Overview

Make a positive social impact on business as an individual and part of a team in government, for-profit and for-purpose businesses. Select a major area of specialisation and combine it with your core business studies to become a business innovator and learn how to think like an entrepreneur. Plus, there are no exams except where required for professional accreditation. 

Double degree options

You can also study Business in a double degree with Applied Innovation, Arts, Aviation, Aviation Management, Business Analytics and Analysis, Design, Engineering, Health Science, Laws, or Media and Communication.

Learning outcomes

Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Business, students will be able to:

• apply and integrate business-relevant knowledge, theories, concepts, technologies, practices and processes
• obtain, analyse and interpret relevant information and data to make informed business decisions
• formulate innovative and sustainable solutions to business problems
• use legal, ethical, and social frameworks to support diversity and equity regarding gender, Indigeneity, and multiculturalism when developing authentic business contenteffectively communicate business arguments and reasoning to a range of audiences
  
• build on business and digital skills to continuously develop the intellectual independence to be critical and reflective learners
• work collaboratively and purposefully in teams to achieve a common goal

Career opportunities

Career opportunities are extremely broad and range from business administration through to organisational management. Graduate roles, depending on the major(s) selected, include accountant, financial controller, business and data analyst, business consultant, project manager, sustainability manager, business development manager, entrepreneur, human resource consultant, organisational change coordinator, digital content strategist, investment analyst, financial planner, market research analyst, brand manager, corporate sponsorship executive, sports administrator, supply and distribution manager, and warehouse operations manager.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Business (with an Accounting major; Accounting and Finance Professional major; and Accounting and Finance major) is professionally accredited through CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Graduates are therefore eligible to apply for membership of these professional bodies and Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). The Bachelor of Business (with a Human Resource Management major) is professionally accredited with the Australian HR Institute (AHRI). The Bachelor of Business (with a Financial Planning major) is professionally accredited with the Financial Planning Association of Australia. Professional Recognition: Recognition as a CFA Institute Affiliated University signals to students, employers and the marketplace that the university curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA Program. CFA Institute®: The Swinburne University of Technology is a participant in the University Affiliation Program of the CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The Bachelor of Business (Finance Major) covers at least 70% of Level 1 of the CFA program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) topics including CFA Institute Codes of Ethics. As part of the affiliation, students in the Bachelor of Business, Finance Major are eligible for CFA Program Student Scholarships. The Bachelor of Business is accredited by AACSB.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Business students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

• five [5] Business Fundamentals core units (62.5 credit points) AND
• three [3] Business Practice units (37.5 credit points) AND
• one of the following majors* (100 to 200 credit points):
  • eight [8] units of study in one of the following majors: Business Administration, Business Analytics and Analysis, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Health Management and Communication, Human Resource Management, International Business, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing or Sports Management (100 credit points) OR
  • nine [9] units from the Accounting major (112.5 credit points) OR
  • sixteen [16] units from the Accounting and Finance major or the Accounting and Financial Planning major (200 credit points) AND
  • Up to eight [8] units of other study (0 to 100 credit points) comprising of a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor/s and/or electives. Number of units to be undertaken is determined by the size of the major undertaken**.

Students may not complete more than 150 credit points (normally 12 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Students also have an opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement.

Professional Placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375-400 credit points comprising:

• five [5] Business Fundamentals core units (62.5 credit points) AND
• three [3] Business Practice units (37.5 credit points) AND
• One of the following majors* (100 to 200 credit points):
  • eight [8] units of study in one of the following majors: Business Administration, Business Analytics and Analysis, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Health Management and Communication, Human Resource Management, International Business, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing or Sports Management (100 credit points) OR
  • nine [9] units from the Accounting major (112.5 credit points) OR
  • sixteen (16) units from the Accounting and Finance major or the Accounting and Financial Planning major (200 credit points) AND
  • four [4] units of Professional Placement study (100 credit points); AND
  • Up to Six [6] units of other study comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives (0 to75 credit points)**

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 337.5-350 credit points comprising:

• five [5] Business Fundamentals core units (62.5 credit points) AND
• three [3] Business Practice units (37.5 credit points) AND
• one of the following majors* (100 to 200 credit points):
  • eight [8] units of study in one of the following majors: Business Administration, Business Analytics and Analysis, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Health Management and Communication, Human Resource Management, International Business, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing or Sports Management (100 credit points) OR
  • nine [9] units from the Accounting major (112.5 credit points) OR
  • sixteen (16) units from the Accounting and Finance major or the Accounting and Financial Planning major (200 credit points) AND

• two [2] units of Professional Placement study (50 credit points) AND

• Up to seven [7] units of other study comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives (0 to 87.5 credit points)**

*Health Management and Communication Major is offered at Hawthorn for a specific cohort of students, International Business Major is only offered at offshore partners.

**Not required if doing the Accounting and Finance Major or the Accounting and Financial Planning major

Academic Progress – special requirements

In addition to the standard academic progress rules, this course has the following additional academic progress rules which are established in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 62 (2):

    1. A student is classified as 'at risk' of unsatisfactory progress if they:

        (a) fail any unit of study

        (b) Behave in a manner which breaches the Swinburne Student Charter whilst on a professional placement

        (c) are unsuccessful in securing a Professional Placement two months before Week 1 of their final year of study

    2. A student is classified as 'unsatisfactory progress' if they:

        (a) Fail any unit of study in the next Progress Review period after being classified as being 'at risk'

        (b) Fail a Professional Placement or Work Experience in Industry unit

        (c) Have their professional placement terminated early by an industry partner. In the case of early termination of an industry placement by an industry partner, the student will be deemed as having 'unsatisfactory progress' and a progress review hearing may be convened within 2 weeks of the cessation of the placement.

        (d) are unsuccessful in securing a Professional Placement two months before Week 1 of their final semester of study

Students who are identified as having unsatisfactory progress will be subject to the show cause provisions in the Progress Review section of the Academic Progress Policy.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Business is 200 credit points (normally 16 units)

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Work experience 

Applicants who have not met the entry criteria through their academic studies can have their work experience considered. Applicants need to have completed secondary school and have four years relevant post-secondary work experience with at least two of these years being fulltime work. Evidence must be in the form of a resume, a letter from an employer (on letterhead) outlining the duration of employment, roles and responsibilities and a position description (optional). If an employer letter cannot be provided a referee check may be conducted.