Bachelor of Applied Geology, Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)

This is a four-year double degree from Curtin University that pairs a Bachelor of Applied Geology with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. You graduate with two qualifications, not one. That matters in the resources sector, where geologists who can read a balance sheet, model a project's economics or talk to investors are genuinely scarce.

What you actually study

The geology side covers mineralogy and petrology, structural geology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, geochemistry, geophysics and field mapping. You learn to read rocks in outcrop, in drill core and in the lab. The finance side covers corporate finance, investment analysis, financial modelling, accounting fundamentals and financial markets. Curtin sits in Perth, which is the practical heart of Australian mining and energy, so the geology teaching has a strong applied and field-based character.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are normally three years full time; this one runs four because you are completing two awards. Study is organised by semester, and you enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to accumulate the required credit points across both disciplines to graduate. Expect a substantial field component in the geology units, mapping camps and site visits are standard in Australian geoscience degrees, plus a final-year project or capstone unit where you pull the two halves of the degree together. Work-integrated learning appears in this field through vacation work and industry placements with exploration and mining companies, and Curtin's location means those opportunities are close at hand. Confirm the current unit list, credit point rules and any placement requirements on the official course page.

Skills you come out with

You will be able to map and interpret geological structures, sample and log drill core, work with geochemical and geophysical datasets, and use industry software for geological modelling. On the finance side you will build financial models, value assets, assess project risk and interpret company reports. The combination is what employers notice: you can evaluate a tenement and then explain whether it stacks up financially.

Who this suits

It suits students who like being outdoors and working with data, and who want more career options than a straight geology degree gives. If you are interested in mining, exploration, energy or resources finance, this double degree points you at all of them. English proficiency is required for international applicants, with IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall the common undergraduate standard; the Student visa has its own separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 110731E.

• Geologist, exploration and mining companies, particularly across Western Australia's mineral provinces
• Mine geologist, open pit and underground operations, logging core, grade control and resource estimation
• Exploration geologist, greenfields and brownfields programs, field mapping and drilling campaigns
• Resource analyst or mining analyst, investment banks, stockbroking research desks and specialist resources funds
• Corporate finance analyst, advisory firms and companies working on mining and energy transactions
• Commodity or energy trader, trading houses and producers
• Geotechnical or environmental consultant, engineering and environmental consultancies
• Government geoscientist, state and federal geological surveys and resource regulators

Australian industries that hire from this background include mining and mineral exploration, oil and gas, renewable energy and critical minerals, engineering and environmental consulting, financial services, and government. Professional recognition for geoscientists in Australia runs through the relevant professional bodies, check the current accreditation and membership pathways on the official course page.