What's the best business major for me?
When you undertake our Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, you'll be required to complete one or two business majors. Majors are sequences of units of study which equip you with depth of expertise in a particular subject area, such as business law, finance or marketing.
Explore the full list of business majors below to see what topics and career pathways each subject area offers:
Accounting is the 'language of business', providing organisations with information they need to make key business decisions relating to financial performance.
- Analyse and record business financial transactions
- Allocate costs and prepare budgets and other reports to inform operational and strategic decisions
- Prepare and audit financial statements in line with international accounting and auditing standards
- Apply analytical skills to understand and appraise the value of financial information
- Auditing and assurance
- Financial analyst
- Internal audit and risk
- Management accountant/analyst
- Financial accounting
For an example of how you might structure an Accounting major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring an Accounting major flyer (pdf, 39KB).
Muhammad Rehan Rana
Banks play a critical role in our globalised economy, providing financial services to business and individuals, and facilitating sustainable economic growth.
- Understand the role of banks
- Expertise in bank management and risk management
- How to measure and manage financial risk
- Analysis of monetary policy
- Communication of financial information
Explore units of study in the Banking major.
- Commercial and investment banking
- Financial services
- Consulting
- Risk management
- Financial industry regulation
- Central banking
For an example of how you might structure a Banking major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Banking major flyer (pdf, 28KB).
Alexander Zeyu Shu
Use data to discover new insights and gain a deeper understanding of business performance to drive future planning.
- Use of statistical software to analyse real datasets
- How to mathematically develop problem solving models
- Methods for tasks including credit scoring, market segmentation, consumer behaviour modelling and product positioning
- Communication of business intelligence
- Machine-learning methods
- Consulting
- Data analyst
- Logistics and supply chain management
- Data scientist
- Market research
- Retail analytics
For an example of how you might structure a Business Analytics major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Business Analytics major flyer (pdf, 28KB).
Cindy Ngo
Business information systems are the key enabler of innovation and operational efficiency, ensuring the right information is available to the right people at the right time.
- Expertise on business information systems strategy and e-commerce, business intelligence and business process management
- Business analysis techniques
- Data modelling and process mapping
- Agile project management methodologies
- Software including Tableau, SAS Visual Analytics, SAP
- Technology assurance and data management frameworks
Explore units of study in the Business Information Systems major.
- Business analyst: bridge the gap between business and IT to solve business problems using current and future technologies and assess and improve business performance and models in an ever-changing world of FinTech, Machine Learning and Big Data.
- Management consultant: join a major consulting firm such as Deloitte Consulting, Bain & Co., McKinsey, PwC or KPMG as an external analyst working on business and technology related issues.
- Compliance/IT auditor: evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of your firm's IT systems and internal controls against policies and regulations. Work on projects that improve the organisations’ internal processes and performance.
- Enterprise architect: a senior role in which you will be part of a team that translates business strategy into concrete solutions and designs and executes the blueprint of IT solutions to support that strategy.
For an example of how you might structure a Business Information Systems major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Business Information Systems major flyer (pdf, 38KB).
Minh Tri Nguyen
Businesses of all shapes and sizes are impacted by the legal and regulatory frameworks in which they operate.
- How to conduct case-based analysis of the law
- Identifying the legal implications, opportunities and risks of business activities
- Constructing written and oral arguments relevant to commercial legal issues
- Project management
- Specialist knowledge in legal areas such as securities and derivatives law, finance and banking, taxation, employment, corporate crime, trade practices and consumer law
- Compliance and regulatory specialist
- Business manager
- Tax adviser
- Financial planner
- Investment adviser
- Policy adviser
For an example of how you might structure a Business Law major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Business Law major flyer (pdf, 38KB).
Paris Vergan
Finance affects every area of business, as organisations use financial information to make strategic decisions that improve profitability.
- Measurement and management of financial risk
- Building financial models
- Asset pricing
- Portfolio management
- How to present financial information
Explore units of study in the Finance major.
- Financial analyst
- Economist
- Financial Planning
- Funds management
- Investment banker
- Markets analyst
- Trader
- Financial advisor
- Managing companies
- Wealth management
- Financial consultant
For an example of how you might structure a Finance major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Finance major flyer (pdf, 38KB).
Elicia McDonald
Learn to solve today’s complex people management challenges and shape the workplace of the future by studying the policies and practices that support positive, effective organisations and employment relationships.
- Solve contemporary, real-world employment and work challenges
- Promote strategic organisational objectives through effective people management
- Promote positive workplace cultures across all types of organisations
- Champion solutions to complex issues like sexual harassment, discrimination and workers’ rights
- Understand how climate change is impacting the world of work
- Understand how government policies and organisational contexts affect people’s experiences at work
- Work directly with senior leaders and industry partners in industrial relations and human resources, such as the Fair Work Commission, leading businesses, and unions
- Experience advocacy work with tribunals such as the Fair Work Commission
Explore units of study in the Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major.
