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You'll learn the fundamental concepts of business practice in your first semester.
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Accredited by international and local industry professional bodies.
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The opportunity to study units at our Rome campus.
Bachelor of Commerce
Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 5 locations
- Blacktown
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Strathfield
- Blacktown
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Strathfield
- Duration
- 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- UAC code
- 103722
- ATAR
- 58.50 for Blacktown
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
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Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025Applications open August 2024Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2025Applications open April 2025
Overview
Our Bachelor of Commerce has your career goals in mind. To start, you can tailor your degree to your interests and enhance your career opportunities with specialisations in areas such as accounting and finance, marketing, event management, data analytics, human resources, management, entrepreneurship and international business.
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.
When you begin, our unique Business Foundation Program, co-created with industry and integrated across all our business courses, assists you as you transition to university study and provides a solid foundation of business skills. Plus, it helps you gain an understanding of different areas of business, so you can identify your personal interests before choosing your specialisation.
Practical skills are important. So you’ll benefit from a range of community and industry placements during your degree. In class, you’ll take part in workshops and will learn through gamified business simulations based on real-world situations. Plus, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics, cloud skills and cloud data services are wired into your studies – so you can tick Microsoft certifications off your to-do list and get an edge in the job market.
In today’s world, you need professional, technical and cross-cultural skills. We are members of PRME so all our units are embedded with the United Nations sustainable goals and 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.
Check out our Commerce suite:
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.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Commerce has been accredited by AACSB - As the world’s largest business education alliance, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) connects educators, students, and businesses to create the next generation of great leaders. This prestigious international accreditation has been awarded to all business courses at the Peter Faber Business School, placing it among the six per cent of business schools worldwide that have this accreditation.
Our commerce specialisations come with a range of relevant credentials, such as the prestigious EFMD international accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development. If you graduate with a major or a minor in accounting you may be eligible for membership with CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Public Accountants. Choose human resource management and you can become a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute. Marketing graduates, meanwhile, can become graduate members with the Australian Marketing Institute and this accreditation is also recognised by the UK's Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Careers
Our graduates have pursued careers in:
- accountancy
- human resource management
- marketing and advertising
- entrepreneurship
- Sales management
- brand management
- business analysis
- event management
- management
- stock broking
- data science
- IT
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.
Here are just a few of our host partners for business:
- Manpower
- Practera
- Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Ozcare
- Impact for Women
- Brisbane Paralympic Football Program
- Catholic Super
- Premium Foods Australia
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Commerce, a student must complete 240 credit points (cp).
Available Major(s)
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Accounting
Accounting is the method of evaluating and reporting the financial health of businesses and individuals. In studying the accounting major sequence, you’ll learn to analyse, research and make informed recommendations about a broad range of accounting problems and issues. You’ll also become proficient in internationally-recognised accounting principles, practices and techniques and apply them to a variety of situations. You’ll prepare for a rewarding career as a professional accountant, tax professional, business advisor or manager.
Choose accounting and you’ll be given the skills, knowledge and accreditations you need to embark on a career that can provide value to almost any kind of organisation or business – regardless of whether the wider economic outlook is a boom, bust, bull market, or recession.
Data Analytics
Studying the data analytics major sequence at ACU will give you insight into the fundamental concepts behind data and databases and the state-of-the- art techniques and technologies required to analyse large volumes of data. You’ll be introduced to real-world applications that can be derived from a thorough understanding of the data at your fingertips.
Careers in data analytics are in great demand in Australia and around the world. These skills are highly transferrable and continuously growing and developing. Good data analysts have more than a knack for numbers. They have an excellent eye for detail, possess good computer skills, and can identify key trends and patterns from a sea of information. They play an important role in their organisations – collecting and analysing a wide range of data types to gain game-changing insight. Data analysts can make informed recommendations to management to help improve and optimise the business – potentially changing its fortunes in the process. In an increasingly digital world, good data analysts are instrumental to their organisations.
Human Resource Management
A business is only as good as its employees – and employees only thrive when there’s a good human resources team behind them. Human resource management (HRM) plays a critical role in every organisation. As an HRM professional, you’ll work to get the best from your people for the entire employment cycle. It’s a broad field, touching all parts of an organisation. It’s also a rapidly growing profession, with both jobs and income levels forecast to increase in the future. So why not get in on the ground floor with this human resource management major sequence?
Management
Scale up your career in management. As a manager in the making, you’ll empower your organisation, and its people, to succeed. From providing strategic guidance to supporting and motivating your team, you’ll make sure everything goes according to plan. Combining theory with practice, your studies in management will also teach you how to build trust, manage with empathy, promote sustainability, and align your teams towards good business and the good of society. Our courses have a global emphasis, so you’ll be prepared to take on a number of roles and enter a wide range of industries and businesses, including administration, operations, international trade – even a CEO – anywhere in the world.
