Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Commerce

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Professional recognition
• Career opportunities
• Participation requirements
• Mandatory student checks
• Alternate exits
• Fees and charges
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Work experience
• Research and research-related study

Course overview

Gain a competitive business foundation with global application at a university ranked in the top 1% globally for business and management studies. Deakin's Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Commerce will develop your understanding of the international forces shaping government, business and communities, and give you skills to analyse and interpret these forces. With international and commercial components, this course opens up global career opportunities across business and government sectors. 

Take your commercial ideas to the world stage. You'll develop knowledge and capabilities and gain insights through valuable international experiences. 

You’ll commit to an exciting international learning program, either as a student at one of our university exchange partners or in an approved located or virtual internship*. Develop your understanding of foreign governments, international businesses and global communities on the ground, and immerse yourself in the culture while you’re there.

Want to take your commercial ideas global? 

This course will equip you with a solid foundation in commerce, and the international context you need to live and work anywhere in the world.

Choose a major commerce sequence that reflects your specialised passion:

• accounting
• economics
• finance
• financial planning
• food and agribusiness
• human resources management
• management
• management information systems
• marketing.

This combined course is led by academics who are experts in their field, so you’ll always be learning the latest concepts, ideas and approaches from inside the industry. Plus, you’ll benefit from networking with and learning from their real-world connections.
Deakin's Bachelor of Commerce is internationally recognised with both EQUIS and EPAS accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), and AACSB accredited. Deakin’s Bachelor of Commerce is also the only Australian university with all three accreditations, meaning you are graduating with a degree that is of a global standard.

*Overseas study programs to be confirmed in 2022 and beyond, subject to government travel restrictions.

Professional recognition

Students who complete the accounting major sequence are eligible to apply for:

• the CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)
• Associate membership for the CPA Program
• IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Students who complete the marketing major sequence are eligible for a one-year credit reduction from the five years needed to become a Certified Practicing Marketer by the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI).

Students who complete the financial planning major sequence will satisfy the education standards prescribed by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) to be able to provide financial advice in Australia and be eligible for entry into the certification programs of the professional financial planning associations – the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Certification Program offered by the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner designation offered by the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA).

Commerce graduates may also be eligible to apply for membership to these key professional bodies (depending on units taken):

• Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI)
• Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML)
• Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)

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

As a Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Commerce graduate, your skills will be in demand in a range of careers, including:

• diplomat
• foreign affairs officer
• foreign exchange analyst
• import/export manager
• international management consultant
• NGO policy officer
• politician
• trade delegate.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Alternate exits

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Please refer to the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) of the single degree.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Commerce, students must complete 32 credit points as follows: 

16 credit points of International Studies units must be completed as follows -

• 6 credit points of core units - AIS101, AIS102, AIR200, AIS204, AIS303, AIS304
• an 8-credit-point approved major sequence
• an approved international experience (2 credit points minimum)*
• AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

*It is envisaged that students will complete the international experience in the third or fourth year of their course. 

16 credit points of Commerce units must be completed as follows -

• 8 credit points of core units - MAA103, MAE101, MAF101, MIS171, MLC101, MMK101, MMM132 and MWL101.
• one prescribed Commerce major sequence of 8 credit points
• A minimum of 4 credit points at level 3 of Commerce coded units

Within the total 32 credit points no more than 12 credit points of units may be taken at level 1.

Course requirements for both the Bachelor of International Studies (A326) and the Bachelor of Commerce (M300) must be satisfied.

Work experience

This course includes completion of least 2 credit points of international experience, selected from one or more of the following:  

• Trimester of study at an overseas university exchange partner
• International internship (AIS330 or AIS331) *in-country language program (in Chinese, Indonesian or Arabic)
• Approved study abroad program or approved study tour (AIS203 or other)
• Approved onshore internship with an international organisation (available for AIS330 only). 
• 2 credit points of consecutive language units other than an in-country language program can be taken to achieve one credit point of the international experience requirement

Other course information

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

• Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.