ObjectivesThe Commerce courses at Deakin are some of the most flexible and broadly based business programs on offer at any Australian university. After a common first year of study in key business disciplines, students can choose from a wide range of specialist major sequences without having to lock themselves into one program from the beginning. Also students can choose from specialised areas offered by other faculties such as journalism, sociology, politics and policy studies, languages, psychology, or many other areas of interest (subject to satisfying entry requirements).
Entry requirementsApplicants should have successfully completed VCE or equivalent. Prerequisites are units 3 and 4 a study score of at least 35 in English (ESL) or 30 in any other English.
Academic titleBachelor of Commerce - Dean's Scholars Program
Course descriptionFees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
The specialist majors in the Commerce degree lead to careers in virtually every area of business and government in Australia and internationally. Broad career paths include being a professional accountant, IT and systems professional, economist, financial planner, human resources manager, manager, sports administrator, social and economic policy developer, international trade officer and marketing assistant/manager. As this is a very broad course, there are many other professions and further possibilities, especially if taken with further study.
Course rules
The BCom is a course of study amounting to 24 credit points.
At least 16 of these credit points must be BCom units offered by the Faculty of Business and Law and must include the 10 core units.
At least one major sequence of 6 credit points must be included.
At least 6 credit points must be taken at level 3, of which 4 must be Faculty of Business and Law units course grouped to a Faculty of Business and Law undergraduate degree.
No more than 10 credit points may be taken at level 1 (all Commerce units are worth 1 credit point). All commencing students are required to successfully complete at least one wholly online unit. Full-time enrolment is normally a maximum of 4 credit points per trimester. With the flexibility offered, students are able to choose one, two or even three majors within the 24 credit points required to complete the BCom degree. Students may take up to 8 credit points from approved units offered by other faculties.
Major sequences
All students in the Bachelor of Commerce are required to complete at least one major sequence chosen from the following:
Accounting
Accounting Information Systems
Business Information Systems
Business Security Management
Business Systems Implementation #
Business Systems Management #
Commercial Law
eBusiness
Economics
Electronic Commerce Implementation #
Electronic Commerce Management #
Facilities Management
Finance
Financial Planning
Health Informatics
Human Resource Management
Information Business Systems #
Interactive Marketing
International Business
International Trade
Management
Marketing
Professional Practice
Quantitative Business Analysis
Sport Economics #
Sport Management
Technology Management
# continuing students only
Course structure
Core units
MAA103 Accounting for Decision Making
MAE101 Economic Principles
MAE102 The Global Economy
MAF101 Fundamentals of Finance
MLC101 Business Law
MMM132 Management
MSC120 Business Information Systems
MSQ171 Business Data Analysis
MMH299 Business Communication
MMK277 Marketing Management
Elective units
MME101 Communication Skills for University Business Studies
MMI301 Business Internship 1
MMI302 Business Internship 2
MMK330 Tourism and Leisure Marketing
MMS306 Sport Practicum
MMS313 Sport Leadership and Governance
Business internship program
The Bachelor of Commerce incorporates a business internship program which provides students with a realistic business experience in their area of specialisation. Two 1-credit-point units, available to final-year students, have been developed to provide experiential learning opportunities which foster the development of practical capabilities and enhance employment prospects for graduates. These units complement each major area of study and are available on all campuses and off campus.
MMI301 Business Internship 1
MMI302 Business Internship 2
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 within the course structure and course rules.
Part-time studies
Part-time study is available on and off campus. Part-time study refers to academic workload, not mode of study.
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Admission requirements - specific
Applicants should have successfully completed VCE or equivalent. Prerequisites are units 3 and 4 a study score of at least 35 in English (ESL) or 30 in any other English.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
How to apply
Applications for on and off campus study must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC (external site).
Majors - more information
Accounting
The distinctive feature of Accounting at Deakin University is its use of a case-based approach. It has professional relevance and an emphasis on analysis and discussion, rather than on book keeping and routine accounting. Graduates who complete the required units are eligible to apply for admission to the CA Program of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and/or the CPA program of CPA Australia.
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting Information Systems focuses on the complexities of managing and auditing those business systems which rely on information and communications technology.
Business Information Systems
Information systems professionals have a fundamental understanding of how computers work. They have the knowledge and skills to develop, apply and manage technology and the people who use it to serve modern organisations.
Business Security Management
Business Security Management focuses on informaiton security in a corporate context and applying security techniques to protect information within organisations. It brings together legal, technical and theoretical aspects of business security management.
Business Systems Implementation #
Business Systems Implementation addresses the implementation of information technology and electronic commerce applications. The major develops the skills required for an information technology professional closely involved in systems development. Graduates could seek employment as business systems programmers, as members of implementation teams within corporations or within specialist systems development companies.
