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Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours) (BH-COM)
Bachelors Honours DegreeYear: 2022 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)
About this course
Contact
Currently enrolled students:
Future students:
- Further information: https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au
- Email:13melb@unimelb.edu.au
Director
Peter Gahan
Overview
Award title | Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours) |
---|---|
Year & campus | 2022 — Parkville |
CRICOS code | 014798G |
Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
Study level & type | Undergraduate Coursework |
AQF level | 8 |
Credit points | 100 credit points |
Duration | 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time |
The Honours year is an additional (fourth) year of specialised study in one of the following disciplines: accounting, actuarial studies, economics or finance. It is an integrated program with small classes and an emphasis on research and specialised subject areas.
The Honours year is open to Commerce students. Prospective applicants should note that students must commence the Honours year within two years of completing the requirements of the commerce course. Graduates of other institutions are also welcome to apply. Honours is normally taken on a full-time basis immediately after finishing the requirements for the three-year commerce degree. Provision exists for deferred entry in exceptional circumstances.
Chancellor's Scholars who are admitted into the University of Melbourne's Bachelor of Commerce under a guaranteed entry pathway to a professional entry graduate course, such as the Juris Doctor, can undertake an Honours year and not jeopardise their guaranteed entry into their chosen graduate course.
The Honours degree is an entry qualification for a Masters degree and a PhD within Australia or overseas. A good Honours degree also assists students in obtaining scholarships or other forms of financial support to undertake higher degrees. Career advancement has also tended to be more rapid for Honours graduates.
Entry requirements
- In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- Within the last two years a Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent with a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, with a major relevant to the discipline stream within the Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours) that they seek to enter (see below).
- Any application requirements, specific subject prerequisites and prior academic performance requirements associated with the discipline stream that they seek to enter. These are outlined in the schedule below.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
- In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- prior academic performance; and
- the availability of supervision and resources in suitable project areas; and where applicable
- the application requirements associated with the discipline stream.
- The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
- For applicants who have not completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the undergraduate English language requirements must be met.
The schedule below shows available discipline streams and additional conditions applicants must meet to be eligible for (but not automatically guaranteed) selection into Honours within that stream.
Accounting: a grade of at least H2B (70%) in each of the third-year subjects within the major, and successful completion of one of BUSA20001 Visualisation and Data Wrangling; or ECOM30002 Econometrics 2; or equivalent studies in data analytics.
Actuarial Studies: a grade of at least H2B (70%) in any four third-year actuarial subjects.
Economics: a grade of at least H2B (70%) in each of the following third-year subjects or their equivalent: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics 2. A one-page description of a potential research area must also be submitted as part of the application process.
Finance: a grade of at least H2B (70%) in each of the third-year subjects within the major, and successful completion of Econometrics 2.
Students who have reached the required standard should lodge a formal online application.
Graduates of other institutions are also welcome to apply but will need to provide an original or certified copy of their transcript/s and syllabi of subjects needed to meet eligibility requirements with their application. More information about how to apply can be viewed at the Honours website.
Additional discipline specific information:
Accounting
The Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours) is usually offered for full-time, Semester 1 entry only. Part-time honours may be offered to suitable candidates who meet the criteria for appointment to Senior Tutor within the Department of Accounting. These are subject to the approval of the Head of Department.
Selection into Honours is at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Accounting.
Actuarial Studies
Selection into Honours is at the discretion of the Director of the Centre for Actuarial Studies.
Economics
Students are strongly advised to give early consideration to a topic for their fourth year research essay. They will need to obtain approval for it from an advisor during Semester 1 of their fourth year.
Selection into Honours is at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Economics. Students should note that a quota will be applied to the number of places available for Honours in economics.
Finance
Selection into Honours is at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Finance. Students should note that a quota will be applied to the number of places available for Honours in finance.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills for this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at Student Equity and Disability Support.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this degree, student will be able to:
Knowledge
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge in their chosen commerce discipline.
- Articulate a critical perspective on the development of the discipline in which they specialise and its contribution to the practice of that discipline.
Skills:
- Apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification, evaluation and resolution of complex problems and to do so from the standpoint of specialised knowledge developed in their chosen commerce discipline.
- Communicate ideas effectively in both written and oral formats
- Access, evaluate and utilise information and data from diverse sources and be proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies
Application of knowledge and skills:
- Be independent in their learning and respond in a critically informed manner to new ideas, research findings, methodologies and theoretical frameworks in their chosen commerce discipline
- Engage confidently in self-directed study and research, including being able to design, describe, and conduct research using appropriate methods of analysis in their chosen commerce discipline
- Explain and use theories, concepts, and findings from the social sciences to effectively manage people and organisations for the benefit of the full range of organisational stakeholders
- Contribute positively to the development of organisations and society particularly in relation to business, economics, government and commercial professions
Generic skills
- Effective communication on matters related to business and economics and to an area of specialisation
- Appropriate use of computer systems and software used in business and economics
- Critical thinking and analysis skills
- Information discovery, synthesis, retrieval and evaluation skills
- Application of theory to practice
- Interpretation and analysis of data using statistical reasoning
- Attention to detail
- Independent in learning
- Able to contribute positively to teamwork
- Time management through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, assignment completion and examination revision
Graduate attributes
The University of Melbourne educational experience prepares well-rounded graduates who are academically outstanding, practically grounded and socially responsible. Melbourne's graduates are distinguished by their broad outlook and openness to different perspectives.
