BlogBusinessWhat It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ

What It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ

Bachelor of Commerce UQ - Fact Sheet

Are you a maths whiz? Do you love business, finance and everything in between? If so, a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ may be the perfect degree for you. 

Below, we’ve compiled everything there is to know about the units, assessments, culture and what it’s really like to study a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ.

Let’s dive in! 

What is a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ?
Core Units and Majors
How to Get into a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ
What’s the Teaching Format?
What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

What is a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ?

Good question! Sometimes it can be tricky to distinguish between all of the business and economics related degrees so we’ll try and break it down for you. 

To sum it up, commerce refers to the activity of buying and selling products — it’s all about the exchange of goods and services between businesses and individuals.

In the business world, commerce focuses on the distribution aspect of business as opposed to the production side of things. So, while a Bachelor of Commerce will teach the ins and outs of business and economics, you’ll also be developing more of a specific understanding of the exchange of products and their impact. 

At UQ, you’ll be learning all about how business information systems, accounting, data analytics and finance contribute to business and add value to the global economy. You’ll also begin to explore how to apply and adapt these skills to specific challenges faced by businesses. You’ll be able to analyse this through the choice of one or two majors! 

A great feature of UQ is their shift from pure economics to environmental accountability. So, importantly, alongside the numbers and money, you’ll be building your knowledge in sustainability and different business’ environmental impact. These are priceless skills to develop in a society that is becoming more and more environmentally conscious. 

Once you graduate from Commerce at UQ, you’ll be set up for a career in banking, accounting, finance or business analytics! 

Can you study this degree in conjunction with another?

You definitely can! There are plenty of opportunities at UQ to complement your Commerce studies with another degree. In fact studying a double degree is a great path for students that want to increase career flexibility, enhance employability, fast-track their studies or if they’re just having trouble specialising in one area! 

Of course, there’s absolutely no requirement to study a double degree at UQ and the Bachelor of Commerce will be just as handy on its own. Since you have the option in the Bachelor of Commerce to major in two distinct areas it may feel like a double degree in itself! Either way, it’s good to know that the option is there — although, it would be a lot more work. 

If you are considering studying a Bachelor of Commerce in conjunction with another degree, UQ would be a very suitable place. Some of the double degree options that UQ offers its Commerce students include:

    • Bachelor of Economics 
    • Bachelor of Information Technology 
    • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
    • Bachelor of Computer Science 
    • Bachelor of Arts
    • Bachelor of Laws 
    • Bachelor of Science 
    • Bachelor of Business Management 
    • Bachelor of Mathematics

You’ve got a lot of options! You can check them out for yourself if you scroll down to ‘Dual Programs’ right here!  

Is there an Honours program?

Yes! The Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) at UQ is a perfect option for students who want to enhance their commerce knowledge and for those who are keen on an extra year of study. It’s definitely not compulsory and both courses will be extremely valuable, but the Honours degree would be suited to students who performed well and are enthusiastic to progress in their studies. 

To be eligible for admission into the Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) program, you’ll need to receive a GPA of at least 5.5 and be approached by the Executive Dean. 

Career Paths

The Bachelor of Commerce at UQ is going to set you up with the skills that are essential for a wide scope of positions. While these are mainly positioned in the accounting, business and finance world, you’re not limited to that!

With some further study, you could become a high school or university teacher, you could become an actuary or you could stick to academia.

Either way, every business needs assistance with their finances, so really, you could work for any business that you could possibly imagine! Some examples include:

    • Chartered accountant 
    • Data analyst 
    • Finance manager 
    • Corporate treasurer 
    • Auditor 
    • Company secretary 
    • Risk manager 
    • Business systems analyst 
    • Mergers and acquisition adviser 
    • Business manager 
    • Marketing specialist 

Also, the possible professions that you choose to pursue will largely depend on the major that you select (which we’ll get into very soon). 

Core Units and Majors

At UQ, to successfully graduate from the Bachelor of Commerce you’re required to complete 48 credit points all up.

A credit point is pretty much a university’s way to measure the workload of particular subjects — this system of measurement varies between each uni. Credit points are a great tool to understand how much work you’ll need to commit to a particular subject. 

Each of your subjects are worth 2 credit points. You’ll be taking 8 credit points each semester which translates to 4 separate subjects. 

The subjects or credit points that you’ll be completing throughout your degree can be divided amongst three distinct categories. These include:

    • 16 credit points for your Commerce core units 
    • 16 credit points for your Commerce major
    • 16 credit points for a second major or general electives

So, it’s a pretty straight forward structure which is great for you to get your head around things. We’ll take you through some of your core Commerce subjects right now! 

