Bachelor of Business with a Major in Finance

Financial Management

Understand the role of finance within corporate management, focusing on its’ goals and functions, as well as risk and return.

Economic Principles

Learn how to recognise microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts and how they improve decision making and policies.

Fixed Income & Debt Markets

Learn to analyse credit and interest risk and evaluate ethical issues relating to investments and financial technologies.

International Trade & Finance

Examine solutions to current international issues based on research from a variety of sources.

Management of Investment Portfolios

Examine contemporary issues in the emerging investment markets.

On successful completion of this Course students will be able to:

1. Define and integrate theoretical principles applicable to finance and apply those principles in a range of practices.
2. Systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources in order to make informed judgements on options for innovatively solving a range of problems that arise in business contexts.
3. Formulate creative solutions that are fit for purpose and demonstrate cognisance of the impact of business decisions on the triple bottom line.
4. Coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas.
5. Communicate a range of business arguments by evaluating and implementing alternative communication strategies as appropriate to the audience.
6. Build on and continuously develop the intellectual independence to be critical and reflective learners, cognisant of new technologies.
7. Work collaboratively in diverse groups.

With a major in Finance, you’ll become essential to the success of any business. Learn about emerging finance, such as cryptocurrency, as well as the traditional finance practices which underpin all businesses. Taught by skilled financial experts, you’ll learn to manage risks, understand the value of shares and bonds, create investments, and use cutting-edge financial programming software.

You’ll hear from professional speakers throughout your degree and team up with your peers on a consulting project with a live client, meaning that you’ll be equipped to jump into the workforce with ease upon graduation.

Recommended study pattern

A total of 24 units are taken to complete the Bachelor of Business with a major in Finance, including seven foundational business core units, the choice of one of two core business practice, eight finance major units and eight electives.

Core Business Fundamental units

• Learning and Communicating for Innovative Business Practice (COM10011)
• Contemporary Management Principles (MGT10001)
• Marketing and the Consumer Experience (MKT10009)
• Financial Information for Decision Making (ACC10007)
• Economics for Business Decision-Making (ECO10005)
• Business Digitalisation (INF10024)
• Business Consulting Project (BUS30032)

Business Practice units

You must complete one (1) of the following units:

• Planning for Career Success (CAR10001)
• Sustainable Business Practice (BUS30031)

Finance Major units

• Business for Sustainability, Social Change and Impact (BUS10014)
• Financial Statistics (FIN10002)
• Financial Management (FIN20014)
• Ethics and International Finance (FIN20016)
• Alternative Investments (FIN30020)
• Financial Risk Management (FIN30014)
• Management of Investment Portfolios (FIN30016)
• Fixed Income and Debt Markets (FIN30021)

Recommended electives

• Planning for Career Success (CAR10001)
• Law of Commerce (LAW20019)
• Financial Information Systems (ACC10008)
• International Politics (POL10002)

Other Elective options can be viewed on the Swinburne Online website.

Award requirements

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

• Eight [8] core units of Study (100 credit points).
• Eight [8] units of study from the Finance discipline major (100 credit points).
• Eight [8] units of study (100 credit points) comprising of electives.

Students have the opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement. A unit of study can only be counted once. Where there are overlaps between majors and/or minors, students in the first instance choose another unit from the list of units available in the major/minor.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $50,976

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

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Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.

Diploma entry pathways

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and provides advanced standing to the second.

Credit available may vary depending on the major selected within any given degree but in most instances you may receive up to 8 unit credits.

Our Course Consultants will step you through the process of entry and credit using previous study.

2022 Guaranteed Entry ATAR: 60

Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

VCE prerequisites:

Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in English (or equivalent) or 30 in English (EAL).

Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience and appropriate English language skills, or a suitable Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result, will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for credit.

Applicants who have completed a Diploma in a related discipline may be eligible for credit of up to 8 units; the equivalent of a third of the course. Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.