Business vs Commerce
If you’re keen to study business at university, you might already be looking into your future degree. And you also might have run into this conundrum – should I study a Bachelor of Business or a Bachelor of Commerce? You might even be wondering, are these two degrees even different?
We’re here to answer your questions, and the first is, yes, there is a difference (we promise). Read on to find out more about the finer details on Business vs Commerce.
Business: broad knowledge
A Bachelor of Business is usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think about studying business at university. This is a common degree that you can study at pretty much any university in Australia, and for a good reason.
A Bachelor of Business equips you with the foundation skills you need to work in almost any industry and role. If you’re not quite sure which area you’d like to specialise in, or you just want to be an all-round pro, a Bachelor of Business is an ideal choice.
As a general rule, you’ll also learn more “people-centered” skills in a Bachelor of Business; think things like communication, management and leadership skills, marketing, and so on. These are core skills you can take into any role, setting you up for future success.
But if you do want to specialise, you can do that too. You can always take a major (or two) and really expand your horizons. For example, you could study the Entrepreneurship and Innovation major at Murdoch, or Human Resource Management at Monash.
Business courses also tend to have slightly lower ATAR requirements, and only English as a prerequisite. They’re also incredibly popular, so you won’t have to go far to find a uni that offers this course.
Commerce: specialised knowledge
A Bachelor of Commerce is for those who really want to get into the nitty-gritty of a particular business area. These degrees tend to be much more thorough and in-depth, while focusing on a particular area.
A Bachelor of Commerce gives you specialist skills and knowledge in your chosen area. These degrees are more analytical, and commonly involve a bigger emphasis on mathematics. If you have a particular career path in mind, a Bachelor of Commerce can be a great way to learn the specific skills you need to get there.
Some common majors for a Bachelor of Commerce include things like Actuarial Science from the University of Melbourne, or Business Economics from UNSW.
Commerce courses can have slightly higher ATAR requirements, and also sometimes include mathematics as a prerequisite.
The similarities?
Although they have their differences, the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Commerce share some similarities as well.
Both are great at equipping you with the skills and knowledge you need for your future career. One isn’t inherently “better” than the other, and what you learn in each will differ from university to university.
You might also see some universities offer the same major in both degrees – in this case, the content is usually largely the same and both degrees would be considered equally by employers. For example, the Accounting major is offered in both the Bachelor of Business and the Bachelor of Commerce at La Trobe. The things that might differ between the two degrees are other core subjects, and which electives you can choose to study.
The final decision
When making a decision about which course to study, the best course of action is to always do your research. Read the course information and handbook for each course carefully, and see if there is anything about a particular degree you do (or don’t) like.
Want to know more about your university options? Make sure to take a look at Study Work Grow’s university resources here.
Don’t forget you can also get a copy of our 2023 Apply to University Guide.
