Skip to Content

Future Students - Courses

click here for a printable version of this page  

Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) 

BCFI140     


Study Mode Study Level Duration Campus and Intake Show intake calendar
Full-time
Part-time (day & evening) 		Undergraduate 3 years full-time or 6 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 and are unable to undertake IBL. 		Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2)

Discover the wide-reaching significance and power of finance in business, trade and government. You will delve into the worlds of financial and capital markets and explore influences on those markets, investment analysis, risk management and business investments.

Go to top

This degree will replace the at Hawthorn from 2010. Current students have the option of either completing their existing degree or transferring to the new degree name.
 
Finance is a fast-growing employment field with roots in accounting and economics, but has developed its own unique framework of knowledge. Financiers inform business decision-makers on the best courses of action for the financial profit and security of the organisation. Working on a wider scale than accountants, they analyse and assess financial forecasts, the value of a company, the investment opportunities open to them and the value of shares and bonds.

Go to top

In addition to the university’s graduate attributes, Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) graduates will be:
  • comprehensively knowledgeable about accounting and finance appropriate for entry-level positions in the accounting and finance fields
  • able to evaluate the financial position of an organisation through the examination of financial statements and non-financial data
  • able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of accounting and apply these accurately and correctly
  • strong analytical problem solvers who are able to operate within an ethical framework
  • excellent communicators in both written and verbal contexts
  • adaptable and able to implement principles into a range of different contexts globally
  • able to satisfy the academic admission requirements for accounting professional bodies

Go to top

For completion of the Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) students are required to complete a total of 24 units of study (300 credit points) consisting of: 
  • A Finance professional major consisting of 16 units (200 credit points); and
  • Eight (8) additional units that can be undertaken either as a co-major (8 units), two minors (4 units each), or pathways credit; and
  • The not-for-credit unit, Careers in the Curriculum (HBG0004)
This program has a Flexible Degree Structure providing students with a wider and more flexible choice in combing studies from different disciplines to add either depth or breadth to the degree.

Students may select co-majors or minors subject to timetable availability. Follow this link for more information. Students may also undertake Electives Plus Minors, Student Exchange or other approved options.

Prior to enrolment, students will be required to attend degree planning information sessions.

Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. In each year, four units per semester (eight per year) normally constitutes a full-time load of 100 credit points and two units per semester (four per year) normally constitutes a part-time load of 50 credit points. Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time.

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
  • 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 Commerce.
  • 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 for the unit 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 prerequisites/corequisites listed for each unit of study and must check that they have fulfilled these requirements before enrolling. 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 requisites.

Final Year Experience – Major Projects
As part of the Swinburne Model for Professional Learning, we would expect that all incoming undergraduates from 2009 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.

Winter and Summer Terms
The Faculty of Business and Enterprise is offering optional six-week Winter and Summer terms allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters. These terms are not mandatory. However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option. Follow this link for more information on units offered.

Go to top

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) students must complete the required units in their Professional Major of Finance listed below.

Commerce (Finance) Professional Major
Finance Major - 2010
Or see Units of Study below.

Co-Majors
The following commerce specific co-majors are available from the Faculty of Business and Enterprise:
Minors
The following commerce specific minors are available from the Faculty of Business and Enterprise:
Accounting for Commerce Students Minor - 2010
  • Applied Marketing Minor - 2010
  • Asia Business Studies Minor - 2010
  • Basic Marketing Minor - 2010
  • Chinese Language Minor - 2010
  • Commercial Law Minor - 2010
  • Economics Minor - 2010
  • Entrepreneurship Minor - 2010
  • European Business Minor - 2010
  • Foresight Minor - 2010
  • General Commerce Minor - 2010
  • Human Resource Management for Commerce Students Minor - 2010
  • Leadership Minor - 2010
  • Organisational Behaviour Minor - 2010
  • Small Business Management Minor - 2010
  • Italian Language Minor - 2010
  • Japanese Language Minor - 2010
  • Japanese Cultural Studies and Work Experience Minor - 2011
    • Note: Not all minors will be available in 2010. 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 Minors
    Electives Plus minors 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 minors of up to four units from one of the following themes:
    Electives Plus minors 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.

    Go to top

     
    Eight additional units of study must be completed. These units of study may be taken as a co-major, two minors or pathways.

    Go to top

    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.

    Go to top

    An honours degree at Swinburne provides an opportunity for students with a demonstrated academic ability to pursue their undergraduate studies to an advanced level - to deepen their intellectual understanding in their major area 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 program is a recognised point of entry into postgraduate research studies. For further information contact the Faculty of Business and Enterprise.

    Go to top

    Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help you gain international experience while studying 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.

    Go to top

    A world of career opportunities are available to graduates of finance. They could find employment in international banking, investment management, consumer finance, financial forecasting, treasury management, corporate finance, economic analysis, financial analysis and banking.

    Go to top

    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 to (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
    In order to build all of the graduate attributes, the Bachelor of Commerce 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, 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 the 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.

    Go to top

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

    2010 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.

    Go to top

    68.45

    2011 Round 1 Clearly-In ATAR (CSP)

    Go to top

    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//

    Go to top

    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.

    Go to top

    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

    Go to top

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

    Go to top

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

    Go to top

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

    VTAC code: 34481 (CSP), 34483 (Int. Fee)

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

    Applicants who have not already applied through VTAC can apply direct to the university by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

    This course is available for mid-year intake. Applications are made directly to Swinburne and will be taken on a case-by-case basis. Application forms can be downloaded from our How to Apply website.

    Go to top

     

    Go to top