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Bachelor of Business (International Business) 

BBIB140     


Campus Availability Study Mode Study Level Duration
Hawthorn Full-time, Part-time (day) Undergraduate Three years full-time or six years part-time.
An optional and additional year of Industry-Based Learning (IBL) is also available.
Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time.
The optional year of Industry-Based Learning (IBL) is not available to international students.

Increasingly, our environment is one of express global transportation and almost instantaneous worldwide communication. The effect this has had on business has increased demand for persons equipped to tackle the international nature of today’s marketplace. International business experts may be in charge of the finances, marketing and human resources of a global corporation, or involved in the import and export of their company’s goods, finances and personnel.

Our Bachelor of Business (International Business) is a vocationally orientated degree designed to equip students with the practical skills and knowledge for a global career. It is tailored to assist in the intellectual, social and personal development of the student as preparation for entrance to a range of specialist and generalist business professions. The course prepares students for a career in business, whether domestic or international, recognising that the business world is a global one in the 21st century.

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In addition to assisting with students working towards the attainment of the university’s graduate attributes, Bachelor of Business (International Business) graduates will be:
  • knowledgeable about the conduct of business in the global marketplace
  • capable of developing effective international business strategies in the major trade regions of the world
  • able to communicate solutions for international business in a credible, articulate and confident manner to various stakeholders
  • cognisant of the social, legal and ethical complexities in international business

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The Bachelor of Business (International Business) totals 24 units (300 credit points), of which 16 units comprise a business major, eight units of study comprise a co-major or two minors of four units each, and the not-for-credit unit, HBG0004 Careers in the Curriculum. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. In each year, four units per teaching period (eight per year) normally constitute a full-time load of 100 credit points and two units per teaching period (four per year) normally constitute a part-time load of 50 credit points.

All 16 units of study listed below must be completed within this structure and an additional eight units of study are required to make up a co-major or two minors.

A co-major consists of eight pre-determined units of study from one specialisation. A minor consists of four pre-determined units of study from one specialisation. Refer to co-majors and minors listed below.

Students wishing to enrol in units of study that are not a formal part of this course will be required to seek approval from the faculty administration manager prior to enrolment.

Course restrictions
The following program restrictions apply:

A minimum of 100 credit points must be completed at Swinburne University. This regulation must be observed in program plans that include unit exemptions; studies completed through international exchange, cross-institutional study or study abroad.

Students will not be allowed to study more than 26 units (325 credit points) as part of the Bachelor of Business.

A unit can only be counted once as part of a major or minor. Where there is an overlap of units a substitute unit has been identified in the relevant cognate area.

Students are not permitted to enrol in units where they have completed other units that are deemed to be equivalent. Equivalent units cannot both be used for credit.
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit of study HBG0004 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of your course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students who commence their course from 2007 onwards. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills.

Prerequisites/Corequisites
Students must have passed all prerequisite units of study listed for each unit of study . They must have already passed or be concurrently enrolled in any corequisite units of study. Unit of study convenors must be consulted if students wish to enrol in a unit of study for which they do not have the stated requisite.
Final Year Experience – Major Projects
As part of the Swinburne Model for Professional Learning, all incoming undergraduates from 2007 will undertake 25 credit points of professionally focused final year major projects within their programs of study. Entry with advanced standing may require alternate study sequences to be undertaken.

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The following business specific co-majors/minors discipline areas are available:
# Available as minor only
Note: Not all minors will be available in 2009. Please refer to each discipline area above for more information. 
 
Students also have the option to select their co-major or minors from another faculty.

Electives Plus Sequences

Electives Plus sequences provide Swinburne degree students with options to broaden their career skills and strengthen their employability by selecting from units of study outside their degree discipline.
 
Students undertaking this course can choose to study Electives Plus sequences of up to four units from one of the following themes:
Electives Plus sequences are available in all Swinburne degree programs, subject to timetabling constraints, with the exception of double degree programs, specialist double major degrees, and where entry has been approved with advanced standing.

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Foundation Units
 
Specialisation Units 
 
Capstone Units
Students must take another eight units of study. This provides the opportunity to take a co-major (eight units of study) or two minors (four units of study) in another discipline.

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An optional Industry-Based Learning (IBL) unit may be undertaken by local students who have entered university after completing Year 12 at the completion of 100 credit points at Swinburne. Pathway students who have entered with exemptions may register with the IBL office once completing one semester of their degree. The IBL program is available to students who have a pass result. Due to government regulation, the IBL program is not available to international students who hold a student visa.

An academic staff member is assigned to each student who has an IBL placement. The role of the staff member is to act as a mentor to the student by means of visits and email and phone contact. After each visit with the student, the academic mentor completes a ‘mentor visit report form’ detailing the student’s progress and job satisfaction, with a copy being forwarded to the IBL office. All visits are logged as per the IBL policy of the University.

The Faculty of Business and Enterprise has a full-time IBL manager to liaise with undergraduate students and employers. The IBL program also has an academic convenor who ensures that the program is academically rigorous and meets the student's learning needs.