Core UnitsDescription
Introduction to Management AccountingThis subject is going to provide you with the foundations of management accounting by covering areas like costing, planning and control. You’ll be learning all about varying cost behaviours across organisations, job costing, how to prepare budgets and you’ll be looking at cost-volume-profile control too!
Financial Reporting and AnalysisThis is another introductory subject where you’ll be learning to analyse and record accounting transactions and the preparation of financial statements. This will be a class where you’ll be interpreting and calculating key financial ratios to evaluate an entity’s performance. 
Transforming Business with Information SystemsIn this class, you’ll get to develop your understanding of everything to do with information systems! You’ll delve into their use in organisations, how to manage information systems and how they can be implemented and operated. You’ll also be gaining some great practical experience by experimenting with spreadsheets, database management and other software. 
Economics for BusinessThis subject is all about decision making. You’ll be learning how to make decisions effectively while considering core economic principles that will be essential for any issue or opportunity in business. 
Introductory Statistics for Social SciencesIn this subject, you’ll be introduced to essential statistical techniques like probability concepts, theoretical distributions, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals and all that fun stuff! 
Introduction to FinanceIt’s finance time! This subject will take you through the ins and outs of finance. You’ll be learning all about the role of stock markets, foreign exchange markets and bond markets so that you’ll know everything about the time value of money and how entities finance their operations, invest and distribute their profits. 
Business LawIn this subject, you’ll get to know about all the laws and policies that regulate businesses in Australia. You’ll cover the laws for accountants, business managers and other non-legal professionals to gain an understanding of the Australian legal system and common legal issues.  
Introduction to ManagementFinally, this subject will be teaching you all about the foundations of managing in business. You’ll get to know the functions of management, responsible management and strategic frameworks. 

There you have it! These are all the subjects that you’ll be required to do during your Bachelor of Commerce at UQ. Just from reading their briefs, it’s clear that they’re all super practical and informative subjects that will get you prepped and confident for the working world. 

So, overall, you have eight core subjects that you’re required to do. The other 32 credit points are a little more flexible and can really be tailored to your interests and aspirations.

You can take a deeper look at these subjects right here

What are the Majors?

Choosing your major is the main way to personalise your degree and it’s pretty important because not only will you be spending the next 3 years focusing on it, but it’ll give you a pretty good idea of what your future jobs may look like too!

UQ offers their Commerce students four business-related options. These include:

As we mentioned before, you have another 16 credit points that you can use as you wish.

You can either choose a second major (from the same list as above) or you can choose 8 general elective subjects.

This is totally up to you, so don’t stress too much about it. Just think: which option will make my degree the most enjoyable as well as the most valuable. 

Is there a built-in internship program?

There isn’t actually a compulsory internship or placement program at UQ for Commerce students. You definitely still have the option, but it isn’t a required part of your coursework. 

There are still a range of different internship options that you can take where you’ll be supported by UQ every step of the way.

You could look into the domestic and virtual internships, global internships or UQ Embassy internships right here

 

How to Get into the Bachelor of Commerce at UQ

Good question! So, let’s get down to business (pun intended — this took me an embarrassingly long time to think of). To be eligible for the Bachelor of Commerce degree at UQ, you’re going to need an ATAR of at least 87. 

Alternate Pathways

It’s a pretty competitive degree but don’t let that deter you! There are plenty of alternative entry options to help you get into your dream course.

UQ understands that an HSC mark is not a fair indication of your capabilities, interests or goals. There are a few main ways to score some extra marks and get into your degree. These include:

Is there any assumed knowledge or prerequisite subjects?

The Bachelor of Commerce at UQ has two prerequisite subjects that you’ll need to have studied to apply. These include some form of English and Mathematics.

While it’s not required, it may also be handy to choose Commerce, Economics or Business Studies when you’re choosing your Year 12 subjects. 

If you haven’t graduated with these subjects, don’t stress! There are two ways you can get around it.

First, you can check out UQ’s bridging courses that are designed for students who haven’t met the prerequisites. You can complete an intensive bridging course in mathematics if you didn’t study it in high school. You can find out more about UQ’s bridging courses here

Your second option, if you’re wanting to hone in on those skills you may have missed out on in high school, is to choose elective subjects that build on the topics you’re less sure of! 

Scholarships 

UQ offers a variety of scholarships to potential Commerce and Business students. So, if you’re someone who thinks you could secure yourself a scholarship whether that’s for academic excellence, community engagement, financial difficulty or elite athleticism, go for it! 

You can check out all of your scholarship options right here

What’s the Teaching Format?

As a Bachelor of Commerce student at UQ, you can expect to undergo your studies through a two-semester format. This means that you’ll get two main study sessions broken up with a pretty decent break in between.

So, if you’re someone that values that extra holiday time to take summer classes, commit to internships or just to refresh and rejuvenate, then the semester system would be great for you. 

Class Structure

Bachelor of Commerce UQ - Class Structure

Subjects for the Bachelor of Commerce will be taught mainly through a lecture and tutorial with a few seminars every now and again.

Alongside these, you may also be able to attend a seminar session where you’ll get to listen to an industry professional talk about a specific topic. 

Lectures 

A lecture at UQ will last around an hour and a half. As you progress through your degree or depending on the topic, the lecture times will vary.

These classes will have around 100 to 200 students in the lecture theatre and this will also depend on whether it’s a lecture for a core unit, an elective or a major. 

Lectures are typically pretty passive experiences and you’ll be spending your time listening and note taking as opposed to interacting with the content. These sessions will inform future tutorials so it’s important that you’re on the ball when it comes to note taking. 

