Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Communication
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Communication |
| Deakin course code | D339 |
| Course credit points | 32 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Business and Law |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2027 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online |
| 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 2027 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
| Supplementary information | This course structure applies to students who commenced in 2027. Students who commenced prior to 2027 should refer to the Handbook Archive for their course structure and consult with their enrolment officer. Note: Students enrolled at Waterfront (Geelong) campus in this combined course will be required to undertake units of study at both Waurn Ponds (Geelong) and Waterfront (Geelong). |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Inclusive support for learning and participation
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Articulated courses
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Majors
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Study at the #1 university in the state of Victoria for undergraduate business employment and build commercial and communication skills that employers value. Benefit from Deakin’s redesigned Bachelor of Commerce, building foundations in accounting, economics, finance and analytics before tailoring your degree through majors, minors and electives.
Develop your communication craft in advertising, public relations, journalism or digital and social media, learning to create content that resonates with audiences across platforms. In both degrees you will interpret data and evidence, model outcomes and advise on how to respond to complex challenges, working with clients and industry-connected academics. With at least 80 hours of work-integrated learning through internships, consulting projects and study tours, you will graduate ready to help shape decisions in business, media, government and community settings in Australia and globally.
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.
Depending on the major you choose, your Bachelor of Commerce component may give you eligibility for a range of professional memberships and accreditations.
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).
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®.
Depending on the major you choose, Bachelor of Communication component graduates will be eligible to apply for the following professional accreditation depending on their choice of major:
Students who complete the Advertising major - International Advertising Association.
Career opportunities
Graduate from the #1 Victorian university for course satisfaction, and confidently start your career. The Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Communication sets you up with a wide-ranging skill set for the future. Your entrepreneurial mindset will be highly valued across many industries and your in-demand transferable skills mean you will adapt and thrive in a variety of roles.
Depending on your majors, you will have the practical experience needed to be successful as an:
- accountant
- account manager
- brand specialist
- business analytics professional
- digital creative
- economist
- financial planner
- international trade officer
- journalist
- marketing communications strategist
- media researcher or planner
- public relations professional
- social and economic policy developer.
Inclusive support for learning and participation
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, you can contact our Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) team for a collaborative and confidential discussion.
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.
Alternative exits
| Bachelor of Commerce (M380) | |
| Bachelor of Communication (A318) | |
| Diploma of Business Studies (M201) |
Articulated courses
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce (M380) | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Communication (A318) |
|---|---|
| Integrate specialist disciplinary knowledge in commerce to analyse financial, economic and market systems and generate data driven insights that inform organisational and investment decisions in interconnected local, regional and global markets. | Evaluate and apply knowledge of media and communication theories, frameworks, ecosystems, and creative practices to provide solutions to real-world contexts. |
| Apply analytical frameworks, quantitative methods and tools for commerce to interpret financial, economic and organisational data, exercising ethical professional judgement to develop evidence based analyses and advice in commercial contexts. | Work creatively, and professionally in written, oral, and multimedia formats to communicate with stakeholders, to achieve defined outcomes and to engage target media audiences. |
| Communicate commercial ideas, analyses and recommendations clearly and professionally to diverse stakeholders, and collaborate effectively with others,using feedback and reflection to improve professional practice. | Locate, gather, synthesise, produce, and publish information using industry-standard software across a range of media forms and platforms to inform and engage diverse audiences. |
| Critically evaluate economic and business models, strategies and practices to assess how commercial activity can balance financial performance with environmental and social sustainability. | Exercise intellectual curiosity, reflexive self-awareness, and ethical judgement to critically analyse and evaluate data and information to inform decisions about communication and media industry practices. |
| Select and apply technologies to analyse complex commercial problems, evaluate alternative courses of action and generate evidence based insights that inform decision making in commerce contexts. | Respond to complex and unpredictable challenges and situations that arise in a professional context and devise pragmatic and creative media and communication solutions that are strategic, legal, and ethical. |
| Apply commercial knowledge and cultural intelligence to identify and address opportunities for shared prosperity across Indigenous, regional, and international contexts. | Recognise and exhibit actions consistent with principles of autonomy, responsibility and accountability required to work effectively as a communication professional in a range of contexts. |
| Collaborate respectfully and effectively in a timely way with people from different backgrounds and disciplines to foster successful relationships and achieve shared goals. | |
| Apply relevant industry frameworks to inform ethical decision making that is respectful and inclusive of Indigenous voices and diverse cultures, and demonstrates an awareness of civic and social responsibility. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Communication you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your 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 from the Faculty of Business and Law at level 3
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Communication
- 1 credit point of core units
- 3 credit points of employability sequence units (inclusive of either AWL100 or MPB202)
- 1 major (8 credit points)
- 4 credit points of additional units from the Bachelor of Communication at levels 2 or 3
- a minimum of 4 credit points from the Faculty of Arts/Ed at level 3
- a maximum of 12 credit points at level 1 across both courses
- a minimum of 10 credit points at level 3 across both courses.
*If you choose to undertake MPB202 as your level 1 employability unit, you will be required to undertake an additional Bachelor of Communication elective. Alternatively, if you choose to undertake AWL100 as your level 1 employability unit, you will be required to undertake an additional Bachelor of Commerce elective unit.
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Commerce (M380) and Bachelor of Communication (A318) must be satisfied.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Majors
Students must complete 1 Bachelor of Commerce major sequence chosen from the below list. Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability:
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
^ These majors are the recommended pathway to qualify for membership of professional organisations.
Students must to complete 1 major sequence from the Bachelor of Communications:
Course structure
Compulsory 0-credit point module
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin * |
*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 |
| MPB200 | Shaping the Future of Business |
| MPB201 | Business Impact in Society |
| MPB202 | Professional Identity and Career Development * |
*MPB202 (Commerce core unit) and AWL100 (Arts employability sequence unit) are incompatible; therefore, students must choose from either MPB202 or AWL100.
If MPB202 is chosen in place of AWL100 as the A318 Bachelor of Communication employability sequence unit, students must choose a further 1 credit point elective unit from the range of units listed in A318 not previously studied.
Students must complete 1 credit point of core from the Bachelor of Communications
Core:
| ACC100 | Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: Communication in Everyday Life |
Course electives
Employability Sequence
| AWL100 | Your Future Direction |
Plus 1 credit point from:
| AWL200 | Leadership and Transformation |
| AWL201 | Communication and Persuasive Presentation |
| AWL202 | Entrepreneurial Mindset |
| AWL203 | Expand Your Experience |
Plus 1 credit point from:
| AWL300 | Internship |
| AWL301 | Enhance Your Experience |
| AWL302 | Your Professional Story |
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.
Research and research-related study
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.
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. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.