Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM) - BCom

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: 905011; Distance education: 905015; Fraser Coast campus: 915011; Springfield campus: 925011

CRICOS code (International applicants): 017300D

Notes

Students can commence studying at Springfield (on-campus) in semester 3 or via distance education.

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In this section:

• Accounting major
• Business law major
• Economics major
• Finance major
• General commerce major

Accounting major

This major provides students with a broad knowledge base in financial accounting, management accounting, business law and finance. Second majors or minors are available in a range of Business, Commerce and Arts areas.

Career opportunities

Public accountant, chartered accountant, company accountant, company secretary, financial administrator, government (tax department, audit office, treasury, local government), financial planner, investment adviser, financial institutions (banks, building societies), forensic accountant.

Business law major

The Bachelor of Commerce is a career-oriented degree which provides a sound foundation in all aspects of commerce. The Business Law major is designed to provide students with an appreciation of the legal framework within which commerce and business operate. Students will develop skills in detailed examination of facts, analysis of statutory provision, marshalling of arguments based on legal principles, and communication.

Career opportunities

Legal studies teacher (with further study), public service, company secretary. Private practice solicitor or barrister, government departments, non-government agencies, legal organisations and careers outside law.

Economics major

Economists seek to understand how economies work and to apply their knowledge and skills to a wide range of complex problems encountered by governments, businesses and households. This major provides students with the skills and knowledge of the practising environment.

Career opportunities

Economic advisers to government and business, economics research officer, economics consultant, market research, trade commission services, banking industry trainee, money market operator, business economist.

Finance major

This major provides students with a knowledge of financial environments and modern analytical techniques. Students learn to understand a broad range of finance areas including business finance, stockbroking, investment management, international financial management and financial economics. Graduates will be equipped for a career in stockbroking, financial services and business. Second majors or minors are available in a range of Business, Commerce and Arts areas.

Career opportunities

Financial services, banker, insurance, financial planner, financial adviser, funds manager, financial analyst, industrial analyst, investment analyst, investment banker, security analyst, underwriter, options/future trader, treasury, foreign exchange trader/officer, share trader, lending officer, finance officer, corporate or policy adviser, business consultant, research officer, business economist.

General commerce major

The General Commerce major provides students with a broader commerce degree. It is ideal if students want a solid foundation in commerce but are not seeking membership of a professional body. The flexibility of the program means students can tailor their study to specific areas of interest.

Career opportunities

Financial analyst, financial planning, investment banker, financial accountant, forensic accountant, stockbroker, small business management.

Professional accreditation

Accounting major students will meet the educational entrance requirements of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and the National Institute of Accountants (NIA). (Note: Students must also complete FIN1101 Introduction to Financial Management to meet the requirements of these bodies.)

Accounting major students who complete a Finance minor will meet the educational entrance requirements of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia).

Finance major graduates will meet the educational entrance requirements to become an Associate member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia).

Program aims

This program aims to provide students with specific knowledge and skills relevant to their disciplines and careers. This program satisfies the educational entrance requirements for membership of relevant professional bodies.

Program objectives

At the completion of the program, students should be able to:

• demonstrate strong communication skills

• identify, analyse and solve problems in different decision contexts

• think constructively and logically

• make effective and creative use of modern technologies

• acquire specific knowledge and skills relevant to their major study areas

• demonstrate an understanding of the principles of accounting, finance, economics and business law

• satisfy educational entrance requirement of relevant professional bodies.

Admission requirements

Candidates for admission into this program must satisfy the normal USQ entry requirements for undergraduate programs. Please refer to Academic Regulation 5.4.2of the University Calendar, Section 1 (for Australian students) and Section 3 (for international students).

International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/UNIPREP program.

How to apply

Domestic students

Application for undergraduate programs may be made through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). The same procedure applies whether you plan to study on-campus or by distance education.

If you completed Year 12 at a Queensland secondary school you will be assessed for entry on the basis of your Overall Position (OP) or equivalent score. Year 12 students from other states or territories are considered for entry on the basis of their UAI, ENTER or TER. Other applicants will be based on their overall Rank. You should ensure you submit your application by the closing dates.

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to USQ International for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Program fees

Student contribution amount

For domestic students who are offered Commonwealth supported places, the Government pays some money directly to the University, but students are also required to make a contribution. This contribution is called the ‘student contribution’. For more information about student contribution amounts, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ fees.

Tuition fee

Domestic fee-paying places are funded entirely through the tuition/direct fees paid by the student. Tuition/direct fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. For more information about Tuition Fees, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ Fees.

International fees

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the International Fee Schedule provided by USQ International.

Program structure

The Bachelor of Commerce is comprised of 24 single-unit courses as follows:

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete this program.

Core courses

All students are required to complete a core of eight single-unit courses. The purpose of the core courses is to expose business students to fundamental concepts and methods and the diversity of subject matter that they will encounter in their studies. The functional areas of business are identified and elementary tools leading to a focus in the majors are developed.

Major studies

All students in the Bachelor of Commerce must complete at least one major study. A major study is a set of courses that make up a coherent, in-depth study of a specific discipline.

In this section:

• Double major studies
• Accounting major
• Business law major
• Economics major
• Finance major
• General commerce major

Double major studies

All Faculty of Business majors are eight units. Students may choose to complete a second major from the undergraduate degree programs in the Faculty of Business, except the General Commerce major, or from the undergraduate degree programs in another Faculty at the University of Southern Queensland. A program in which there is a first and second major is known as a 'double major'. Where a second major from another Faculty contains less than eight units, students must complete extra elective units, chosen from undergraduate courses offered at the University of Southern Queensland to ensure that their program contains 24 units in total.

