Bachelor of Business Administration

Course information for - 2025 entry

Offered at 4 locations

Duration
3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
CRICOS Code
073336E
IELTS
6.0 overall score (with individual score of 6.0 in speaking and writing, and 5.5 in listening and reading)
Fees (first year)*
$30408
Start dates
February 2026, July 2026, February 2027, July 2027

Overview

Learn to lead, innovate and problem-solve in fast-changing business environments with our Bachelor of Business Administration.

Upon graduating you'll be ready to launch straight into your career thanks to our Future Ready employability program, designed to systematically build each of the elements of your personal brand: your professional identity; experience; job-ready skills; and networks.

The Bachelor of Business Administration will provide you with a good understanding of the fundamentals of business and hone your communication skills by starting you off with our unique Business Foundation Program that helps you transition to university study and provides a solid foundation of business skills. You will then go on to complete eight core business units that will provide you with a broad understanding of various business aspects. All our business units are embedded with the United Nations sustainable goals. And Microsoft certification is also embedded into units in the degree, so you'll graduate with a strong foundation in the Microsoft programs favoured by employers. 

In today’s world, you need professional, technical and cross-cultural skills. Our intercultural communication module is designed to build cultural awareness and communication skills which are vital in the global workplace. You can further extend your intercultural experience by taking part in a Global Virtual Classroom, studying at our Rome Campus or participating in an international study tour.

We know that practical experience is important to you, so it’s important to us. Our Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs prepare you for the future world of work and build your employability skills, foster an entrepreneurial mindset and develop your communication and project management skills.

As this is a flexible, generalist degree, you are free to choose up to eight units from any of the business subjects we offer, rather than specialising in one area. Alternatively, you can choose four business units and four units from any other faculty, such as global studies, health, or arts just to name a few. 

To broaden your potential career path, opt for a double degree and study business administration with law, nutrition science, commerce or global studies.

Professional experience

You’ll gain up to 175 hours of workplace and community experience before you even graduate.

Work placement

As part of our Work Integrated Learning program you’ll gain 105 hours of industry placement in your area of specialisation. We have embedded employability into your degree with our Future Ready program where we build on your professional skills each year, supporting you every step of the way. These placements will give you the confidence, knowledge and skills to prepare for your future profession. You’ll learn to apply what you learn in the classroom to real life scenarios.

Community engagement

As part of your degree you’ll have the opportunity to work with not-for-profit organisations with 35 to 70 hours of community engagement experience. You’ll foster knowledge and understanding and its application within communities experiencing marginalisation and disadvantage while applying ethical personal and professional skills developed during your studies at ACU.

Professional recognition

As the Bachelor of Business Administration is interdisciplinary, it is not intended to fulfil the requirements for membership in a professional organisation and does not meet the requirements for entry into CPA programs. These requirements are met by other ACU business degrees, such as the Bachelor of Commerce or the Bachelor of Finance.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • general management
  • marketing
  • human resource management
  • business analysis
  • policy administration
  • market research
  • international trade and investment
  • purchasing, and trading management
  • financial management
  • advertising

Industry partnerships

We enjoy deep industry connections with many well-known organisations across Australia. Our relationships with these organisations includes internships, guest lectures, international study tours and collaborations with industry, community and government departments to undertake consulting and research projects with industry partners. 

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing Semester 1

  • Specified UnitsBUSN112Managing Markets

    (Inc: MKTG100, BUSD112)

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsITEC100Information Technology in Action

    (Inc: BUSN111, BUSD111)

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsBUSN104Money Matters

    (Inc: ACCT100, BUSD104)

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsBUSN113Managing People and Organisations

    (Inc: MGMT100, BUSD113)

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsITEC201Fundamentals of Information Technology

    (Inc: ISYS201, ITED201)

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsMKTG207Marketing Toolkit

    (Inc: MKTG100, MKTD207) 

    10 cp
  • Business Electives Business Elective 110 cp
  • Core Curriculum UnitsCore Curriculum Unit 1See the ACU Core Curriculum page for details 10 cp

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in this unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing Semester 2

Graduate statement

Insight

As an ACU graduate you have personal insight founded on an understanding of who you are as a professional, a citizen and a scholar. You embrace change and growth through critical self-awareness and learning autonomy. You are empowered to seek truth and meaning, drawing on the principles of justice, equity, and the dignity of all human beings.

Empathy

As an ACU graduate you value human dignity and diversity. This appreciation is founded on deep reflection, and empathy. You have experience of Indigenous Knowings and perspectives and can engage respectfully when working alongside Australia's First Peoples. You can connect with people and cultures and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and all cultures

Imagination

As an ACU graduate you utilise imagination and innovation to solve problems. You critically analyse information from a range of sources to creatively solve practical problems and use critical thinking to make decisions and advance the common good. You appreciate the role of innovation and creative thinking in developing a better future for each person and community.