Marketing
Be the go-between in the business world, connecting brands, products and services to new markets and customers. As a graduate of the marketing major sequence, you’ll use your creativity and insight to understand consumer behaviour, communicate brand and product value, monitor dynamically changing trends, find new markets for products and services, develop business strategies and work with a range of cutting-edge digital technologies.
Available Minor(s)
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Accounting
Accounting is the method of evaluating and reporting the financial health of businesses and individuals. In studying the accounting minor sequence, you’ll learn to analyse, research and make informed recommendations about a broad range of accounting problems and issues. You’ll also become proficient in internationally-recognised accounting principles, practices and techniques and apply them to a variety of situations, and you’ll prepare for a rewarding career as a professional accountant, tax professional, business advisor or manager.
Choose accounting and you’ll be given the skills, knowledge and accreditations you need to embark on a career that can provide value to almost any kind of organisation or business. – regardless of whether the wider economic outlook is a boom, bust, bull market, or recession.
Data Analytics
Studying the data analytics minor sequence at ACU will give you insight into the fundamental concepts behind data and databases and the state-of-the- art techniques and technologies required to analyse large volumes of data. You’ll be introduced to real-world applications that can be derived from a thorough understanding of the data at your fingertips.
Careers in data analytics are in great demand in Australia and around the world. These skills are highly transferrable and continuously growing and developing. Good data analysts have more than a knack for numbers. They have an excellent eye for detail, possess good computer skills, and can identify key trends and patterns from a sea of information. They play an important role in their organisations – collecting and analysing a wide range of data types to gain game-changing insight. Data analysts can make informed recommendations to management to help improve and optimise the business – potentially changing its fortunes in the process. In an increasingly digital world, good data analysts are instrumental to their organisations.
Entrepreneurship
Don’t just rewrite the rules, throw the rulebook away. If you like to think big and immerse in possibility, you’ll find tremendous value in the entrepreneurship minor sequence with its focus on new ventures, innovation and disruption – not just in technology and start-ups, but also family businesses, existing small businesses and social enterprises. Study the entrepreneurship minor sequence and you’ll get a firm foothold on how entrepreneurship is shaking up traditional industries like education, transport, food production and sustainable construction. You’ll also enhance many of your innate abilities, including your creativity, focus, resourcefulness, risk evaluation, determination, ability to communicate and willingness to work hard.
Event Management
Oversee once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Learn how to take an occasion from concept to execution. Graduate with the flexibility to enter a range of industries, whether you’re interested in wedding planning, sports events, concerts, festivals, awards ceremonies, corporate events, or tourism. By choosing the event management minor sequence, you'll build a diverse set of skills including branding, media relations, logistics, regulatory compliance, client and stakeholder management, marketing and communications. You’ll also hone a range of highly transferable soft skills, such as the ability to organise, attention to detail, creative vision, leadership, and high-level abilities in communication and collaboration.
Finance
Everybody needs basic finance knowledge whether you’re making decisions involving borrowing money, making investments or assessing financing options. Study the finance minor sequence to learn the fundamentals of financial management and decision-making – including in times of uncertainty – and how to apply this expertise to sectors such as banking, consulting, planning, fund management, merchant banking, treasury or the share market.
Along the way, your experience will be enhanced by our small class sizes, allowing you to form close ties to your lecturers and tutors. After graduating, you’ll be prepared for financial management roles in private enterprise, government, the not-for-profit sector and trans-national corporations.
Human Resource Management
A business is only as good as its employees – and employees only thrive when there’s a good human resources team behind them. Human resource management (HRM) plays a critical role in every organisation. As an HRM professional, you’ll work to get the best from your people for the entire employment cycle. It’s a broad field, touching all parts of an organisation. It’s also a rapidly growing profession, with both jobs and income levels forecast to increase in the future. So why not get in on the ground floor with this human resource management minor sequence?
International Business
To succeed in business today, you need to develop a global mindset. When you study the international business minor sequence at ACU, your eyes will be opened to how globalisation continues to connect businesses, markets, people and information across countries and continents. Alongside such interconnectedness, a qualification in international business can open up career opportunities in a variety of sectors, in countries around the world. It’s time to make your mark on the ever-changing global economic landscape.
