Why study commerce at UoN?

Our Bachelor of Commerce is designed to help fast-track careers in finance, accounting and economics. The degree provides functional skills and a broad understanding of the business environment. Read more ...

Practical experience

Business Commerce is orientated towards teamwork and collaboration in one form or another. We recognise this and have developed curricular which includes an emphasis on group work as a form of assessment. Read more ...

Accounting, finance or economics

The structure of the Bachelor of Commerce allows you to select a specialist area of study (a major) at the beginning of your second year, based on your interests and experiences in first year. Read more ...

Increase your options with Honours

An Honours degree gives graduates employment advantages in the diverse areas of Commerce. The extra year of study further enhances skills in research and critical analysis. Read more ...

Become a graduate in demand

Graduates of our Bachelor of Commerce degree are in demand. In 2010, 89% of graduates found full-time employment within four months of completing their degree. Read more ...

Why study commerce at UoN?

Our Bachelor of Commerce is designed to help fast-track careers in finance, accounting and economics. The degree provides functional skills and a broad understanding of the business environment.

You will be equipped to make a smooth transition from the classroom to the boardroom, acquiring skills that are valued by employers. The degree provides insight into the interplay between the financial, legal, political and economic systems and how these factors influence the contemporary business environment in Australia and across the globe.

The Bachelor of Commerce will see you develop strong teamwork, critical thinking and creative problem solving skills. A sense of global citizenship is imparted through international case studies and cross-cultural analysis.

You will undertake studies in the foundations of a range of key disciplines including finance, accounting, economics, politics, marketing, the legal system, industrial relations and statistics.

Graduates go on to exciting, stimulating and lucrative careers in the fields of accounting, auditing, consulting, stockbroking, business analysis and academia. Career opportunities can be pursued in a wide range of business, government department and not for profit organisations in Australia and around the world.

The Bachelor of Commerce is designed with a high degree of flexibility to cater for a diverse range of interests and ambitions. Areas of specialisation include human resources management, information systems in business, international business, management, marketing, logistics and supply chain management and tourism.

The degree also allows you to undertake a double major, meaning you are able to complete the requirements of two areas of study, simultaneously expanding your career opportunities and knowledge base.

Teaching and learning

Academics for the Bachelor of Commerce teach from real world professional experience, research findings and scholarly knowledge to bring the theory of your course to life.

The international expertise of the Newcastle Business School fosters and maintains strong connections with business and industry to ensure students are work-ready for an increasingly global environment.

Student support

As a Bachelor of Commerce student you will be provided with a supportive learning environment and can benefit from a number of initiatives designed to help you achieve your study goals.

In addition to weekly lectures and tutorials, the Business School offers Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) and a duty tutor service to help you reach your academic potential. PASS is facilitated by a student who has excelled in the course in a previous semester and provides an opportunity to work collaboratively to cover lecture material, develop a deeper understanding of course material and enhance learning skills. Duty tutors are assigned to each of the first year courses to provide drop-in assistance to students.

All Business and Law students also have exclusive access to the Student Learning Space (SLS), a fun new facility designed to help you fulfil your potential. SLS is about enhancing your learning experience – find a place to study, work on assignments and group tasks, and participate in PASS.

Practical experience

To prepare you for the strong focus on teamwork and collaboration in Business Commerce careers, the Bachelor of Commerce includes an emphasis on group work as a form of assessment. Working in groups helps develop the necessary teamwork skills required to make a successful transition from the classroom to the boardroom.

The Newcastle Business School also offers the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning (WIL).

If you show yourself to be a high achieving student, you will have the opportunity to participate in an industry placement in your final year. You will work within a major Hunter organisation and complete a project alongside professionals. This opportunity is a way to gain valuable industry experience and insight and to establish links within the business community that you may be able to take advantage of when seeking future employment. Industry placement is undertaken as a course within your degree – ‘Project in Business’.