The sets of courses that make up each major in the Bachelor of Commerce are summarised in the following tables:

Accounting major

Professional accreditation

Accounting Major students will meet the educational entrance requirements of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and the National Institute of Accountants (NIA).

Accounting major students who complete a Finance minor will meet the educational entrance requirements of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia).

Business law major

Economics major

Finance major

.

Professional accreditation

Completion of the Bachelor of Commerce with a finance major will allow graduates to meet the educational entrance requirements to become an Associate member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia).

General commerce major

Students may select 8 courses from all courses listed in Bachelor of Commerce majors. Please Note: This major may only be taken as a first major by Bachelor of Commerce students.

Minor studies

In this section:

• Accounting
• Advanced accounting
• Banking and financial services
• Business law
• e-Commerce
• Economics
• Economics and politics
• Finance
• Human resource management
• Marketing
• Personal financial planning
• Small business

A minor study is a coherent group of four courses. Within the Bachelor of Commerce, all students, except those undertaking a second major, must complete at least one four-course minor from any minor within the Faculty of Business or any other Faculty.

Students may choose courses from those listed in the Minor Studies section of this Handbook. Enrolment requirements must be satisfied for any course selected.

Bachelor of Business minors

Refer to the Bachelor of Business entry in this Handbook regarding the list of Minors offered.

Other minors

Students may select any other Minor from the Faculty or from another Faculty from courses listed in the Minor Studies section of this Handbook, subject to pre-requisite requirements of the specific Minor being met.

Accounting

Advanced accounting

This is only available to accounting major students .

Banking and financial services

Students completing a banking and financial services minor and who have also successfully completed FIN1101 Introduction to Financial Management under the core component of the Bachelor of Commerce will meet the educational entrance requirements to become an Associate member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia).

Business law

e-Commerce

Economics

Economics and politics

Finance

Human resource management

Marketing

Personal financial planning

Enrolment in this minor is subject to approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students may not commence this minor until they have completed at least 12 units at levels 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 and must have a grade point average of 4.5. Students undertaking this minor should be aware that these courses are postgraduate courses and are, therefore, assessed at postgraduate standard.

Small business

Elective courses

Students not completing a double major must select four units of elective courses from courses offered at undergraduate level by Faculty of Business undergraduate programs or, with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, from undergraduate programs offered by other Faculties at the University of Southern Queensland. Prerequisite requirements must be satisfied for any course selected.

IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to the computer requirements section of the Faculty of Business website.

Other program requirements

Students must maintain good standing in this program. Please refer to Academic Regulation 5.9 of the University Calendar.

Exit points

Students who are unable to complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Commerce, may exit with an Advanced Diploma in Business or an Associate Degree in Commerce.

Students not wishing to complete the Bachelor of Commerce program may be permitted to exit with the Advanced Diploma in Business if they have completed 12 courses as follows:

• a minimum of four, up to a maximum of eight, from the Bachelor of Commerce core courses, and either

• four to eight courses from a single Commerce major area of study, or

• four courses from a single Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Business major area of study (minor study) and four elective courses of study.

To exit the Bachelor of Commerce with an Associate Degree in Commerce, a student must have:

• completed the Bachelor of Commerce core courses (listed above)

• completed at least four other Bachelor of Commerce courses

• completed at least 16 courses (in total) that would have counted towards the Bachelor of Commerce.

Exemptions

Candidates for admission to the Bachelor of Commerce program may be eligible for up to 16 units of exemption on the basis of successful completion of relevant, equivalent undergraduate study from a recognised university or institution offering equivalent study. Exemptions approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by USQ. Students studying accounting should note that professional bodies such as the CPA and ICAA advanced standing policies are more restrictive so students are advised to seek current information from these bodies before applying for exemptions.

Claims for exemptions for previous study should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with the Faculty's Exemptions policies.

Note: Where exemptions are granted, maximum and minimum duration will be adjusted in the same proportion as exemptions, e.g. where 8 exemptions are granted, maximum time will be 6 years and minimum time will be 4 terms.

In this section:

• Recommended enrolment patterns
• Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus
• Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Fraser Coast campus
• Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Springfield campus (standard semester 1 intake)
• Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Springfield campus (standard semester 2 intake)
• Business law major recommended enrolment pattern
• Economics recommended enrolment pattern
• Finance major recommended enrolment pattern

Recommended enrolment patterns

Given the program structure information, students should plan their enrolment making sure that they have fulfilled all core, major, minor and elective requirements. Enrolment requirements must be satisfied before enrolling in a course.

As a guide, full-time students should plan to undertake eight courses per year and external students, who are in employment, a maximum of six courses per year, with a minimum of four courses per year. This is exclusive of any Semester 3 enrolments. Students wishing to enrol in more than four courses per semester must obtain permission from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Courses are normally offered on-campus and externally in the same semester. If a course is offered twice in one year, the second offering will normally be on an external basis only. Students undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce may not enrol in any postgraduate courses, with the exception of students enrolled in the Personal Financial Planning Minor who may enrol in only the courses listed in the minor. On-campus students are not permitted to enrol in external courses unless the on-campus version is not available.

Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus

Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Fraser Coast campus

Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Springfield campus (standard semester 1 intake)

Accounting major recommended enrolment pattern - Springfield campus (standard semester 2 intake)