- Human resources advisor/manager
- People and culture specialist
- Workplace relations business partner
- Industrial officer/union advocate
- Policy analyst
- People analytics consultant
- Recruitment specialist
For an example of how you might structure an Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring an Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major flyer (pdf, 40KB).
Vincent Giannini
Develop an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset along with the practical skills required to disrupt with purpose.
- Technological innovation
- Social entrepreneurship
- Digital disruption
- Sustainability-focused innovation and entrepreneurship
- Design thinking for new product or service development
- How to build new for-profit or social ventures and launch start-ups
- How to lead innovation projects in large private, public or not-for-profit organisations
- How to apply innovation skills to areas ranging from global social problems to music festivals and digital games
- Creativity and opportunity framing
- Collaboration and leadership of multidisciplinary teams
- Entrepreneur
- Venture capital analyst
- Business innovation consultant
- Social entrepreneur
- Social innovation consultant
- Research and development manager
- Incubator or accelerator manager
For an example of how you might structure an Innovation and Entrepreneurship major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring an Innovation and Entrepreneurship major flyer (pdf, 110KB).
Professor Steven Maguire
In a globalised world, international business supports the development, strategy and management of organisations at a global level.
- Multinational and transnational business strategies
- Risk analysis and management
- Strategy formulation and design thinking
- Managing employees and organisations in cross-cultural contexts
- Project management
- Interpersonal skills necessary to work with people across cultures and borders
- Entrepreneurship skills in an international business context
- International business consulting
- Import and export management
- International human resource management
- Global management
- Consultant in government and nongovernment organisations, such as the World Bank, Austrade or the United Nations
For an example of how you might structure an International Business major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring an International Business major flyer (pdf, 39KB).
Anna Bezuglova
Become a future leader who enables business and organisations and their people to thrive and grow. Learn about inclusive and sustainable business and management practices which contribute to a better economy and society.
- Gain highly valued leadership and management knowledge, tools, and skills
- Develop and implement sustainable business and organisational strategies
- Lead and manage organisational change
- Deploy data-driven insights and analytical approaches to management
- Obtain essential in-demand technical and people skills and capabilities
- Understand the psychology of people at work
- Manage teams to thrive in national and global business environments
- Solve real-world industry problems
- Develop your future career with a foundation of management skills
Explore units of study in the Management and Leadership major.
- Management consultant
- Strategy analyst
- Organisational change manager
- Project manager
- A management career in your technical specialisation
For an example of how you might structure a Management and Leadership major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Management and Leadership major flyer (pdf, 103KB).
Bo Jeong
Marketing creates value for customers, organisations and society by understanding market needs and aligning what companies offer based on market insights.
- How to design business proposals and marketing strategies
- Creating, positioning and developing brands
- Formulating research questions and developing consumer insights
- Advertising and producing creative material
- Persuasive communication and pitching ideas
- Marketing director
- Business strategist
- Advertising executive
- Marketing communication specialist
- Brand manager
- Product manager
- Market researcher and analyst
- Digital marketing specialist
For an example of how you might structure a Marketing major in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Marketing major flyer (pdf, 38KB).
Dean Jones
Our Professional Accounting program offers you the opportunity to complete a professionally accredited accounting degree and develop the knowledge and expertise you need for a rewarding career.
The Professional Accounting program meets the requirements for professional accounting accreditation with the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia. Completion of an accredited degree course is a recognised pathway to a career in professional accounting.
For more detailed information download the Professional Accounting Accreditation Guide (pdf, 201KB).
To complete the Professional Accounting program and gain associate membership into CPA Australia and CAANZ, you need to undertake 12 units from accounting and other essential business disciplines. Explore units of study in the Professional Accounting program.
For a one-page outline of the differences between the Professional Accounting Program and the Accounting major, download the Professional Accounting Program versus the Accounting Major flyer (pdf, 42kb).
| Professional Accounting Program | Accounting Major | |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | 2020 students accredited pathway to CPA and/or CAANZ and ACCA (partial exam exemption) | This option provides a depth of specialised knowledge in Accounting but does not provide a membership pathway to CPA/CAANZ/ACCA |
| Units of study | Visit the Professional Accounting Program page for unit of study requirements. | Visit the Accounting major page for unit of study requirements. |
| Availability | Available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws should follow the requirements set out in the Professional Accounting Program accreditation guide. |
Available to students enrolled in a range of undergraduate degrees, including the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, as a shared pool major or minor. |
For an example of how you might structure the Professional Accounting program in the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, download the Structuring a Professional Accounting program flyer (pdf, 30KB).