Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Science
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Science |
| Deakin course code | D321 |
| Course Credit Points | 32 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2022 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 001806J Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Articulated courses
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Majors
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Deakin’s Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Science empowers you to take your science career beyond the lab. By pairing scientific knowledge with commercial acumen, this industry-led double degree develops the analytical, strategic, and entrepreneurial skills that employers value. Graduate ready to lead, innovate, and solve complex problems across both scientific and business environments.
Through practical, real-world learning and a choice of diverse study areas, you will build a unique skill set that opens doors across multiple sectors. Whether you're interested in science communication, policy, research management, or commercialisation, this double degree prepares you to adapt, evolve, and thrive in your chosen career. Mastering both science and commerce prepares you for diverse and lucrative roles.
Are you set to turn your skills into success?
A commerce degree offers students insight into how specialised business areas influence the science industry, while equipping you with transferable skills to graduate with professional confidence and an entrepreneurial mindset. From day one, you will engage in industry-relevant learning, applying professional tools and tackling real-world challenges that develop your analytical, strategic, and decision-making abilities.
Your commerce studies build expertise in key business domains employers value, including:
- accounting
- economics
- finance
- financial planning
- human resource management
- management
- management information systems
- marketing.
Led by expert academics, the science component trains you to be a scientific explorer, ready to address tomorrow’s global challenges through discovery. You will build foundational scientific knowledge across multiple disciplines before specialising in one of eight majors:
- animal biology
- cell biology and genomics
- chemistry
- environmental science
- food science
- human biology
- mathematical modelling
- plant biology
Our broad range of science majors allows you to tailor your degree to your unique career aspirations. You will follow your passion and deepen your understanding in the topics that matter most to you while developing critical analytical and problem-solving skills highly regarded in both scientific and commercial fields.
Beyond the classroom, practical learning opportunities prepare you for the workforce. You will gain hands-on experience in modern laboratories, complete a community science project or an industry-based placement, and have the chance to broaden your horizons with international internships.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
Deakin’s accounting major enables students to apply for the:
- CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
- Associate membership for the CPA Program
- IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
The marketing major provides a one-year credit towards the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) five-year Certified Practicing Marketer and Chartered Marketer certification.
Students who complete the finance major are recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
The financial planning major satisfies the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) education standards, meaning students can provide financial advice in Australia and are eligible for financial planning certification programs including:
- the Financial Adviser Association of Australia (FAAA) CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®.
The human resource management major enables students to apply for the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) membership.
The Bachelor of Science (chemistry major) has been professionally accredited by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI). Graduates who have successfully completed the chemistry major as part of this course are encouraged to apply for membership with their local RACI branch.
Students should consult with a course adviser to identify any additional requirements for membership for each professional body, and also consult with the professional body.
Career opportunities
Deakin is ranked the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment, reflecting the strong industry connections and practical skills you gain throughout your studies.
Employment opportunities for Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Science graduates span business, science, government, and beyond. Your combined technical expertise and sought-after transferable skills, such as leadership, critical thinking, and commercial awareness, make you highly competitive in the job market.
You will be well-positioned for a diverse range of roles, including but not limited to:
- accountant
- chemist
- environmental manager or consultant
- financial planner
- human resources manager
- IT and systems professional
- marketing manager
- park ranger
- research scientist
- scientific editor.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
You may be required to complete units in Trimester 3 depending on your chosen major. Please refer to the Handbook for unit offering patterns.
Mandatory student checks
Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.
Alternative exits
| Bachelor of Commerce (M300) | |
| Bachelor of Science (S320) |
Articulated courses
| Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) (S470) | |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) (S400) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce (M300) | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Science (S320) |
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply a broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of commerce and its applications. | Apply a broad and coherent knowledge of the scientific disciplines of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and the environment within the chosen major area(s) of study to demonstrate a deep understanding of scientific facts, scientific practices and the edifice of science. Apply technical knowledge and skills and use them in a range of activities, in a professional and/or academic setting within the major area(s) of study; this application of technical knowledge and skills being characterised by demonstrable in-depth knowledge of scientific methods and tools, and demonstrable proficiency in the utilisation of chosen major area(s) knowledge. Use hypotheses, laws, facts and theories to investigate, test, analyse, and evaluate scientific data and demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement and responsibility to argue about characteristics and aspects of scientific theory in the advancement of science. |
| Communication | Communicate commerce concepts and information effectively including in oral, written and visual forms in a cohesive and understandable manner to academic audiences, business professionals and laypersons. | Demonstrate listening skills and the ability to use a range of communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer audience questions. Articulate the boundaries or limits of scientific information, experimental or field data, discuss error, probability, uncertainty, conclusions and arguments. Judge how well to present essential details of scientific procedures, key observations, results and conclusions in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, and international contributions or contexts. |
