Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Arts |
| Course Credit Points | 32 |
| Deakin course code | D385 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Business and Law |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2023 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 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 | 0100819 Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
| Supplementary Information | Students and Applicants to Geelong Waterfront Campus Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined degree. The Bachelor of Commerce degree will be taught at Waterfront campus and the Bachelor of Arts degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- 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
Follow your passion and gain sought-after skills with Deakin's Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts. Whether you choose a commerce profession, such as marketing, accounting or human resources, or arts pursuits, such as sociology or criminology, the complementary nature of these degrees ensures a unique qualification built around your career goals.
The commerce stream builds specialist expertise in analysis, communication and reporting to inform business and financial outcomes. You will also learn entrepreneurial thinking, adaptability and gain experience with real clients and tech.
The arts stream allows you to explore meaningful ideas aligned with your values through a specialisation. You will graduate with in-demand transferable skills in communication, research, critical thinking and problem-solving, making you highly employable within a range of industries.
Are you looking to add perspective and versatility to your commerce qualification?
You may choose from these commerce majors:
• accounting
• economics
• finance
• financial planning
• human resources management
• management
• management information systems
• marketing.
At the same time, explore a complementary area of the arts from over 30 majors, for your interest in people, society, politics, languages, communications, religion or philosophy, including:
• anthropology
• criminology
• digital cultures
• gender and sexuality studies
• history
• international relations
• media and communication
• philosophy
• politics and policy studies
• sociology
• religious studies.
You will learn from leading academics and passionate practitioners who are engaged in industry and actively collaborating on key social issues. Our academics will support your personal growth and inspire you to push boundaries with your bold ideas.
Each degree offers opportunities to get involved in hands-on learning including overseas study tours, international and domestic internships, work placements and exchanges. Graduate with a well-rounded and global perspective employers will love.
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.
Students should consult the professional body or a course adviser to identify additional requirements for membership.
*2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject and 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject.
Career opportunities
Graduate from the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment and confidently start your career. As a Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Arts graduate, you will be ready for a variety of career opportunities including:
- Accountant / auditor
- arts centre manager
- careers counsellor
- creative agent
- image consultant
- import/export manager
- marketing and communications manager
- media analyst
- NGO advisor
- public relations manager
- public servant
- small business owner
- trade delegate.
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.
Alternative exits
| Associate Degree of Arts (A250) | |
| Bachelor of Arts (A310) | |
| Bachelor of Commerce (M300) | |
| Diploma of Arabic (A221) | |
| Diploma of Arts (A215) | |
| Diploma of Business Studies (M201) | |
| Diploma of Chinese (A222) | |
| Diploma of Indonesian (A223) | |
| Diploma of Spanish (A224) |
Articulated courses
| Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A400) | |
| Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours) (A450) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply a broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of commerce and its applications. | Critically analyse and synthesise a broad and coherent body of knowledge in one or more Arts disciplines, and apply specialised conceptual understanding to professional practice and/or scholarship. |
| 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. | Articulate complex ideas using oral, written and digital communication skills and create professional and/or scholarly materials that effectively impart knowledge and research findings to diverse audiences. |
| Digital Literacy | Use technologies to identify, locate, evaluate, synthesise and disseminate and communicate information in the field of commerce. | Critically evaluate the effectiveness and ethical implications of digital technologies and apply them responsibly in the creation of research and analysis that is both authentic and accountable. |
| Critical thinking | Evaluate and critically analyse academic, professional and business information and values. | Analyse, synthesise and evaluate, complex and wide-ranging knowledge and information to create logical judgements and informed perspectives in a range of professional and academic contexts. |
| Problem Solving | Identify solutions to a diverse range of authentic problems in commerce. | Integrate cognitive, methodological, and creative skills to generate and communicate innovative approaches to unpredictable and complex problems. |
| Self-management | Take personal responsibility for actions, self-reflect and critique own performance and identify and plan future professional development. | Plan and execute actions with a high level of responsibility, accountability, and independence, while maintaining a consistent commitment to continuous learning in professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Teamwork | Interact and collaborate with others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds. | Collaborate effectively and contribute constructively to team objectives with colleagues, other professionals, and members of the wider community in diverse professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Global Citizenship | Engage effectively in different environments and contexts reflecting social, sustainable, ethical, economic, and global perspectives in the field of commerce. | Apply culturally responsive, critically reflective and embodied self knowledge in decolonial practice and diversity principles, to engage ethically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples as well as diverse communities and cultures, within professional and/or scholarly contexts. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts 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 of Faculty of Business and Law units at level 3
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Arts
- 1 major (8 credit points)
- a minimum of 4 credit points of Faculty of Arts units at level 3
- the remaining credit point(s) may be used to undertake the Employability sequence*, or additional elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts which may comprise of a minor sequence
- course requirements for both the Bachelor of Commerce (M300) and Bachelor of Arts (A310) 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.
Note:
- Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts course are not required to undertake MWL101 Professional Insight (a core unit in the Bachelor of Commerce) if undertaking AWL100 Your Future Direction (a core unit in the Employability sequence) or vice versa as the units are incompatible with each other
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:
- 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 Arts majors and minors
One (1) approved Arts major sequences of 8 credit points selected from A310 Bachelor of Arts Major/Minor listing, the remaining credit point(s) may be used to undertake a Bachelor of Arts minor sequence or to take additional elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts. A minimum of 4 credit points at level 3 of Arts coded units.
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability
- animation (Minor)
- anthropology (Major and Minor)
- arabic (Major and Minor)
- chinese (Major and Minor)
- criminology (Major and Minor)
- design thinking (Minor)
- digital cultures (Major and Minor)
- education (Major and Minor)
- english - children's literature (Major and Minor)
- english - creative writing (Major and Minor)
- english - literature (Major and Minor)
- film and television studies (Major and Minor)
- gender and sexuality studies (Major and Minor)
- global challenges (Minor)
- history (Major and Minor)
- indigenous studies (Major and Minor)
- indonesian (Major and Minor)
- international relations (Major and Minor)
- media and communication (Major and Minor)
- media studies (Major and Minor)
- middle east studies (Major and Minor)
- performing arts (Major and Minor)
- philosophy (Major and Minor)
- politics and policy studies (Major and Minor)
- public relations studies (Major and Minor)
- religious studies (Major and Minor)
- social media (Major and Minor)
- sociology (Major and Minor)
- spanish (Major and Minor)
- sport and society (Minor)
- sport journalism (Major and Minor)
- strategic advertising (Major and Minor)
- UX design (Minor) *
- visual arts and photography (Major and Minor)
- visual communication design (Major and Minor)
- web design (Minor)
* UX refers to User Experience
Course structure
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Core units
Students must complete 8 units 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 |
Open electives
The remaining credit points may be used to undertake another Bachelor of Arts major, or a Bachelor of Arts minor and elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts. This may include the Employability sequence*.
* Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts course are not required to undertake MWL101 Professional Insight (a core unit in the Bachelor of Commerce) if undertaking AWL100 Your Future Direction (a core unit in the Employability sequence) or vice versa as the units are incompatible with each other.
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.