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An Honours degree at Swinburne provides students, who have a demonstrated academic ability, with an opportunity to pursue their undergraduate studies to an advanced level: to deepen their intellectual understanding in the major are of study; and to develop their research skills. Honours students work independently but in close consultation with a supervisor on a substantial project of their choice. Students are required to collect and analyse data and produce a substantial written thesis (15,000 to 20,000 words) on their findings. The Honours course is a recognised point of entry into postgraduate research studies. For further information contact the Faculty of Business and Enterprise.

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Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

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Students with studies in international business find rewarding work in institutions and firms engaged in aspects of international business, both locally and abroad. Just some of the roles graduates could find employment in are international trade expert, Asian business specialist, European business specialist and government trade sector roles.

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The intent of the course is for graduates to have well-developed attributes that will equip them for their early career and life. Specifically graduates will potentially be:
  • capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
  • entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace, or community
  • effective and ethical in work and community situations
  • adaptable and able to manage change
  • aware of the local and international environments in which they will be contributing (eg. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
In order to build all of the graduate attributes, the Bachelor of Business aims to:
  • ensure that the body of knowledge and technology imparted in the program will be relevant to immediate and potential employment opportunities
  • develop self-confidence through learning experiences aimed at an understanding of the unit areas and including the development of life-long learning skills
  • offer Industry-Based Learning (IBL)* and experiential learning opportunities that link theoretical learning with applied practical work experience
  • develop creativity and analytical skills
  • provide an understanding of the conventional ways of seeking answers to particular problems, including use of library and other reference sources such as the internet and electronic information sources
  • develop multi-disciplinary applied research skills through the honours year option
  • develop both written and oral communication skills, and teamwork capacities
  • develop perspective and general knowledge by a study of a variety of disciplines and of their relationship to one another, forming an integrated, holistic business understanding
  • develop an ability and willingness to adapt to change, given the turbulent, competitive and volatile nature of many businesses
  • develop a broad understanding of the business and social environment, and especially its global and complex nature
  • develop skills and attitudes conducive to life-long learning

* Please note that IBL is not available to international students who hold a student visa.

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Successful completion of an appropriate Victorian Year 12 or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

2009 VCE Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 20 in English (any).

Non-Year 12
For Australian TAFE qualifications undertaken in Australia, the following criteria will be used:

Associate degree holders - Minimum requirement - credit grade average (at least 65% or above) with no fail grades in their business units in the final year.

Advanced diploma holders - Minimum requirement - credit grade average (at least 65% or above) with no fail grades in their business units in the final year.

Diploma holders - Minimum requirement - 50 percent of grades achieved are Distinctions (75% or above) with no fails in their business units.

Certificate IV - Minimum requirement - 75 percent of grades achieved are Distinctions (75% or above) with no fails in their business units.

Where Australian TAFE qualifications are delivered offshore, equivalent grades will be adopted.

Partially completed tertiary qualifications
Applicants must also have completed a minimum of one year (100 credit points) of equivalent full-time study - Minimum requirement - Credit grade average (65% or above) with no fails in their business units.

Special Entry
Applicants who do not satisfy any of the above requirements (including applicants with a non-competitive Year 12 completed a minimum of two years prior to the time of application) are required to sit a STAT Multiple Choice test run by VTAC.

Not all eligible applicants can be offered a place as quotas do apply.

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2008 Round 1 Clearly-In ENTER: 76.15 (CSP)

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Applicants with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be granted ‘credit’ and/or entry into the course with ‘advanced standing’. University policies apply and applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For most degrees students will be granted matched exemptions for foundation units or some Stage 2 units only. For further information refer to ‘Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide’ at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways//

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An advanced credit transfer system, known as the Pathways program, is in place at Swinburne. Through Pathways, students with one or more of a wide range of post-secondary qualifications (both local and international) can gain entry into a course with advanced standing. Certain subject requirements must be met and an acceptable standard of results achieved in order to gain admission and for maximum credit to be granted. For most degrees students will be granted matched exemptions for foundation units or some Stage 2 units only. For further information refer to 'Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways//

Note: Eligibility for credit does not guarantee a place in the course: acceptance depends on the number of applicants and available places.

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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. However it must be noted that RPL is not normally recognised for Undergraduate qualifications. Students may not obtain RPL for the Professional Practice units.

Further details for students considering Higher Education courses: http://www.swin.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/files/stuinf.htm

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Swinburne offers domestic undergraduate students Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of an Australian permanent resident visa are classified as domestic students. All other students are considered international students.

HELP
The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. HELP consists of:
  • HECS-HELP (previously HECS) – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students. It provides students with a loan to cover their student contribution amount. Students are eligible for a 20% discount if they choose to pay all, or at least $500, of their student contribution up-front.
  • FEE-HELP (previously PELS) – is available to eligible fee paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $81,600 from 1 January 2008). The FEE-HELP limit is indexed on 1 January each year.
  • OS-HELP – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students, who wish to study overseas, with a loan to cover expenses such as accommodation and travel.

Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.

 
For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au  

For information about Swinburne's fees visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/fees

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For information about scholarships at Swinburne visit: http://www.swin.edu.au/scholarships

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Applications must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

VTAC code: 34411 (CSP), 34413 (Int. Fee)

For further information, visit the VTAC website at: http://www.vtac.edu.au 

Note: Application is to the BBUS140 Bachelor of Business. Successful applicants will be requested to advise of their preferred course at the time of enrolment.

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