Bachelor of Business

Graduates of the Bachelor of Business may have specialised in the contemporary field of Information Systems or have elected to study Finance, Economics or Marketing for a more analytical and traditional approach.

Graduates will be suited to employment in both the public and private sectors in the fields of administration, management consulting, economic policy evaluation, financial analysis, banking and market analysis, advertising and information technology.

Career objectives

On completion of the degree students will have the following skills and be:

• Entrepreneurial
• Capable in a professional area
• Able to operate effectively in work and community situations
• Adaptable and capable of managing change
• Aware of business environments.

Higher education via OUA

• Successful completion of 2 subjects from the Business Pathway; OR
• Successful completion of 2 subjects from the Bachelor of Business Core or Majors

Students admitted to the degree with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this degree may be eligible for academic credit.

The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of degrees, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

Higher education

To view full Admission Criteria for the Bachelor of Business, please click here

Secondary education

Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification. VCE prerequisites: Subjects 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in English (or equivalent) or 30 in English (EAL); Expected 2019 ATAR: 60.

VET studies

Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including a certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree or degree). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.

Please note, that the partial completion requirement does not apply to a certificate IV.

English Proficiency Requirements

English language requirements: (International students only)

IELTS (Academic Module): Overall 6.0 with no individual band below 6.0; or Swinburne English Language Centre: EAP 5 Advanced level with overall 65% and all skills 65% or above; or TOEFL iBT: minimum score 75 (Reading no less than 18, Writing no less than 20) or equivalent measures available at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/international/apply/entry-requirements/

Students who are considering enrolling into a Swinburne undergraduate degree may apply for academic credit of up to sixteen [16] subjects based on prior credentialed or non-credentialed learning. Students wishing to apply for credit (referred to as ‘exemptions’) can do so on the basis of:

• Credentialed Learning - previous formal post-secondary studies taken at another educational institution or in another sector or in another degree or
• Non-credentialed Learning - Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience and/or formal training or a combination of both.

Broad Conditions

• Study undertaken more than 10 years ago may need to be reviewed for currency by an Academic Assessor
• Students must complete at least eight [8] Swinburne undergraduate subjects to be eligible to graduate with a Swinburne undergraduate award.

For information on how to apply for credit please refer to Swinburne’s website at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/open-universities-australia/advanced-standing-rpl.html

The Bachelor of Business equips students with the core knowledge and skills essential to business management and operations in the twenty-first century. Choose from a range of business majors including economics, finance, information systems and marketing. These majors may be supplemented by a broad range of other studies. In the final year, students synthesise their learning through three integrated, multidisciplinary final year subjects. This ensures that graduates are entrepreneurial thinkers, armed with theoretical and practical knowledge required to operate effectively in diverse settings such as not-for-profits, government, small businesses and corporate organisations. Career opportunities are extremely broad and range from business administration through to organisational management.

Recommended Study Pattern

This degree is an OUA Pathways degree, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the Pathway for this degree, simply select subjects from the Pathway stream at the selection screen.

Students who aren't taking part in OUA Pathways can instead follow the study pattern below:

• Complete the 8 core subjects
• Choose and complete 8 subjects in a major
• Finish by completing 8 elective subjects

Please note: You cannot re-enrol into Swinburne subjects that you have already passed. You must not complete more than 150 credit points (normally 12 subjects) at Introductory Level (i.e. Stage 1).

Taking time off from study (Absent Without Leave and Leave of Absence): How to apply for an approved leave of absence and minimise the risk of having to reapply for degree admission: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/current-students/manage-course/enrolment-timetable/time-off/

Award Requirements

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

• 8 Bachelor of Business core subjects (100 credit points)      
• 8 subjects of study from a business discipline major in one of the following: Information Systems or Marketing
• 8 subjects of Secondary studies (100 credit points) comprising of a second major, minor/s, or electives 

Regardless of any credit awarded within this degree, students must complete a minimum of 8 subjects of study with Swinburne University as part of this degree.

Please note: You cannot re-enrol into Swinburne subjects that you have already passed.

Choose your subjects

Majors

Economics - This major is currently in Teach-Out
Economics examines areas such as unemployment, inflation, foreign debt and environmental degradation. Students will develop skills in interpreting and evaluating economic commentaries and reports and in applying economic principles to real issues facing business and government.

Finance - This major is currently in Teach-Out
Finance focuses on the financial aspects relating to corporate finance and global financial markets. The Finance major will give students the necessary skills for a career in either of the following areas: broking, investment banking, business analyst, corporate financial officer, accounting, retail banking, foreign exchange markets.

Information Systems 
The information systems major enables students to learn about business analysis and problem-solving, systems analysis, project management, the provision of information systems services, social media in organisations, and mobile business Understanding Business Information Systems and their supporting technology is vital for all students entering the business world.

Marketing 
Students will gain an understanding of marketing's central role in business strategy by examining topics such as consumer behaviour, customer focus, market research and planning, marketing channels, product and services management, advertising and promotion and business to business marketing.

Electives

Students completing a Swinburne University of Technology prescribed major (i.e. Finance (currently in Teach-Out), Economics (currently in Teach-Out), Information Systems, or Marketing) must select 8 elective subjects chosen from any Open Universities Australia undergraduate subject. Please refer to Award Requirements for further information about your electives options.

Students wanting to study a minor (4 subjects) or co-major (8 subjects) using their elective subjects should refer to the information for minors and co-majors recommended for the Bachelor of Business.

Withdrawal of Economics and Finance Major, Co-Majors and Minors from 2019.

From Study Period 1 2019, the Economics or Finance Majors, Co-majors and Minors will no longer be available for new intakes.

1. ​Current students undertaking the Economics or Finance streams will have to complete the major, co-majors or minors by the end of 2020.
2. A teach-out subject schedule (below) has been developed which provides students with the information to plan the completion of their Economics or Finance subjects (including law subject LAW30002).

Please click here for the teach-out plan

Withdrawal of Advertising Major, Co-Major and Minor.

Students undertaking the Advertising stream should have completed the co-major or minor by the end of 2018. If not, the subjects completed towards the co-major or minor may be used as electives depending on the number of subjects completed.

Withdrawal of Tourism Management Major, Co-Major and Minor.

Students undertaking the Tourism Management stream should have completed the co-major or minor by the end of 2017. If not, the subjects completed towards the co-major or minor may be used as electives depending on the number of subjects completed.

If you were admitted before 2017 into the Bachelor of Business you can find out which subjects you still need to complete by downloading the Degree Planner applicable your course and admission year from Swinburne’s OUA course transition webpage.