Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Business

This double degree at Western Sydney University is for students who want a science education without giving up business skills. You study two degrees at once, normally over four years of full-time study, and graduate with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Business.

How the course is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are built from units of study, each worth credit points. You need a set number of credit points to graduate, and you choose units across the years with help from course advisers. The double degree combines the science requirements of the Bachelor of Science with the core and major units of the Bachelor of Business. Western Sydney University runs most teaching on a semester basis, with some units offered in other teaching periods. Because you are completing two awards, the credit points add up to more than a single three-year degree, which is why the course runs four years. Science majors at Western Sydney include areas such as biology, chemistry, mathematics and environmental science, and business majors cover fields such as accounting, marketing, management and economics. The exact majors and unit lists change, so check the official course page before you apply.

What you actually study

Expect laboratory and fieldwork units in the science half of the degree, where you collect and analyse data and write up results. In the business half you study accounting, finance, marketing, management and economics, and you learn to read a balance sheet, build a budget and pitch an idea. Some students take a capstone or research project in their final year, and many science units include practical work on campus or in the field. Western Sydney University has strong links to Western Sydney's health, manufacturing, agriculture and professional services sectors, and to research institutes in the region, which is where placements and projects often happen. Work-integrated learning is common in business degrees, and science students can take industry or research placements where their major allows. Confirm the placement and capstone options for your chosen majors on the official page.

Skills you come out with

You learn to design an experiment, handle data, and explain scientific results to people who are not scientists. From the business side you learn to cost a project, market a product and manage a team. That mix suits employers who need someone who can talk to both the lab and the boardroom. It is also a good base if you want to start your own business in a science or technology field.

Who it suits and what to check

This degree suits school leavers with an interest in both science and commerce, and people already working in a technical role who want business skills. It also suits students who are not ready to pick one path at 18. International applicants need to meet the university's English requirements. For undergraduate courses the common standard is IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall, with higher scores for teaching, nursing, medicine, law and social work. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so check both. While you study, a student visa generally allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight during teaching periods. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work in Australia, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm fees, intakes, majors and English requirements on the official course page before applying.

Graduates work where science and business meet. Typical roles and the Australian industries that hire them include:

• Laboratory scientist or research assistant in medical research, pathology, food and pharmaceutical companies
• Environmental officer or sustainability analyst in government, mining, water and energy organisations
• Business analyst or data analyst in banks, insurers, consultancies and technology firms
• Accountant, financial analyst or auditor in professional services firms
• Marketing or product manager in science, health and technology companies
• Operations or project officer in manufacturing, logistics and agribusiness
• Policy officer in state and federal government departments
• Founder or manager of a small science or technology business

Some graduates go on to further study, such as an honours year, a master's degree or a doctorate, to specialise in a research field.