The Lucy Mentoring Program provides female students within the Faculty of Business or Law the opportunity to participate in a unique leadership program aiming to inspire, motivate and educate women about the opportunities for employment in the corporate and public sectors. Program participants are allocated a mentor who is working professionally in the public or private sector. Your mentor can help you understand the working environment and to establish professional business networks – both of which are beneficial to gaining employment and progressing through the ranks in any organisation.

Accounting, finance or economics

At the University of Newcastle, we maintain strong relationships with employers and professional associations to ensure that the courses and majors offered maintain real-world relevance in a complex business environment.

The structure of the Bachelor of Commerce allows you to select a specialist area of study (a major) at the beginning of your second year, based on your interests and experiences in first year. Majors are an opportunity to gain detailed skills in a chosen discipline, along with a strong understanding of its core principles.

At our Newcastle (Callaghan) campus you can choose majors in accounting, economics and finance. An accounting major with or without accreditation is the only major in the Bachelor of Commerce degree offered at the Central Coast (Ourimbah) campus.

To broaden your appeal to prospective employers the degree also allows you to complete the requirements of two majors. A degree with a double major enables you to pursue multiple areas of interest plus provides a broader range of career options on graduation. This holistic understanding of commerce can help set you apart from your peers when competing in the job market.

The Bachelor of Commerce degree can also be studied concurrently with Business or Laws, enabling you to graduate with two degrees rather than one. Taking up this option provides you with a broad skill set that is highly sought after by employers.

Accounting

Accountants measure and analyse not only what is happening within the organisation in which they work, but also the broader financial environment.

As an accountant, you are involved in assessing the financial validity and future of organisations, as well as its investments, acquisitions, taxation, opportunities and threats. Accountants provide the management of an organisation with the tools necessary to make sound financial decisions.

Our courses are designed to provide accreditation with the major professional bodies in accounting, including CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

In first year, you will study the key concepts and principles of economics, accounting, management, decision making and law, and how this applies to commercial operations within the context of the current financial environment.

In second year, you will continue to study further accounting topics in areas including: company accounting; financial accounting and management accounting.

Third year will see you continue to study accounting theory but also allows you to focus on combinations that most suit your interests and career plans. Study areas include but are not limited to: financial and management accounting; taxation and auditing and assurance.

Economics

Economics graduates gain an understanding of how our economy is open to global forces and responds to government spending, interest rate changes and government regulations. This knowledge is highly valued in the financial services industry, large corporations and international firms, as well as government departments and the Reserve Bank.

This major builds advanced skills and focused knowledge essential for your employment success including the key principles of economic analysis and a range of sophisticated techniques of data and graphical analysis.

You will engage in exciting and creative analyses of real-world problems such as sustainable economic growth, economic management and climate change.

In first year, you will study the key concepts and principles of economics, accounting, management, business decision making and law, and how they apply to business operations within the context of the current financial environment.

Second year will see you continue to study topics including information and communication in business, marketing and business strategy, as well as studying topics in microeconomics and macroeconomics in greater depth.

Third year gives you the opportunity to select course combinations that most suit your interests and career plans. Study options include: economic development; global trade and finance; money and banking; labour economics; environmental economics and econometric modelling.

Finance

Understanding finance requires a detailed knowledge of both the business and financial environment. A Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Finance will teach you about money management, with a focus on investments, trading, financial law and risk.

The broad range of skills and knowledge and the international scope covered in this specialisation will leave you work-ready for employment in global markets.

A Finance major can lead to well-paid career opportunities. A talent shortage, combined with an aging workforce, is driving jobs growth across the industry.

Our courses are designed to provide recognition with the professional bodies in finance, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

In first year, you study key concepts and principles of economics, accounting, management, decision-making and law as well as how they apply to the financial operations and within the context of the current financial environment.

Second year will see you continue to study further business topics including communications, marketing, business strategy and politics, as well as beginning to focus on business and corporate finance.

