Bachelor of Commerce

Course summary for international students

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Commerce
Campus	Burwood (Melbourne) Waterfront (Geelong)
Online	Yes
Length	3 years full-time
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2024	$41,600 for 1 yr full-time AUD
Level	Undergraduate
CRICOS course code	001838A Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
VTAC Codes	1400414513 - Waterfront (Geelong), International full-fee paying place 1400514513 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
Deakin course code	M300
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
~ Students commencing at the Waterfront (Geelong) will be required to enrol in units offered in online mode in Trimester 3. * Not all major sequences are available via Campus study at Waterfront. Students undertaking units in major sequences that are not available in Campus mode may enrol in units offered in online mode.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study Deakin’s Bachelor of Commerce and earn a well-recognised qualification that’s a pathway into the professions. You will receive an education that’s relevant to industry via commerce majors accredited to each discipline’s top industry bodies. Plus, you will get a taste of professional life and understand what it takes to be job ready with work-integrated learning and experiential learning programs.

A traditional yet contemporary degree, the ‘B Com’ is designed to help you find a professional fit and a passion for a discipline, whether it’s accounting, economics, finance, financial planning, human resource management, information systems, management or marketing. With opportunities to develop personally, to hone adaptability, curiosity, imagination, innovation, entrepreneurial thinking and confidence, you will increase your chance of success and develop your professional capability.

How can Deakin's Bachelor of Commerce set you up for a successful global career?

You will graduate with three pillars of professional skills sought after by employers: financial acumen, market knowledge and management smarts. Academically, you will acquire deep knowledge, applied skills and networks. Professionally, you will nurture connections with peers and with the professional environment while learning to deal with change, turbulence and renewal.

From day one of your degree, you will participate in development opportunities using industry-standard tools. At the same time, you will build commercial skills in your specialised area that allow for entry into a ‘vertical’ discipline that forms a profession in commerce. Major study areas include:

accounting
economics
finance
financial planning
human resource management
management
management information systems
marketing

To increase your scope, you may wish to complement your major with up to two minors. This improves the ‘package’ that you can present to potential employers. You can choose minors from:

accounting
business analytics
economics
event management
finance
global and social impact studies
human resource management
recruitment and talent acquisition
people management
international trade
international business
marketing
project management
retail management
wealth management
property investments
emerging technology
entrepreneurship
sustainability and development
production management.

You will have opportunities to interact with your peers, society and industry bodies on Deakin Business School’s work-integrated learning (WIL) program, gaining work experience that counts towards your degree. This experience rounds out your university tenure to help kickstart your career.

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability. Additonally, students are on the fast-track to gaining professional industry accreditation.

Students who complete the accounting major can apply for the:

Students who complete the marketing major are eligible for a one-year credit towards their five-year Certified Practicing Marketer and Chartered Marketer certification awarded by the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI).

Students who complete the finance major are recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.

Students who complete the financial planning major satisfy the education standards of the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS). This enables students to provide financial advice in Australia and eligibility to enter certification programs of the professional financial planning associations. These include the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Certification Program by the Financial Adviser Association of Australia (FAAA)

Depending on your units of study, commerce graduates are also eligible to apply for membership to the:

Students should consult the professional body or a course adviser to identify additional requirements for membership.

Fees and charges

The tuition fees you pay are determined by the course you are enrolled in.

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for that course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year.

You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.

Learn more about international student fees.

Career opportunities

Deakin graduates are in demand because they are flexible, proactive, highly engaged, and trained in commercial thinking. As a commerce graduate, you will have the opportunity to enter a professional vertical career that reflects your choice of industry-accredited discipline. These verticals operate in each industry and across government and non-governmental bodies and allow scope and paths for career progression and promotion.

Most importantly, commerce studies equip you with the skills and qualifications that are in demand across all industries. This means your degree will enable you to bring your career to different sectors. Professional entry level roles for Deakin commerce graduates include:

accountant
economist
financial planner
human resource manager
business analytics professional
social and economic policy developer
international trade officer
marketing manager

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply a broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of commerce and its applications
Communication	Communicate commerce concepts and information effectively including in oral, written and visual forms in a cohesive and understandable manner to academic audiences, business professionals and laypersons
Digital Literacy	Use technologies to identify, locate, evaluate, synthesise and disseminate and communicate information in the field of commerce
Critical thinking	Evaluate and critically analyse academic, professional and business information and values
Problem Solving	Identify solutions to a diverse range of authentic problems in commerce
Self-management	Take personal responsibility for actions, self-reflect and critique own performance and identify and plan future professional development
Teamwork	Interact and collaborate with others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds
Global Citizenship	Engage effectively in different environments and contexts reflecting social, sustainable, ethical, economic, and global perspectives in the field of commerce

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Commerce students must attain 24 credit points. The 24 credit points include 8 credit points of core units, 8 credit points of units from a major (you will be required to complete at least one major), plus 1 credit point WIL unit and 7 credit points of elective units plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity Module. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake 2 trimesters each year.

