Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours)

University of Melbourne

About

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.

Structure

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 rule assessment 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.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

  1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
  • Within the last 2 years a Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent with a weighted average mark 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.

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  2. 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 (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 one 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.

Learning outcomes

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: Contribute positively to the development of organisations and society particularly in relation to business, economics, government and commercial professions 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

Institution