

Why study the Master of Economic and Regional Development at UNE?

This course combines economic analysis with studies in specific community/regional development and will prepare you to work in either urban or rural contexts. It will cater for domestic and international students either already employed in such development or wishing to seek a career in this field.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Master of Economic and Regional Development will have holistic skills that will provide career opportunities and advancements in non-government and government organisations that are involved in community and regional development projects, including international organisations and aid agencies involved in project planning , management, impact and policy evaluation. Opportunities include positions as economists and policy analysts, researchers, community organisers, project officers and consultants.

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Degree Snapshot

DURATION

1.5 or 2 Years Full-time
Up to 6 years Part-time

FEES

CSP (quotas apply)
Full Fee
International

2018 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale

Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 1, On Campus
Trimester 2, Online
Trimester 2, On Campus

Official Abbreviation MEcRegDev
Course Type Postgraduate
CRICOS Code 074877A
Commencing
Location Admission Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Online
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Armidale Trimester 2 Online
Armidale Trimester 2 On Campus
Course Duration
  • 1.5 or 2 Years Full-time
  • Up to 6 years Part-time
Fees CSP (quotas apply) / Full Fee / International
Total Credit Points 96
Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. See Unit Catalogue for specific requirements.

Entry Requirements

A candidate shall:

(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in a non-relevant discipline; or

(b) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline*.

*Relevant disciplines, include but are not limited to the following:

Agricultural and Resource Economics;

Agribusiness;

Development Economics;

Economics;

Econometrics.

Practical, Clinical or Work Experience

Students may complete work integrated learning and professional skills development (WORK500) with approved institutions and/or an overseas study tour (OSSE500) during their course.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Candidates admitted under Rule (b) shall be granted a maximum of 24 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their Admission to Candidature. Up to a further 24 credit points may be granted based on units that were not part of the degree on which admission was based.

No advanced standing will be granted for BUS581A, BUS581B, BUS581C, OSSE500 or WORK500.

Academic Colours

Peacock Blue (BCC 120)

Further Information

You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE

These course rules & plans are ONLY to be used if you commenced, transferred or changed versions in the Master of Economic and Regional Development in 2018.

Admission to Candidature

A candidate shall:
(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in a non-relevant discipline; or
(b) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline*.

*Relevant disciplines, include but are not limited to the following:

Agricultural and Resource Economics
Agribusiness
Development Economics
Economics
Econometrics

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.
Candidates admitted under Rule (b) shall be granted a maximum of 24 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their Admission to Candidature. Up to a further 24 credit points may be granted based on units that were not part of the degree on which admission was based.
No advanced standing will be granted for BUS581A, BUS581B, BUS581C, OSSE500 or WORK500.

Period of Candidature

For candidates admitted under Rule (a), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) two years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to six years as a part-time candidate.

For candidates admitted under Rule (b), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) 1.5 years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to six years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 96 credit points including at least 36 credit points at 500-level.

Program of Study

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outline in the Course Schedule comprising:

For candidates admitted under Rule (a)
Course Structure Credit Points
Core Units 72 cps
Complete ONE Major
OR
General Program
24 cps
Total 96 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

For candidates admitted under Rule (b)
Course Structure Credit Points
Block Advanced Standing 24 cps
Core Units 48 cps
Complete ONE Major
OR
General Program
24 cps
Total 96 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

Approved Majors and General Program

General Program
Asian Studies
Humanities and Community Development
Rural Development
Urban and Regional Development

Award of Degree

Candidates who meet the course requirements shall be awarded the Master of Economic and Regional Development.

Dissertation

1. In order to enrol in either BUS581B or BUS581C, a candidate must achieve an overall Grade Point Average of 5 (Credit) in all coursework units. A candidate who enrols in either BUS581B or BUS581C must submit a dissertation embodying an original investigation on a topic within an approved field of study.
2. Depending on the topic under investigation, the approval of the relevant Ethics Committee must be sought if required.
3. The School, on the advice of the Course Coordinator, shall appoint a supervisor, who shall be a member of the teaching or research staff of the University or an associate of the University. The supervisor shall advise and supervise the candidate during the period of candidature.
4. Except with the permission of the School, on the recommendation of the supervisor, the BUS581B dissertation shall not exceed 15,000 words of text, excluding appendices.
5. Except with the permission of the School, on the recommendation of the supervisor, the BUS581C dissertation shall not exceed 20,000 words of text, excluding appendices.

Submission of Dissertation

Dissertations are due in the last week of the teaching period. Candidates must submit an electronic copy of the dissertation for examination. An electronic version of the dissertation, incorporating any changes suggested following examination, must also be submitted prior to a grade being awarded for the dissertation. The copies must be submitted to: The Coordinator - Minor Dissertations, UNE Business School. The supervisor's name should normally be included in the acknowledgements section of the dissertation.

Examination of Dissertation

The dissertation is examined by two examiners. The examiners are to be recommended by the supervisor. The supervisor must submit the names and contact details of the recommended examiners to the Coordinator - Minor Dissertations at least two weeks prior to submission of the dissertation for examination. A short statement should accompany the recommendation when an examiner is external indicating the qualifications of the recommended examiner and the reason why the recommended examiner is deemed appropriate to examine the dissertation.