Academically excellent in their chosen discipline, demonstrated by their ability to:
- Review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge demonstrating intellectual independence;
- Communicate advanced understanding of theoretical concepts;
- Apply learning to provide solutions to complex, practical problems; and to do so from the standpoint of their specialised knowledge;
- Engage confidently in self-directed study and research;
- Apply critical thinking and judgement in the access, evaluation and use of information from diverse sources;
- Demonstrate a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship.
Equipped to undertake professional work or to proceed to further learning, demonstrated by their ability to:
- Explain and use theories, concepts, and findings for the benefit of a full range of organisational stakeholders;
- Contribute to debate on issues of concern to society within the framework of their specialised knowledge;
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations;
- Communicate ideas effectively and persuasively to a wide audience in both written and oral formats;
- Acquire a level of knowledge and disciplinary practice that would qualify them to undertake further advanced study.
Course structure
The BCom (Honours) course consists of the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points). Grades are awarded for each individual subject and an overall grade result is returned for the course. The Honours degree is only awarded to students who pass (i.e. obtain a grade of at least P) all subjects of the course and who complete the course with an average grade of H3 (65%) or higher.
Students are required to complete the equivalent of eight subjects. In determining the final grade, individual subjects are weighted according to their points value.
A student will not be awarded honours if the student either:
- fails a single 12.5-point subject with a mark below 40%, or
- fails two or more 12.5-point subjects (a 25-point subject is treated as two subjects).
Any student who fails two subjects in their first semester of study will not be allowed to continue in the Honours course.
Any student who fails a single 12.5-point subject with a mark of 40% or above will be entitled to a Final Subject Assessment (FSA) at the end of the final teaching period for that student. The maximum mark to be awarded for this subject on satisfactory completion of this assessment is 50%. The final grade for such a student will be based on the weighted average of the passing grades only.
Students who do not meet the requirements to be awarded the Honours degree will still be able to take out the Bachelor of Commerce pass degree if previous commerce studies were undertaken at the University of Melbourne.
Accounting
Students are required to complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year Honours.
Students must take two compulsory subjects (Research Methods subject and a Research Essay subject):
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ACCT40004 | Honours Research Methods | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
and either
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ACCT40006 | Honours Research Essay Accounting | Not available in 2022 | 37.5 |
or both of
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ACCT40008 | Honours Research Essay Part 1 | Not available in 2022 | 18.75 |
ACCT40009 | Honours Research Essay Part 2 | Not available in 2022 | 18.75 |
Students must also take two elective subjects from the below list:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ACCT40001 | Research in Financial Accounting | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
ACCT40002 | Research in Management Accounting | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
ACCT40003 | Research in Auditing | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
ACCT40007 | Behavioural Accounting Research | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
ACCT40010 | Special Topics in Accounting Research | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
(If students would like to take more than two subjects from this list, the additional subjects can be taken under the remaining elective component discussed below).
The remaining elective subjects must be approved by the Head of Department of Accounting to meet the overall load of 100 points.
Actuarial Studies
Students are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year Honours.
Students must complete the following subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ACTL40001 | Actuarial Studies Research Essay |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
or both of
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ACTL40010 | Actuarial Studies Projects Part 1 | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ACTL40011 | Actuarial Studies Projects Part 2 | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
and
- 50 points of Level-4 actuarial studies subjects
- 25 points of approved Level-3 or Level-4 subjects taught within or outside the Faculty of Business and Economics
Economics
Students are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year Honours.
Students must complete the following subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ECON40001 | Advanced Microeconomics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ECON40002 | Advanced Macroeconomics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ECOM40006 | Econometrics 3 | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ECON40018 | Economics Research Essay Part 1 | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ECON40019 | Economics Research Essay Part 2 | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
and three other subjects, normally Level-4 economics subjects.
Under special circumstances and with the Honours convenor's approval, students may include at most two Level-3 subjects in their study plan, only one of these subjects can be selected from those taught within the Faculty.
Students who take ECON40015 cannot include ECON30024 in their final Honours year program.
Finance
Students are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points).
Students must complete the following subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
FNCE40001 | Advanced Corporate Finance | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
FNCE40002 | Advanced Investments | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
FNCE40004 | Research Methods in Finance | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
FNCE40006 | Finance Research Essay | Semester 2 (Online) |
25 |
and
- 12.5 points of other subjects taught by the Department of Finance
- 25 points of subjects taught within or outside the Faculty of Business and Economics as approved by the Head of the Department of Finance
Level-3 subjects may not be taken with the exception of ECOM30004 Time Series Analysis and Forecasting.
Last updated: 22 March 2024