Business, Commerce and Accounting: What’s the difference?

Find out what each degree offers and make an informed choice.

If you're deciding between studying business, commerce or accounting, you're in the right place. We're here to help you understand the differences between these 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.

Bachelor of Business — freedom to personalise your learning

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.

Undergraduate degreeBusiness

Bachelor of Business

2027 Guaranteed ATAR 70.00 , 2026 ATAR 67.00
February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Degree structure

With the full freedom to study what you choose, and the flexibility to discover your interests, you'll essentially design your own degree with the Bachelor of Business.

You can choose:

1 major and 2 minors, and complement these with electives; or
Up to 2 minors and select your remaining subjects from the majors, the other minors, and non-business areas; or
Not do a major at all, and select from across our entire range of business and cross-disciplinary offerings.

Majors

Business Information Systems

Business and Technology

Digital Economy

Economics

Entrepreneurship

Finance

Financial Planning

Global Business

Human Resource Management

Logistics and Supply Chain

Management and Change

Marketing

Social Impact

Strategy and Innovation

Minors

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
Financial Planning and Tax*
Global Business
Global Procurement and Sourcing
Human Resource Management
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

Marketing
New Business Creation
Open Innovation
Regenerative Futures
Social and Behavioural Issues in Accounting
Social Impact
Strategy and Innovation
Study and Work.
Supply Chain Analytics

Further study

RMIT offers a range of Honours and Postgraduate study options upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Business

View further study options

Career outcomes

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.

What about the Bachelor of Business Professional Practice?

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.

Undergraduate degreeInformation technology, Business

Bachelor of Business Professional Practice

2027 Guaranteed ATAR 80.00 , 2026 ATAR 75.20
February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 4 years, Part-time 8 years

Bachelor of Commerce — specialised insight with a technology focus

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.

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.

Undergraduate degreeBusiness

Bachelor of Commerce

2027 Guaranteed ATAR 80.00 , 2026 ATAR 80.05
February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Degree structure

You'll complete 1 major as your main area of study and any combination of subjects from the other 4. You’ll learn to adapt to the changing business world by interpreting data, analysing complex issues, and developing sustainable business strategies.

Majors

Cyber Security Law and Governance

Enterprise AI and Business Analytics

International Business

Marketing Technology

Quantitative Economics and Finance

Further study

RMIT offers a range of Honours and Postgraduate study options upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Commerce.

View further study options

Career outcomes

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.

Bachelor of Accounting — in-depth knowledge with professional accreditation

The Bachelor of Accounting equips you with practical and comprehensive knowledge of both accounting and law. Through this degree, you will develop the skills to analyse and evaluate data and information for decision-making. You’ll explore core areas such as decision making in business, financial accounting, economics, quantitative analysis, and more. Beyond traditional topics on enterprises, you will explore business and future technology trends, digital literacy, social impact, and the role of business in society, economics, and sustainability.

The degree also includes several work-integrated learning (WIL) subjects, where you engage with industry, government, and community organisations through practical projects and work placements.

Undergraduate degreeBusiness

Bachelor of Accounting

2027 Guaranteed ATAR 70.00 , 2026 ATAR 68.65
February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Professional recognition and accreditation

The Bachelor of Accounting is accredited by leading professional accounting bodies, including CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), the Association of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). This recognition supports your pathway to obtaining professional membership and advancing your career.

Degree structure

This degree offers flexibility to tailor your learning by providing options to study accounting and law subjects, or expand your skillset with a four-subject minor across various business disciplines.

Minors

Behavioural Business
Behavioural Science for Future Leaders
Blockchain Enabled Business
Business Analytics
Business and Technology
Cyber Security
Data Insights
Digital Business Development
Digital Supply Chain
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Financial Planning
Global Business
Global Procurement and Sourcing
Industrial Relations
Business Information Systems
International Development
Law and Emerging Technology
Logistics and Supply Chain

Management and Change
Marketing
New Business Creation
Open Innovation
Human Resource Management
Social Impact
Strategy and Innovation
Study and Work
Supply Chain Analytics

Further study

RMIT offers a range of Honours and Postgraduate study options upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Accounting.

View further study options

Career outcomes

As a graduate of this degree, you can work as an accountant, management accountant, auditor, financial analyst, environmental accountant, financial risk manager, cybersecurity specialist, or tax agent, and beyond. Emerging roles in accounting are driven by disruptions and megatrends, such as big data, data analysis, digitization, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation, as well as the green and circular economies, creating new opportunities for specialized accounting professionals.

Different requirements

ATAR

The courses have different ATAR scores:

Bachelor of Business: 70 (2026 Guaranteed ATAR)
Bachelor of Business Professional Practice: 80 (2026 Guaranteed ATAR)
Bachelor of Commerce: 80 (2026 Guaranteed ATAR)
Bachelor of Accounting: 70 (2026 Guaranteed ATAR).

Maths pre-requisite

Specifically, for the Bachelor of Commerce, a score of at least 20 in any of the VCE Maths (or equivalent) is a prerequisite.

Overview

Here are the key highlights for each degree:

	Bachelor of Business	Bachelor of Business Professional Practice	Bachelor of Commerce	Bachelor of Accounting
Duration	Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years	Full-time: 4 years Part-time: 8 years	Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years	Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years
Guaranteed ATAR	70 (2026)	80 (2026)	80 (2026) (Plus Maths pre-req)	70 (2026)
Course structure	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	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	19 compulsory core subjects 5 subjects from minor electives
Majors	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	Cyber Security Law and Governance Enterprise AI and Business Analytics International Business Marketing Technology Quantitative Economics and Finance	N/A
Minors	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	Same as majors	Behavioural Business Behavioural Science for Future Leaders Blockchain Enabled Business Business Analytics Business and Technology Cyber Security Data Insights Digital Business Development Digital Supply Chain Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Financial Planning Global Business Global Procurement and Sourcing Industrial Relations Business Information Systems International Development Law and Emerging Technology Logistics and Supply Chain Managing Global Teams Management and Change Marketing New Business Creation Open Innovation People and Organisation Social Impact Strategy and Innovation Study and Work Supply Chain Analytics

Group of students smiling in a group in front of RMIT buildings

Considering a double degree?

RMIT offers a range of double degree options with our Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Commerce, including Accounting, Law, Professional Communications, Aviation and Engineering.

Find out more about double degrees

More information

A group of colleagues sit at a round table during a meeting.

What can I do with a degree in Business?

Business is the study of how organisations operate, grow and thrive, guided by principles from fields such as economics, management and technology.

A woman points at a graph on a large screen while two men listen to her.

How to become an accountant

Master the art of numbers in an ever-evolving industry, guiding businesses and shaping economies.

A project manager points to a collection of plans taped to a white wall while his team listens.

How to become a project manager

Learn how to help other people work together towards a common goal (on deadline, under budget… ideally).

Have more questions?

Our friendly staff at Study@RMIT are available five days a week to assist you.

Explore RMIT's business courses

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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 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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Business, Commerce and Accounting: What’s the difference?