MCom research report

In order to meet the requirements for a Master of Commerce (Finance), a research report must be submitted, meeting the following guidelines.

Language

English is the official language of examination at The University of Melbourne.  Reports must be written in English.  In cases where it is necessary or desirable to include words or terminology from another language (e.g., Latin, Chinese), the foreign language material should be italicised to set it off from the rest of the text.

Page Size, Margins, Pagination, Line Spacing & Font Size

• The report should be on International Standard Paper Size A4 (measuring 297mm x 210mm).
• Margins must be 3cm, uniform on all sheets.
• The report should be typed in double or 1.5 line spacing.
• The report should be printed double-sided with a size 11 or 12 font.  Times Roman is the preferred font but an alternate easily readable font may be used (e.g., Helvetica or Garamond). 
• Sheets should be numbered consecutively and clearly.
• Folding diagrams or charts should be arranged so as to open out to the top and right.

Order of Pages

• Title Page
  
  The report must contain a title page including the full title of the report; full name and qualifications of the author; degree for which the report is submitted; name of the Department and Faculty to which the report is submitted; name of the University; month and year the report was submitted for the degree; and the  statement:
  "Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Commerce by Coursework and Research Report".

• Abstract Page
  
  The title page must be followed by a page containing an abstract of 300-500 words.

• Declaration Page
  
  The abstract must be followed by a declaration, signed by the student, as follows:
  "This is to certify that the report comprises only my original work except where indicated in the preface; due acknowledgment has been made in the text to all other material used."

• Acknowledgments
  
  
• Preface
  
  You should state the sources from which the information is derived, the extent to which others have contributed to the report, and the portion of the report that is original.

• Table of Contents
  
  
• List of Tables
  
  
• List of Figures and Illustrations
  
  Not necessary if less than ten list items.

• Main text
  
  The body of the report.

• Bibliography
  
  The research report must use the Harvard style of referencing and citation, formatted as in the Journal of Finance.  The Giblin Library has a mini website about correct style for JOF citations.

• Appendices

Submission

A total of four (4) copies should be submitted.

REMINDER ABOUT REFERENCING WORK AND PLAGIARISM

Referencing Work

Students are required to provide proper citation to any ideas, arguments, concepts, quotes, etc. that you obtained from a second source, including textbooks. Students who do not properly reference their work leave themselves open to charges of plagiarism. Students should properly cite work within the body of the paper, and provide the full reference list at the end of the paper.

The Teaching and Learning Unit web page contains a booklet to assist students in developing academic referencing skills.

Students can access this via the TLU website: http://tlu.ecom.unimelb.edu.au