#continuing students only
Business Systems Management #
This major focuses on the information technology requirements of organisations and the management of information technology and eCommerce solutions. It develops an in-depth understanding of business systems as well as systems management skills.
#continuing students only
Commercial Law
The Commercial Law major is designed to provide a foundation in commercial law for business professionals. There are specialised options available - such as Sport and the Law, Marketing Law and units in international commercial law which add significantly to students' capability to work in areas such as Sport Management, Human Resource Management or in an international environment.
eBusiness
Professionals in electronic business have the ability to create and use a variety of communication systems in a business context. They have an understanding of corporate policy issues, and of the strategic opportunities eBusiness offeres organisations.
eCommerce Implementation #
The Electronic Commerce Implementation major is concerned with the processes and implementation of eCommerce solutions. It develops the skills required for the implementation of eCommerce applications either within corporations or as members of specialist eCommerce consulting and service companies.
#continuing students only
eCommerce Management #
Electronic Commerce Management provides a foundation in the management of eCommerce applications and the corporate policy issues involved in implementing eCommerce applications. It complements studies in other commerce areas, such as Marketing or Accounting, with an understanding of the strategic opportunities eCommerce offers organisations.
#continuing students only
Economics
The Economics major sequence seeks to provide a foundation in economics as an important element of any business career or as the basis of a specialist career in economic research and policy.
Facilities Management
Facilities management is a professional discipline oriented towards the management of existing building and property assets and its strategic alignment to core business goals.
Finance
The Finance major enables students to gain a broad understanding of the structure and operations of financial markets in Australia, together with the theory and techniques underlying financial management. This specialist major is recognised by the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance.
Financial Planning
The Financial Planning major covers practical and theoretical aspects of financial planning through the examination of investment analysis, superannuation and taxation, and is recognised by the Financial Planning Association.
Health Informatics
The Health Informatics major sequence is designed for students who wish to become data/informational managers, project managers, systems analysts, programmers, clinical informaticians, or administrators in a health care setting.
Human Resource Management
Human Resource Management is concerned with the management of people to accomplish an organisation's objectives. It includes human resource planning, recruitment and selection, together with the supporting administrative systems, review and remuneration, training and development, and human resource information systems. Graduates satisfy the educational requirements for graduate membership of the Australian Human Resources Institute.
Information Business Systems #
Information Business Systems offers a selection of Management Information Systems units to ensure graduates have a broad understanding of the business implications of electronic technology. Graduates will be well positioned to examine and comment on investment proposals involving information technology, and to assist information technology teams in systems roll out.
#continuing students only
Interactive Marketing
Marketing is the process whereby value is addedd for both organisations and the customers they supply. In order to add values, organisations deliver innovative goods, services and experiences to consumers and other businesses, and nurture the relationships developed in the values adding process.
International Business
The International Business major seeks to develop skills for the analysis of international markets and the personal skills and attitudes required to successfully engage in international business. The major includes units with an international focus drawn from a wide range of business disciplines.
International Trade
The International Trade major provides a sound understanding of the economic basis to trade and the institutions and market structures underlying global commerce. The major covers the economic, political and cultural characteristics of the major trading regions, including North America, Western and Eastern Europe and the Middle East, but with a strong emphasis on Asian trade.
Management
The Management major is designed around several key themes, which reflect the challenges facing practising managers - change, innovation and technology, globalisation, quality service cultures, participation and performance. In addition, it seeks to develop the management skills of communication, problem solving, planning, organising, managing change and working co-operatively with others.
Marketing
The Marketing major provides a comprehensive introduction to each of the main areas of marketing, with specialist options and electives designed to provide a particular expertise in some of its key areas. Professional recognition by the Australian Marketing Institute and the Market Research Society of Australia is available.
Professional Practice
The Professional Practice major sequence is designed for those business students seeking to enhance and reinforce those skills already developed in their course and to extend and apply their theoretical knowledge into practical real-life situations.
Quantitative Business Analysis
The Quantitative Business Analysis major emphasises the use of quantitative techniques as tools for business and economic decision making. An understanding of key quantitative software is an integral part of the major.
Sport Economics #
Sport Economics combines a knowledge of sport generally and the techniques of economic analysis, such as bid planning techniques and forecasting of economic benefits before, during and after events.
#continuing students only
Sport Management
(This major is only available to students who wish to study M304 or M307)
Sport is a multi-billion dollar industry and Deakin University offers Australia's only Sport management major within a Bachelor of Commerce. The Sport Management major will open up opportunities in general management/administration, marketing, promotion and membership services, accounting and finance, operations and facility management, as well as in policy and funding areas of government.
Technology Management
The Technology Management major sequence aims to place both the individual and the organisation in perspective by undertaking Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour and then complements the more technical focus of the engineering unit Managing Industrial Organisations. Both Business Information Systems and Information Systems Management provide both a useful introduction to the importance of information systems to organisations and a capstone unit covering the management of this important function in organisations.