Tutorials 

As with lectures, you’ll have to attend a tutorial for each of the classes that you’re taking. These sessions will be much smaller with around 25 people in a class that lasts from 1 to 2 hours — depending on the type of class and its relevance to upcoming assessments or projects. 

Tutorials are designed to provide an engaging and interactive lesson where you’ll be guided through the content and be encouraged to initiate discussions or ask any questions. In fact, it would be a great idea to come prepared to class with any questions that you may have.

It’s always important that you’re confident in the content so… ask those questions! 

Seminars 

Like we said, seminars won’t be super common in your degree. You’ll get to attend them every now and again if you’re covering tricky content or if your assessments are coming up but they’re not as frequent as lectures or tutorials.

They emulate a lecture though. So, you’ll get to listen to industry professionals talk about their experiences in a room with around 100 people for about an hour or two. 

How much time do you spend on campus?

All up, you can expect to be on campus for about 20 hours a week to account for all your academic sessions and some individual study time to keep on top of your work. It sounds like a lot but it’s going to fly by! 

Assessments

Like a lot of university degrees, your assessments are going to largely depend on the kind of class that you’re taking.

Bachelor of Commerce UQ - Quote

Since a Bachelor of Commerce is an extremely practical degree where you’ll be learning to create spreadsheets, calculate profit and analyse financial reports, you’ll generally be assessed on your ability to complete these tasks. 

Skills That You Refine and Learn

Bachelor of Commerce UQ - Skills

The Bachelor of Commerce is a relatively structured degree which will ensure that you develop the essential knowledge to make it big in the commerce world!

A lot of the skills you’ll learn will be practical, transferable and professional so that once you graduate, you’ll be equipped with the valuable skills that will be appreciated in any business sector. Some of these skills include:

    • Problem solving
    • Critical thinking 
    • Analysis skills 
    • Attention to detail 
    • Numeracy skills 
    • Effective communication 
    • Collaboration 
    • Independent learning 
    • Time management 
    • Software and computer skills 
    • Mathematical and statistical understanding

“You do a lot of group projects because for the Finance major in Commerce, you’re working with heaps of people all the time. So, you have to develop a good communication sense and good oral presentation skills.

 

You’ve got to be able to relay information that you’ve discovered from analysing a company. Then to put that to use, you have to be able to present that information to a group of people, lecturers or a company eventually.

 

They were definitely the skills that tutors and lecturers valued a lot. Although you learn them during the course so you shouldn’t be too stressed if you don’t have that down pat straight away.” Nicholas Gill

A lot of your coursework as a commerce student at UQ will revolve a lot around numeracy, statistics and equations — although these do go alongside the ethics and business side of things so it won’t be your entire focus but it’s definitely important.

Because of this, a lot of the skills you’ll develop throughout your course will be all about understanding equations and their role in a business’ function, revenue and strategies.

That’s why you’ll be developing valuable software and computer skills, mathematical and statistical understanding, analysis skills and problem solving — these generally go hand in hand.  

What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

As a student in the Bachelor of Commerce course, you’ll be positioned within the experienced Faculty of Business, Economics and Law

You’ll be delivered top notch information from the faculty that covers orientation sessions, course advice, careers and employability, exchange opportunities and up to date news and events! 

The Faculty of Business, Economics and Law houses a wide scope of disciplines from accounting and finance to tourism and events. This means that you’ll be in safe and experienced hands if you’re looking for support, advice or academic assistance. 

The Commerce cohort are a group of intelligent, thoughtful and welcoming students that are there to develop their commerce understanding, gain the essential skills and enhance their networks! While it’s a relatively competitive degree, you’re bound to make some long-term pals with similar interests to you.

Clubs and Societies 

If you’re someone that values friendships, social events and engaging activities, you’ll be pleased to know that UQ offers over 220 clubs and societies for all students! Joining a club or society is an easy way to meet people with similar interests, ideas, talents or goals!

You could stick to what you know by joining the Business Association or the Mathematics Students Society. Or maybe you’d like to broaden your horizons, unleash your whacky side or learn a new skill by becoming a member of the Karaoke Club, the Photography Society or the Doctor Who Club! 

Whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find a club that feels like home at UQ. You can check them all out for yourself here

Resources 

As a current or future student at UQ, you can expect to feel constantly supported no matter where you are academically, emotionally or financially. There are a range of resources and support services for all students. So, if you’re looking for some help, UQ has got you covered. 

Whether you’re looking for strategies to handle anxiety, support for loneliness, help to increase self confidence, or counselling services, UQ wants to help. You can check out the Health and Wellbeing services on offer right here


Gemma Billington is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and an undergraduate student at the University of Technology Sydney. While studying Journalism and Social and Political Sciences, Gemma enjoys spending her time at the gym or reading about Britain’s medieval monarchy – ideally not at the same time. She currently creates and administers social media posts for Central News and writes for the student publication, The Comma. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to study a Masters of Medieval History and is very excited about the prospect! 

 

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