Find out what each degree offers and make an informed choice.
If you're deciding between studying commerce or business, you're in the right place. We're here to help you understand the differences between these two degrees and what they can offer you. From what you'll learn, to where they might take you in the future, here’s some information to help you figure out which path is the right fit for you.
The Bachelor of Commerce focuses on the technology aspect of business; specifically how emerging technologies impact global commerce. It also emphasises skills such as strategic thinking, critical data analysis, and informed decision-making.
You’ll hone your specialist knowledge with the six majors in this degree: Cyber Security Law and Governance, Enterprise AI and Business Analytics, International Business, Leadership and Strategy, Marketing Technology, Quantitative Economics and Finance.
With one of these majors as your main area of study and any combination of subjects from the other five, you’ll learn to adapt to the changing business world by interpreting data, analysing complex issues, and developing sustainable business strategies.
Work-integrated learning is another key component of the Bachelor of Commerce. You’ll gain industry insights and learnings through guided conversations with corporate leaders and workplace visits. Also, in your final year, you'll tackle an industry-based project – using all the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired so far, you’ll develop a comprehensive proposal that provides innovative solutions to a real commerce problem raised by a specific client.
The degree is designed to support career aspirations in managerial and leadership roles – from policy development in government, to financial management in strategic boardrooms, to data-driven groundbreaking ventures in entrepreneurship – roles in which you can make a meaningful difference in business.
The Bachelor of Business is all about choice and flexibility. You’ll start with a foundational understanding of the key issues facing today's business environment. After that, you can delve deeper in a specific area or broaden your business knowledge by choosing from 14 majors and 36 minors.
The majors include traditional disciplines such as Economics, Finance, Marketing, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, as well as emerging disciplines such as Blockchain-enabled Business, Business and Technology, and Social Impact.
You can choose one major and two minors, and complement these with electives. Or you can choose up to two minors and select your remaining subjects from the majors, the other minors, and non-business areas. Or you can choose not to do a major at all, and select from across our entire range of business and cross-disciplinary offerings.
You have full freedom to study what you choose, and the flexibility to discover your interests. You can change your mind and explore new subjects as your interests or goals shift over time. Essentially you’ll design your own degree.
Your career options are just as wide-ranging as the subjects you’ve studied. When you graduate with a business degree from RMIT, you’ll have the skills and knowledge for employment in large corporations, government, small-to-medium enterprises, small business, or not-for-profit organisations, in traditional business roles, or transformative and hybrid roles, even roles that are emerging or yet to be defined.
If you like the idea of getting extended industry experience with your studies, consider the Bachelor of Business Professional Practice. It has the same flexible majors and minors as the (three-year) Bachelor of Business but you’ll do three more foundation subjects plus an extra year's equivalent of real work experience.
Your professional expertise starts with a virtual internship. You’ll then dive deeper through direct work experience with chosen sponsors or a research project with partner organisations from a diverse range of industries and sectors, depending on your choices.
The courses have different ATAR scores:
Specifically, for the Bachelor of Commerce, a score of at least 20 in any of the VCE Maths (or equivalent) is a prerequisite.
Here are the key highlights for each program:
| Bachelor of Commerce | Bachelor of Business | Bachelor of Business Professional Practice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years |
Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years |
Full-time: 4 years Part-time: 8 years |
| Guaranteed ATAR | 80 (2025) (Plus Maths pre-req) |
70 (2024) | 80 (2024) |
| Course structure | 9 compulsory core subjects 1 capstone subject 1 compulsory major (8 subjects) 1 minor (4 subjects) OR 4 subjects from any minor 2 elective subjects from across the university |
4 compulsory core subjects 1 capstone subject 17 subjects from major and/or minors 2 elective subjects from across the university |
7 compulsory core subjects 1 capstone subject 16 subjects from major and/or minors electives from across the university Direct industry engagement equivalent to one year of full-time study |
| Core subjects | Enterprise AI and Business Analytics Value-driven Marketing Principles of the Economy Responsible Leadership and Enterprise International Business in the Digital Era Digital Business Security and Risk Management Financial Instruments and Technologies Business Law |
Understanding the Business Environment Business Decision Making Business in Society Integrated Perspectives on Business Problems |
Understanding the Business Environment Business Decision Making Business in Society Integrated Perspectives on Business Problems Developing Professionally Work, Health, Safety & Wellbeing Impact Academy 1a |
| Majors available | Cyber Security Law and Governance Enterprise AI and Business Analytics International Business Leadership and Strategy Marketing Technology Quantitative Economics and Finance |
Blockchain Enabled Business Business and Technology Business Information Systems Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Financial Planning Global Business Strategy and Innovation Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Change Marketing People and Organisations Social Impact |
Blockchain Enabled Business Business and Technology Business Information Systems Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Financial Planning Global Business Strategy and Innovation Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Change Marketing People and Organisations Social Impact |
| Minors available | Same as majors | Accounting in Business Behavioural Business Behavioural Science for Future Leaders Blockchain Enabled Business Business Analytics Business Information Systems Business and Technology Cyber Security Data Insights Digital Business Development Digital Supply Chain Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Financial Planning and Tax Financial Planning Global Business Global Procurement and Sourcing Industrial Relations Interdisciplinary and Responsible Approaches to Digital Business International Development International Logistics Law and Economics Law and Emerging Technology Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Change Managing Global Teams Marketing New Business Creation Open Innovation People and Organisation Social Impact Strategy and Innovation Study and Work Supply Chain Analytics Social and Behavioural Issues in Accounting |
Accounting in Business Behavioural Business Behavioural Science for Future Leaders Blockchain Enabled Business Business Analytics Business Information Systems Business and Technology Cyber Security Data Insights Digital Business Development Digital Supply Chain Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Financial Planning and Tax Financial Planning Global Business Global Procurement and Sourcing Industrial Relations Interdisciplinary and Responsible Approaches to Digital Business International Development International Logistics Law and Economics Law and Emerging Technology Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Change Managing Global Teams Marketing New Business Creation Open Innovation People and Organisation Social Impact Strategy and Innovation Study and Work Supply Chain Analytics Social and Behavioural Issues in Accounting |
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.