To complete the course you must include the following:

at least 16 credit points from Business and Law undergraduate units
8 credit points of core Bachelor of Commerce units
completion of DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit point compulsory module)
at least one 8 credit point Bachelor of Commerce major
plus a 1 credit point WIL unit (Course elective)
Level 1 - no more than 10 credit points
Level 3 - at least 6 credit points (at least 4 must be Business and Law undergraduate units)

Major sequences

Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.

*Please note: Geelong (Waterfront) and Warrnambool students - some majors require students to undertake Online units.

All students in the Bachelor of Commerce are required to complete at least one major sequence chosen from the following:

^ M300 Bachelor of Commerce is the recommended pathway to qualify for membership of professional organisations.

Minor sequences

*Please note: Geelong (Waterfront) and Warrnambool students - some minors require students to undertake Online units.

Refer to the details of each minor sequence for availability.

All students in the Bachelor of Commerce have the option to complete up to two minor sequences chosen from the following:

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

DAI001

Academic Integrity Module

Core units

MAA103

Accounting for Decision Making

MAE101

Economic Principles

MAF101

Fundamentals of Finance

MIS171

Business Analytics

MLC101

Law for Commerce

MMK101

Marketing Fundamentals

MMM132

Management

MWL101

Professional Insight

Course elective

Students must complete a 1 credit point Work Integrated Learning unit.

Recommended business WIL units:

MWL305

Business for Social Impact

MWL316

Consultancy Experience

MWL317

Entrepreneurship Experience

MWL318

Internship

MWL319

International Consultancy Experience

another WIL unit available in the University subject to meeting unit pre-requisites.

Open elective units

Students may choose up to seven credit points of open electives. These may constitute a second commerce major, or a major available in another Faculty (provided any pre-requisites can be met), up to two minor sequences (as above) or a combination of units (again pre-requisites allowing) chosen by the student.

These may include additional Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units offered by the Faculty or University subject to meeting pre-requisites.

Unit selection

Students admitted to the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) will be given advice on unit selection, however students must take responsibility for planning their own studies to satisfy course rules.

Part-time studies

Part-time study is available via Campus and online mode. Part-time study refers to academic workload, not mode of study.

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

Academic requirements

Academic requirements - Higher education study

If you're currently studying Year 12, or completed Year 12 in the last two years, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

Year 12 prerequisite subjects

Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English EAL (English as an Additional Language) or at least 20 in English other than EAL

ATAR

Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with an unadjusted ATAR of at least 50 or equivalent

Academic requirements - Current or recent secondary education

If you have undertaken higher education studies after secondary schooling, you’ll need to meet the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

successful completion of at least two credit points in an equivalent (AQF Level 7) bachelor degree.

Academic requirements - VET study

If you have undertaken any vocational education and training (VET) study after secondary school, you'll need to meet one or more of the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

completion of a certificate IV or higher in a related discipline
completion of a diploma or higher in any discipline
at least 50% completion of a diploma or higher in a related discipline

Academic requirements - Work and life experience

If you finished Year 12 more than three years ago, or did not finish Year 12, and haven’t undertaken any further study, you may be considered for admission to this degree based on your work, volunteer and/or life experience.

Submit a cover letter outlining your motivation to study, previous education and employment history, and how this course can assist your career aspirations or progression. Think of it as a job application cover letter – it should be relevant and demonstrate your commitment and interest in this course or study area.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score of 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 20 in any other English
IELTS overall score of 6.0 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning. We're also committed to admissions transparency. Read about our first intake of 2023 students (PDF, 354KB) – their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin? Discover the different entry pathways we offer and study options available to you, no matter your ATAR or education history.

Pathways

Expand your career options and create pathways into further study.

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of prior learning.
Your Recognition of prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Work experience

This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more work integrated learning units. Learn more about work integrated learning.

International Students:

This course includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) formally registered as part of the course on the CRICOS register. The total work integrated learning hours will differ depending on the WIL unit you choose. For more information about WIL hours, please check the unit information in the handbook or the unit guide.

For information about how WIL units may impact student visa holder work rights, please visit visit the Department of Home Affairs. See Schedule 8 (8102) Visa Conditions.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.

Selection Adjustment

Subject adjustment

A study score of 30 in Maths: Mathematical Methods or Maths: Specialist Mathematics equals 3 aggregate points per study. A study score of 30 in any Business, English other than EAL, any Information Technology or Maths: Further Mathematics equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 12 points.

Access and equity

Special entry access schemes (SEAS) enable Deakin to consider disadvantaged circumstances you may have experienced and the impact upon your studies. SEAS also allows us to identify if you’re from under-represented groups when making selection decisions for some courses. SEAS does not exempt you from meeting any of the course entry requirements. Learn more about Deakin’s special entry access schemes.