Bachelor of Business

The Bachelor of Business at the Adelaide Institute of Higher Education is a three-year degree for students who want to understand how organisations actually work, how they plan, hire, market, manage money and make decisions. It sits at level 7 on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), the same level as any Australian bachelor degree. You study full time over three years, usually across two semesters a year, with a mid-year break and a longer summer break. Some institutions run trimesters, so confirm the calendar with AIHE.

What you study

You build your degree from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. A standard full-time load is eight units a year, and you need to pass the required credit points to graduate. In the first year you cover the basics: accounting, economics, business statistics, marketing, management and business law. Later years let you specialise, many business degrees offer majors or minors in areas like management, marketing, international business or human resource management. You finish with a capstone unit, where you pull everything together on a real business problem, often working with a local organisation.

How you learn

Teaching mixes lectures, tutorials, group projects and case studies. Assessment is usually a combination of exams, essays, reports, presentations and group work. Many business degrees include work-integrated learning, an internship, industry project or placement, so you spend time in an actual workplace before you graduate. AIHE is based in Adelaide, and the city has a broad business community, from professional services firms to state government departments, that supports student placements.

Skills you gain

You learn to read a balance sheet, analyse a market, write a business case, manage a project and work in a team. You also practise presenting to a room, negotiating and using business software. These are the skills employers ask for in graduate roles, and they carry across industries.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers who want a broad business education before choosing a direction, and people already working who want a qualification to move into management. It also suits international students who want an Australian degree and the chance to work after graduation. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish. English requirements for entry are IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced. Check the official CRICOS listing and AIHE's own page for current fees, intake dates and the exact English requirement for your intake.

• Business analyst, working in consulting firms, banks and government to improve how organisations operate.
• Marketing coordinator or assistant, in agencies, retail, technology and not-for-profit organisations.
• Human resources officer, recruiting, onboarding and supporting staff in medium to large employers.
• Accounts or finance officer, in accounting practices, corporate finance teams and the public sector.
• Operations or project coordinator, in logistics, construction, health services and manufacturing.
• Management consultant (graduate entry), with professional services firms advising Australian businesses.
• Small business owner or manager, running your own venture or a family business.
• Graduate roles in banking, insurance and superannuation, in Australia's large financial services sector.