The supervisor may consult with the candidate prior to the submission of the dissertation regarding a potential examiners, but the names of the examiners finally recommended by the supervisor to the Coordinator - Minor Dissertations should not be made available to the candidate.

The supervisor must provide a statement to the Coordinator - Minor Dissertations indicating that the dissertation is suitable for examination.

Examiners are normally expected to complete and return their report within FOUR (4) weeks of the dissertation being delivered. The Coordinator - Minor Dissertations will advise the supervisors of the outcome of the examination, along with a summary of examiners' reports as appropriate, indicating any amendments to be considered. Students need to consult with the supervisor and undertake any minor amendments to the satisfaction of the supervisor.

The supervisor is to send a note to the Coordinator - Minor Dissertations, that any amendments suggested by the examiners have been addressed to his or her satisfaction and that the result may be finalised. The Coordinator - Minor Dissertations will finalise the result and make a summary recommendation to the School Teaching and Learning Committee regarding:
(a) the grade to be awarded for the dissertation (Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction);
(b) the percentage to be awarded for the dissertation;
(c) if amendments to the dissertation were made before the grade was finalised;
(d) whether the candidate should be allowed to revise and resubmit the dissertation for re-examination (a maximum grade of Pass and score of 50% shall be given for any resubmitted dissertation).

The School Teaching and Learning Committee shall make the final determination as to the outcome of the examination, based on the recommendation from the Coordinator - Minor Dissertations.

Exit Pathways

Subject to meeting the advanced standing rules, candidates who apply to discontinue their studies in the course may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics on completion of 24 credit points, including at least 18 credit points at 400/500 level, corresponding to units in the program of study for the Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics.

Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies and exit with the Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics and then decide to continue their studies in the Master of Economic and Regional Development must apply for re-admission. They will then be subject to current course requirements of the Master of Economic and Regional Development. This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements.

Subject to meeting advanced standing rules, candidates who apply to discontinue their studies in the course may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma in Economics on completion of units to the value of 48 credit points including at least 30 credit points at 400/500 level, corresponding to units in the program of study for the Graduate Diploma in Economics.

Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies and exit with the Graduate Diploma in Economics and then decide to continue their studies in the Master of Economic and Regional Development must apply for re-admission. They will then be subject to current course requirements of the Master of Economic and Regional Development. This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements.

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Course Aims

The Master of Economic and Regional Development at UNE is designed to provide students with an advanced body of knowledge and skills in economics that can be applied in an interdisciplinary approach in dealing with regional and community development issues.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. understand and critically apply advanced economic and other relevant disciplinary concepts to regional and community development in developed and/or developing countries with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region;
  2. demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to economic and regional development;
  3. apply an interdisciplinary approach in the design, management and evaluation of community-based development projects in regional and international contexts;
  4. produce scholarly reports or a thesis which demonstrate an understanding and application of skills in different themes of regional and community development; and
  5. apply knowledge and skills to real issues facing communities and rural regions, and inform policy making bodies about regional and community development in developed and/or developing countries.
Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

An advanced body of knowledge of different disciplines is central to this course. The course will provide students with an opportunity to learn core concepts in economics, rural, urban and regional development, peace, Asian and Indigenous studies. These concepts will be taught through lectures, readings and online components and will be assessed through various types of assessments such as assignments, examinations and report writing.

Communication Skills

In this course, students will develop, enhance and promote effective communication skills. These will be taught, practised and assessed in various units within the course. Students are expected to articulate knowledge in different schools of thought through activities such as assignment and report writing and oral discourse. Students will also participate in online discussions with different stakeholders. The Master of Economic and Regional Development course offers students the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills in a real-world context. One of the key focus areas is the interdisciplinary approach to community development in regional and international contexts. Understanding of contemporary issues in regional and global scenes will be demonstrated in unit assessments.

Problem Solving

Students apply their skills on information literacy, knowledge of the discipline and understanding of development issues in order to promote, discuss and advocate key concepts within the course. Students will be assessed in essays and assignments.

Information Literacy

Students will be taught and assessed on skills to examine, analyse and interpret data and information in development contexts. Students will acquire information through different forms of media and use this in the framework stipulated in different areas of study within the course.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

The Master of Economic and Regional Development course requires an understanding of various development-related problems. Students are taught the importance of acknowledging and understanding the cultural, ethical, economic, legal and social dimensions of these issues. They practise this attribute in essays and assignments.

Lifelong Learning

The Master of Economic and Regional Development course offers students the opportunity to develop and enhance both theoretical and practical skills in the context of community and regional development. Students are taught and assessed on this knowledge in different areas of advocacy through essays and assignments.

Independence and Collaboration

Students work independently throughout the course. Teamwork is taught and observed in different units within the course which further develop and enhance the ability of students to take responsibility of personal outputs and participate in discipline-based activities and forums. Students are expected to engage in group discussions, both in-class and in the online environment.

How to Apply

Domestic Students

All domestic students apply through the link below

For more information, click here

International Students

International students apply direct to UNE through UNE International

For more information, click here

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