As a third year student you will continue to study courses such as investments and international finance, but will also focus on selecting combinations that most suit your interests and career plans. Study options include: taxation; personal financial planning; financial institutions risk management; global trade and finance; money and banking and finance law.

Combined degrees

There are a range of combined degree options if you're interested in a Bachelor of Business. The following combinations can be completed in four or five years, when you study full-time:

• Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Laws 
• Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) / Bachelor of Business 
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) / Bachelor of Business 
• Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) / Bachelor of Business 
• Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) / Bachelor of Business 

Increase your options with Honours

An Honours degree provides employment advantages in the diverse areas of Commerce. The extra year of study allows you to further enhance your skills in research and critical analysis.

Successful completion of an Honours thesis will demonstrate analytical and empirical skills as well as an ability to undertake independent work and produce clearly written reports.

According to Graduate Careers Australia (GCA, 2006) many employers now prefer or even stipulate that candidates have at least an Honours degree when they are recruiting.

Major areas of study that can be focussed on in an Honours year include:

• Accounting
• Economics
• Finance

Honours is also a pathway for many to higher degree research, allowing you to apply for direct entry into the PhD program.

You will contribute to developing research at the forefront of your area of interest, within a research-centred environment committed to remaining ninth in Australia for publically funded research.

Ten Honours scholarships of $3,000 are offered each year.

Become a graduate in demand

Graduates of the Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle are in demand. In 2010, 89% of graduates found full-time employment within four months of completing their degree.*

Professional recognition

Depending on the courses you choose, your Bachelor of Commerce degree provides a pathway for you to be accredited/recognised with many professional and government organisations including:

• CPA Australia (CPA)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICA)
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)

Directly meeting the requirements of these organisations as part of your Bachelor of Commerce can give you a head start when entering your desired profession. This is particularly useful if you wish to pursue a career as a chartered accountant.

Career options

Accounting careers

Studying accounting could see you pursue a career path as an:

• Accountant
• Business Analyst
• Certified Practicing Accountant
• Financial Advisor/Analyst
• Financial Planner
• Internal Auditor
• Property Developer
• Risk Analyst

Economics careers

An Economics major can be a pathway to a number of stimulating, relevant and well-paid career opportunities. Build a career in banking, politics, with the Treasury, the Department of Finance, the ACCC, or with a multinational firm.

You can also seek opportunities with international organisations, such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, AusAid or other non-profit organisations. Typical job titles in the field of economics include:

• Economic Analyst
• Economic/Social Statistician
• Economist
• Branch Manager
• Business Analyst/Consultant
• Business Relationship Manager
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Officer
• Investment Banker
• Portfolio Analyst
• Stockbroker

Finance careers

Graduates of finance usually find employment in the banking and finance sectors, but also in industries like manufacturing, energy and resources. Positions sought after include:

• Branch Manager (Banking)
• Business Analyst/Consultant
• Business Relationship Manager
• Finance Manager
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Officer
• Financial Planner
• Investment Banker
• Management Consultant
• Mortgage Broker
• Para Planner
• Portfolio Analyst
• Stockbroker

Further study

On completing your Bachelor degree in Commerce you may elect to undertake further studies.

There are a range of Commerce related Masters degrees on offer. Postgraduate degrees are for people who have completed an undergraduate degree and/or have equivalent prior learning.

Postgraduate programs include Graduate Certificates, Masters and Doctorates. A Masters degree, whether it be a generalist degree such as a Masters of Business, Masters of Business Administration or specialist degree such as Master of Applied Finance is held in very high regard by prospective employers, could fast-track your career and usually involves a higher starting salary.

You can also study for a higher qualification through research rather than coursework. This is known as research higher degree and can be undertaken as a part of your Masters or a PhD.

A research higher degree involves in-depth study and a commitment to understanding existing information to develop new data or ideas and, with the careful assistance of your supervisor, to distil these into a well-structured and insightful research thesis.

Your thesis will then be examined by experts from around the world for the significance of your contribution to your field of study.

* Australian Graduate Survey 2010

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