Advanced Commerce

Course overview

Are you a high achiever, aspiring to be a leader in your field? Or perhaps you dream of pursuing advanced research at the PhD level, discovering new theories and applications that can help solve some of today’s complex business and societal challenges? Our Advanced Commerce degree will ensure you’re well-equipped to thrive in your chosen field, regardless of your desired career path.

From the very beginning, this course offers a unique learning experience with early opportunities to build professional skills. You’ll learn alongside motivated peers, developing strong connections that support your growth and success. As you progress, you’ll gain in-depth expertise in your chosen major, then focus on a research topic that will form the basis of your Honours year.

Throughout your studies, you’ll acquire a powerful blend of knowledge, ethical reasoning, technical expertise and research experience – skills that will enhance your employability, support lifelong learning, and prepare you for future postgraduate study.

Advanced professional development opportunities

High-achieving students may be eligible for a range of extracurricular activities designed to increase employability. These include:

• LinkedIn Learning: augmented skill-building resources for independent development
• Curtin Ignition: an intensive training program for aspiring entrepreneurs
• High Achievers Program: a fast-track industry experience, accelerating your professional development.

Career outcomes

A degree in Advanced Commerce can lead to a diversity of careers in business, leadership and research. Go to your chosen major to see the associated career pathways.

Professional accreditation and recognition

Wherever possible, our business majors are designed to conform to the membership standards of relevant professional bodies. Refer to individual business majors for specific professional recognition and accreditation information.

Further study options

Continue building your expertise after graduation through postgraduate coursework or research pathways.

Course structure

First year

In your first year you’ll study our business core units:

• Analytics for Decision Making: You’ll learn basic data analysis to derive essential information from numerical, textual and visual datasets. As well as understanding the legal and ethical issues related to the collection and use of data, you’ll examine case study data sets from a range of business disciplines, communicate your findings to an audience and make recommendations.
• Business Inquiry Lab: You'll be introduced to essential information, knowledge, and foundational academic and professional skills, including ethical reasoning. You'll also have the opportunity to learn about the research culture within the Faculty of Business and Law, engage with research centres, interact with academic staff, and explore current research themes to develop early awareness of how research informs business, law, society, and policy.
• Communication, Culture and Indigenous Perspectives in Business: You’ll develop  awareness of responsible business practices and cultural, academic and professional integrity in business. These perspectives will help you in business communications and in making business decisions.
• Financial Decision Making: You’ll develop the skills and knowledge needed to make informed and responsible decisions using accounting and financial information. You’ll learn basic accounting and financial terminologies, how to interpret financial statements and make investment decisions.
• Markets and Legal Frameworks: You’ll explore how key business disciplines are connected and understand the relationship between a business enterprise and stakeholders including government, customers and the broader community. You’ll also identify the laws and regulations applied to businesses, and learn how business and marketing strategies can impact society and the environment.

You'll also have the opportunity to undertake introductory study in fields such as marketing, business law, economics and global business. This can be valuable if you are still deciding on your primary major and want to explore different business fields.

Second year

In your second year, you’ll deepen your knowledge through our core business unit, Applied Research: Business and Society.

In this unit, you’ll tackle real-world challenges facing business and society today. With guidance from experienced faculty and industry partners, you’ll sharpen your critical thinking, broaden your perspective, and learn to communicate ideas with impact. You’ll also explore global issues, emerging technologies and ethical decision-making – building practical skills that will prepare you for the future.

At the same time, you’ll begin studying units from your chosen major. See Customise your degree below to explore the majors and study combinations available.  

Third year

In your third year you’ll finalise your study in your chosen major and ‘cap’ off this study with one of our practical capstone experiences, enabling you to apply your skills and knowledge in an industry setting.

See all our capstone experiences in Step 3 of Customise your degree below.

Fourth year: choose your pathway

Choose between our research or industry pathways:

• Research pathway: tailored for those with ambitions of pursuing a PhD, this pathway will provide you a solid foundation for further academic study and research
• Industry pathway: undertake a practical experience through an industry experience, such as a work placement or study tour, combined with an industry project.

Exit pathway

You can exit this degree with a Bachelor of Commerce after completing 600 credits (equivalent to three years of full-time study). If you have a course-weighted average (CWA) lower than 75%, we may recommend exiting with a three-year bachelor degree rather than completing your honours.

Detailed course structure and unit information

For detailed information and course structure, visit our Handbook.

Customise your degree

You can customise your degree to suit your career goals. If you aren’t sure what you want to study yet, our expert teaching staff will take you through the options in your first semester and help you choose the best pathway that embraces your unique passions and your career aspirations.

Transformational learning

You may also have the opportunity to complete an additional ‘real-world’ learning experience. From internships and consulting projects to international experiences and workplace simulations, you’ll challenge yourself, explore new perspectives, and grow both personally and professionally.

• Enhancing Your Business Mind: Your first job outside of university is a big step in your career – and you’ll want to take that step with confidence. In this capstone experience, you’ll apply your entrepreneurial skills, business ideas and critical thinking to a real workplace, improving your employability and equipping you with skills to succeed after university. You’ll have the chance to challenge yourself (in a supportive environment) and discover things you didn’t realise you needed to know – about industry and yourself.
• Business Clinic: This is your chance to become a real-world business consultant, working directly with individuals, small organisations and startups to solve challenges and optimise opportunities. Through hands-on experience in the clinic, you will develop your understanding of key business concepts, problem-solving techniques and ethical decision-making. You’ll gain valuable insights into the modern business world and the confidence to navigate its complexities once you graduate.
• Business and Law International Experience: We’re a global university with campuses and connections around the world – why not make the most of it! Through this capstone experience, you can progress your studies while travelling by studying a short course with one of our global exchange partners. You’ll immerse yourself in a different culture, expand your knowledge, make lifelong memories and build your global perspective.
• Business Internship: You’ve understood the theory, read the academic papers and pored through the textbooks – now it’s time to apply what you’ve learned to real business situations through a professional internship. Guided by an academic advisor and an industry professional, you’ll be immersed in the day-to-day operations of your host organisation. This capstone experience is a chance to develop your business skills, enhance your career readiness, build your professional network and nurture your personal and professional growth.

Note that opportunities may vary according to academic performance, available space within your study plan and any international travel restrictions.

Entry requirements

To study this course, you must meet the entry criteria:

• course ATAR, or equivalent, demonstrated via an accepted entry pathway
• any course-specific requirements
• English language requirement.

Guaranteed entry
If you achieve the guaranteed ATAR/selection rank for this course and meet all other entry requirements, you’re guaranteed a place in this course.

Entry pathways

Course-specific requirements

You’ll also need to meet any specific requirements to be eligible to apply for this course.

Study credit and support

You may be able to receive study credit or support based on your previous experience or personal circumstances.

Get credit towards your degree

You may be able to receive credit for recognised learning (CRL) from past study or professional experience, which could reduce the time it takes to finish your course.

Find specific details about CRL for this course on the Handbook.

Special consideration

If your studies were affected by circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for special consideration when applying to Curtin. This process is available to new applicants only and allows your application to be assessed in light of those circumstances.

Check if you’re eligible for special consideration.

Additional information