Management
Scale up your career in management. As a manager in the making, you’ll empower your organisation, and its people, to succeed. From providing strategic guidance to supporting and motivating your team, you’ll make sure everything goes according to plan. Combining theory with practice, your studies in management will also teach you how to build trust, manage with empathy, promote sustainability, and align your teams towards good business and the good of society. Our courses have a global emphasis, so you’ll be prepared to take on a number of roles and enter a wide range of industries and businesses, including administration, operations, international trade – even a CEO – anywhere in the world.
Marketing
Be the go-between in the business world, connecting brands, products and services to new markets and customers. As a graduate of the marketing minor sequence, you’ll use your creativity and insight to understand consumer behaviour, communicate brand and product value, monitor dynamically changing trends, find new markets for products and services, develop business strategies and work with a range of cutting-edge digital technologies.
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Bachelor - AQF Level 7Overseas 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 is assumed to have completed English at the year 12 level or equivalent
State Prerequisites New South Wales
Assumed knowledge: English (Advanced or Standard) (Band 2) or English (EAL) (Band 3).
Queensland
Assumed knowledge: English (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
Applicants with recent secondary education
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If your school result was affected by circumstances outside of your control, such as financial hardship, illness, disability or a challenging home environment, you may qualify for an access scheme. You can apply through your TAC as part of your application process.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
For current year 12 students
If you’re a current Year 12 applicant you can be given a selection rank separate from, and in addition to, your ATAR if you’ve completed a competency-based and graded AQF Certificate III or above.
For non-school leavers
If you’ve completed, or are completing a competency-based AQF Certificate IV or AQF diploma you will be assigned a selection rank by your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC). This is an entry score based on your individual qualifications and achievements.
ACU has partnerships with TAFE and many private education providers. If you have completed a qualification with one of these partners or with ACU College, you may be eligible for guaranteed entry and/or credit into a related ACU degree. Please apply through your local TAC and then submit a credit application for your previous study.
Applicants with higher education study
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.
Applicants with work and life experience
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
- If you have no formal education qualifications you may be eligible for a selection rank based on your work, life or service experience.
- If you’ve been in paid employment, relevant to the course you’re applying for, for a minimum of six months full-time (or equivalent), this work may be assessed for your selection rank.
- If you’re 21 years or older you can sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) through your local TAC.
- You can apply for an ACU bridging course. Our bridging courses allow you to transition back into studying and can give you a head start on the relevant undergraduate degree.
- If you have served in the defence force, your rank and time in service may contribute to your selection rank.
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.
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 current or recent Year 12 students
If you can’t meet the ATAR requirement for your choice of course and you’re currently completing Year 12 or finished Year 12 in the two years previously, we have entry programs to get you where you want to be.
Alternatively, you may be able to complete a diploma or bridging course relevant to your desired course:
Pathways into course for applicants with previous study and/or life experience
Are you applying to ACU as a non-school leaver?
By that we mean, you’re not currently completing Year 12 and haven’t completed it in the two years previously. If the answer is yes and your selection rank isn’t enough to meet the requirements for your desired course you still have a number of options to help you achieve your study goals.
If you’re over 21, you can sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), or you can complete a diploma or bridging course relevant to your desired course.
Fees
Course costs
Average first year fee*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.
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.
How to apply
Domestic applicants
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Dr Wendy James
Associate Professor, Peter Faber Business School
Dr Wendy James a fully certified management accountant and CPA, Dr James has taught at a number of universities in Australia and overseas, including Charles Darwin University, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Adelaide, Griffith University, and a large government university in Dubai.
Dr James has a wealth of experience teaching a range of courses, including financial accounting, managerial accounting, and information systems. She was part of a team that conceived and delivered a project accounting course to finance managers around the world. Whilst in Dubai, she spent time working for the Central Bank of Dubai training financial accountants.
Dr James's current research interests include accounting education, management accounting and control systems, performance management, organisational change, public sector financial management and strategic management accounting in the private, public and not for profit sectors. She has been published in a number of prominent accounting journals and likes to referee up-and-coming research articles from other authors.
Dr Sugumar Mariappanadar
Senior Lecturer, Peter Faber Business School
Dr Sugumar Mariappanadar is a senior lecturer in management and human resource management at the Peter Faber School of Business in Melbourne. His teaching and publications cover sustainable human resource management, human resource measurement, organisational behaviour, and culturally indigenous management practices.
Testimonial
“The staff at ACU are wonderful and I’ve always had positive experiences here. The lecturers are always guiding me in the right direction, taking time out of their day and going out of their way to help me succeed in my studies.
In the professional experience unit, I have been supported to use my own start-up as a form of placement. Here, I can continue to work on my own business, gaining hands-on entrepreneurial and business skills from my venture. In addition to this, I can apply what I have learnt during my studies, turning theories and concepts into a tangible asset; a huge learning and experience benefit from placement.”
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