Impact

As an ACU graduate you recognise your responsibility to work for social justice and a sustainable world founded on a commitment to human dignity and the common good. You lead change through respectful collaboration and effective communication of ideas to diverse peoples, groups and communities in local and global contexts. You are empowered to positively impact your profession and the community.

AQF framework

Bachelor - AQF Level 7

Overseas study available

We offer two business units at our Rome Campus: BUSN304 and BIPX202. The dates for these units are to be confirmed.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12, or equivalent:

StatePrerequisites

New South Wales

Assumed knowledge: English (Standard) (Band 2) or EAL (Band 3).

Queensland

Assumed knowledge: English (Units 3 & 4, C)

Victoria

Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English.

International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

View transparency admission information

International applicants

If you’re an international applicant you’ll need the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate.

Find the equivalent qualification for your country

You’ll also need to comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy , including the English Language Proficiency requirements.

See the language requirements

 If you’re an international student completing one of the following qualifications, you will need to apply for admission through your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC) and be assessed on your performance in these studies (i.e. your ATAR or equivalent):

 an Australian Year 12 qualification (either outside or in Australia)

an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3.

Adjustment factors

If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.

Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.

Learn more about adjustment factors

Inherent requirement

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.

Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you

Pathways

Pathways into course for international applicants

If you don’t currently meet the direct entry requirements for admission to your chosen program, don’t worry. Our range of pathway programs can help you build the language proficiency, academic skills and confidence you need to succeed. 

Find out more about English language programs 

Find out more about the ACU Foundation Studies program 

Find out more about Diploma pathways 

Fees

Course costs

  • Unit fee: $3801
  • Average first year fee: $30408
  • Estimate total cost: $91224

The Tuition fees quoted above are for commencing students in the current year who undertake a normal full-time load. The Unit Fee is based on a 10cp unit. Fees are reviewed annually.

Tuition fees for continuing students may increase by up to 3 percent each year for the minimum duration of the course as provided on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE). Students who continue to study beyond the minimum duration will have the relevant annual commencing rate applied to their fees for subsequent study periods.

Payment options

You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support. 

Explore your options 

Scholarships

You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.  

Search our scholarships 

How to apply

International applicants

Brisbane

Apply through QTAC

QTAC code 116481

Direct application

Apply now

Deferment

Yes. See Defer your offer.

Students with a Student Visa will need to complete the program in minimum duration, study at least one subject on-campus each semester and must not undertake more than 33% of the program online.

Staff Profile

Dr Betty Frino

Senior Lecturer, Peter Faber Business School

Dr Betty Frino is a scholar in Human Resources, Management and Organisational Behaviour. Betty’s professional career spans academe and applied/policy research within the higher education sector, exploring contemporary workplace issues and implications for government policy and professional practice. Betty has held previous appointments at the Universities of Sydney, Macquarie and Wollongong, teaching across various programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Bringing real work scenarios, contemporary issues and current research to the classroom setting is paramount to her teaching philosophy.

Betty has published widely in peer-reviewed and practitioner based journals and presented her work at both academic and practitioner conferences on the international and domestic scale. She has been invited as guest lecturer at several international universities in Europe, Malaysia and UAE, and also appeared as an expert witness for state wage case decisions and produced commissioned reports for industry and government on wage trends and bargaining outcomes. Her research spans various topics about people at work, with specialist knowledge in employee engagement, employee voice, worker wellbeing/psychosocial hazards, the regulation of work/labour law, wages, bargaining and pay equity.

Dr Alexander Campbell

Lecturer

Dr Campbell is an alumni of Griffith University and the University of Queensland.Alexander is a seasoned marketing and communication professional who has two decades of experience with strong business acumen. He has substantial experience in business management, holding senior positions within organisations that include responsibilities and accountabilities across departments for sales, marketing, finance, production and commercial. Furthermore, Alexander is a marketing lecturer, and early career researcher at ACU, and currently serves as a Director of Product Marketing for a SaaS company.

 

Alexander has run tactical marketing and demand generation efforts over EMEA, APAC, NAM and UAE markets for an ASX listed company specialising in cloud-based SaaS solutions. He was also part of the team that was influential in achieving Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow, the Deloitte’s Fast 50 and Fast 500 awards for an ASX listed company in the sports, leisure, and hospitality sector. He has had experience in managing teams, successfully balancing both KPI expectations and the emotional stability of his people who worked under him. He has held both regional and state management positions, running production teams and advising on sales strategy in B2C & B2B environments.

Testimonial

Anthony

"ACU was always going to be the university I ended up at, all my friends had studied there and loved it. It is a smaller university, so you can talk to the lecturers and have conversations and not just be another blur in the crowd.

In my three years I made countless amounts of friends, learnt lifelong lessons not just from lecturers but fellow students and was involved in the student association.

ACU gave me the opportunity to study in Paris and it was an experience I will never forget. Nothing matches the opportunity to learn with international students and lecturers from all over the world. We had professors, businessman and my personal favourite, a UK delegate to the United Nations teaching and preparing us for things that you don't learn from a textbook."

Anthony
Business administration student
 

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