| Digital literacy | Use technologies to identify, locate, evaluate, synthesise and disseminate and communicate information in the field of commerce. | Use well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise and disseminate scientific literature, information, data and results. |
| Critical thinking | Evaluate and critically analyse academic, professional and business information and values. | Locate and evaluate scientific information from multiple sources and use scientific methods and frameworks to structure and plan observations, experimentation or fieldwork investigations. Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement to analyse, synthesise and generate an integrated knowledge, formulate hypotheses and test them against evidence-based scientific concepts and principles. |
| Problem solving | Identify solutions to a diverse range of authentic problems in commerce. | Use initiative and creativity in planning, identifying and using multiple approaches to recognise, clarify, construct and solve problems taking into account relevant contextual factors. Advocate scientific methodologies, hypotheses, laws, facts and principles to create solutions to authentic real world problems. |
| Self-management | Take personal responsibility for actions, self-reflect and critique own performance and identify and plan future professional development. | Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing professional science contexts to develop autonomy as learners and evaluate own performance. Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of regulatory frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices. |
| Teamwork | Interact and collaborate with others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds. | Work independently and collaboratively as a team to contribute towards achieving team goals and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts. |
| Global citizenship | Engage effectively in different environments and contexts reflecting social, sustainable, ethical, economic, and global perspectives in the field of commerce. | Apply scientific knowledge and skills with a high level of autonomy, judgement, responsibility and accountability in collaboration with others to articulate the place and importance of science in the local and global community. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Science students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Commerce
- 8 credit points of core units
- 1 major (8 credit points)
- a minimum of 4 credit points of Faculty of Business and Law units at level 3
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Science
- SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 8 credit points of core units (excluding SLE209)
- 1 major (6 credit points)
- 2 credit points of course elective units
- a minimum of 4 credit points of Bachelor of Science units at level 3
- course requirements for both the Bachelor of Commerce (M300) and Bachelor of Science (S320) must be satisfied
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Majors
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
All students in the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Science are required to complete one major sequence from the Bachelor of Commerce and one major sequence from the Bachelor of Science.
Bachelor of Commerce majors:
- accounting^
- business analytics#
- commercial law#
- economics
- finance
- financial planning^
- human resource management
- international trade#
- management
- management information systems
- marketing^
^ These majors are the recommended pathway to qualify for membership of professional organisations.
# Offer offered to continuing students only
Bachelor of Science majors:
- animal biology *
- cell biology and genomics
- chemistry
- environmental science
- food science
- human biology
- mathematical modelling
- plant biology *
*Enrolment in a Trimester 3 study period is compulsory
Course structure
Compulsory 0-credit point module
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin * |
| SLE010 | Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program |
| STP010 | Career Tools for Employability |
*To be completed in first trimester of study.
Core units
Students must complete 8 credit points from the Bachelor of Commerce
| MAA103 | Accounting for Decision Making |
| MAE101 | Economic Principles |
| MAF101 | Fundamentals of Finance |
| MIS171 | Business Analytics |
| MLC101 | Law for Commerce |
| MMK101 | Marketing Fundamentals |
| MMM132 | Management |
| MWL101 | Professional Insight |
Students must complete 5 credit points from the Bachelor of Science
| SLE111 | Cells and Genes |
| SLE103 | Ecology and the Environment |
| SLE115 | Essential Skills in Science |
| SLE123 | Physics for the Life Sciences |
| SLE200 | Communicating Science Ideas # |
Students must complete 1 credit point from the below:
| SLE352 | Community Science Project # |
| SLE301 | Professional Practice # |
# Must have successfully completed STP010 Career Tools for Employability
Mathematics* - Students must complete 1 credit point from the below:
| SIT190 | Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs |
| SIT191 | Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis |
*Note:
- It is recommended that students intending to take the Chemistry, Human Biology, Cell Biology and Genomics, Animal Biology, Plant Biology or Environmental Science majors undertake SIT191 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis.
- students intending to take the Chemistry major and who have not previously completed VCE Maths Methods (units 3 and 4) are advised to alternatively undertake SIT190 Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs.
- students intending to take the Mathematical Modelling major who have not completed VCE Maths Methods (units 3 and 4) are strongly advised to first complete SIT190 Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs.
Students intending to take the Mathematical Modelling major are not required to complete SIT190 Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs or SIT191 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis, however, they are able to undertake SIT190/ SIT191 as electives.
Chemistry - Students must complete 1 credit point from the below:
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
| SLE155 | Chemistry for the Professional Sciences ^ |
^Assumed knowledge: SLE133 Chemistry in our World or high achievement in VCE Chemistry 3 and 4 (or equivalent).
Please note: SLE155 Chemistry for the Professional Sciences is a required prerequisite when undertaking the Cell Biology and Genomics and Chemistry majors.
Please note: Students undertaking D321 are not required to undertake SLE209 Science and Society - core unit in the single degree S320 Bachelor of Science.
Course electives
Students must complete 2 credit points of Bachelor of Science course elective units.
Work experience
This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more work integrated learning units.
Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.
International Students:
This course includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) formally registered as part of the course on the CRICOS register. The total work integrated learning hours will differ depending on the WIL unit you choose. For more information about WIL hours, please check the unit information in the handbook or the unit guide.
For information about how WIL units may impact student visa holder work rights, please visit Home Affairs. See 8105 Work limitation.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin.