Bachelor of Business

The Bachelor of Business at Melbourne Polytechnic is a three-year degree built around how organisations actually run. You'll study accounting, marketing, management, economics and business law, then choose electives that let you go deeper into an area that interests you. Core units cover financial reporting, consumer behaviour, organisational behaviour and business statistics. Later years bring strategy, operations and a capstone unit where you pull everything together on a real business problem.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass a required total to graduate, usually 24 units or 144 credit points per year full-time. Melbourne Polytechnic runs most business units over two semesters, with some available in summer or winter intensives. The capstone is normally taken in your final semester and may involve a work-integrated learning project with an industry partner, a simulated business case or a research report. Assessment mixes exams, essays, group projects and presentations.

What you'll learn

You'll graduate able to read a balance sheet, build a marketing plan, analyse a market, manage a team and write a business case that stands up to scrutiny. The degree also builds the softer skills employers ask for: presenting to a room, negotiating, working in groups and using business software like Excel and accounting packages. If you choose the right electives, you can leave with a major that points towards accounting, management or marketing roles.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers who want a practical business education, people already working in administration or retail who want to move into management, and international students looking for an Australian qualification that opens doors locally and overseas. Melbourne Polytechnic's applied focus means you spend time on case studies and workplace projects rather than pure theory. You can also use the degree as a pathway to postgraduate study, including an MBA, once you have some work experience behind you.

International students should check the official CRICOS listing and Melbourne Polytechnic's course page for current fees, intake dates, English requirements and unit details, as these can change.

• Business analyst – working in banks, consultancies, government agencies and large corporates to improve processes and solve operational problems.
• Marketing coordinator or assistant brand manager – in advertising agencies, retail chains, e-commerce businesses and not-for-profits.
• Accountant or assistant accountant – in accounting firms, corporate finance teams and public sector finance departments. Further study may be needed for full professional accreditation.
• Human resources officer – in recruitment firms, manufacturing, health services and government.
• Operations or project coordinator – in logistics, construction, events and professional services.
• Small business owner or manager – running a retail, hospitality or online business.
• Graduate roles in banking and financial services – in customer service, lending, insurance and wealth management.

Australian industries that hire business graduates include professional services, banking and finance, retail, health administration, government, education, manufacturing and tourism. The degree also gives you a pathway into postgraduate study such as a Master of Business Administration, usually after a few years of work experience.