About

The Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (BCA) programme has been designed to equip students for a successful future in today's exciting commercial environment. It provides a strong foundation of the essentials required for work in all areas of public administration and private business.

Career Opportunities

Commerce graduates are able to transfer the skills they acquire across many sectors and may become managers, accountants, economists, analysts and entrepreneurs in businesses and public sector organisations, both within New Zealand and overseas.

They can become financiers, marketing managers, researchers, financial advisers, managers of Māori enterprises and trusts, exporters and importers, human resource managers, tourism analysts and operators, information managers and e-commerce specialists, international managers, media professionals and policy analysts.

The BCA majoring in Accounting can lead to a qualification as a professional accountant. To find out more please visit the Accounting subject page.

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Majors and Subjects

Note: Because of impending changes to points values of BCA courses, most BCA majors have been revised. These new major requirements will apply to all students starting their degree in 2009 or after. Those who began before 2009 may continue under the old requirements. A list of the previous major requirements can be found in Section C page 155 of the 2008 University Calendar.

The following majors are currently offered. Students must major in at least one subject. Double majors are possible for students who satisfy the requirements of more than one subject area.

Click on the subject links to find out more:

Communications is also available as a subject for elective study, but not as a major.

Econometrics is no longer offered as a major subject; however the courses are still offered and can be incorporated into an Economics or Finance major.

Structure

• A total of 360 points are required to complete the degree

• There are seven core courses totalling 105 points

• At least 180 points must be above 100-level

• At least 75 points must be at 300-level

• At least 210 points must be from the BCA schedule

BCA Core Courses (compulsory)

• ACCY 111 Accounting
• ECON 130 Economic Principles and Issues
• FCOM 111 Government, Law and Business
• INFO 101 Foundations of Information Systems
• MARK 101 Principles of Marketing
• MGMT 101 Introduction to Management
• QUAN 102 Statistics for Business

Students with high achievement in NCEA Level 3 Economics may be permitted to replace ECON 130 - Economic Principles and Issues with ECON 140 - Economics and Strategic Behaviour.

FCOM 111 may be replaced by the combination of COML 203 and one of PUBL 113, 201, or 202.

First-year BCA programme

A standard full-time programme for your first year of study is four 15-point courses in each of trimesters 1 and 2. The summer trimester is optional.

Academically-able students may be able to enrol in five courses across the year.

You should include as many core courses as possible in your first-year programme, together with any courses required for advancement in your chosen major subject areas, as follows:

• Accounting: core plus ECON 140
• e-Commerce or Information Systems: core plus INFO 102
• Economics or  Finance: six core courses plus ECON 140, QUAN 111, (or MATH 141/142, 151)
• Other majors: core plus one or more electives

It will also be possible to do most core courses during the summer trimester.

Admission

The first-year BCA is open entry for any student satisfying university entry requirements. Please visit the Admission page for more information about entrance to the University. Acceptance into most courses is subject to places being available.

How long to do a BCA

A full-time BCA will generally take three years to complete. There is no fixed upper limit for part-time students. However, if too much time has elapsed, students may have to repeat key courses for certain majors.

If you are planning to study part time it is important not to underestimate the workload of academic study. It is recommended that part-time students take one course per trimester to begin with.

Part-time study may impact on eligibility for student allowances and borrowing levels of student loans. Visit our Financial Matters site to find out more.

Fees

Fees are worked out on a per point basis, so your selection of courses will determine the final cost. Some courses will have charges for other items such as study materials or equipment.

The average full-time (120 points) cost of a domestic BCA in 2010 is NZ$4818.

Please use the Fees Calculator to obtain a more accurate estimate, or to calculate international fees.

Double Degree and Conjoint Options

Victoria's flexible learning structures allow a number of courses to be credited to separate degrees, making it possible for two three-year degrees to be completed within four to five years.

A double degree programme offers the possibility of extensive interdisciplinary work, for example, many BCA students are interested in Law and find a BCA/LLB programme attractive. There are many other combinations which can be designed to suit your interests and ambitions. If you are interested in doing a double degree please contact the Faculty of Commerce Student and Academic Services office to discuss your options.

Alternatively, two degrees can sometimes be studied as a conjoint programme. This involves less study than a double degree, however there are fewer options available.

The Conjoint BCA/BSc is a four-year programme requiring only 510 points, compared to the minimum of 560 points for a regular BCA/BSc double degree. First-year entry to the conjoint programme is unrestricted, but continuation requires the maintenance of at least a B- average grade.

The conjoint BCA/BTeach is a four-year programme combining commerce study with preparation for a teaching career (primary or secondary). As with the BCA/BSc conjoint it is a special double degree programme without cross-credits (a total of 534 points is needed). First-year entry to the conjoint programme is subject only to a candidate meeting the good character and fitness to teach requirements of the New Zealand Teachers' Council, but continuation requires the maintenance of at least a B- average grade.

Further Study

The Faculty offers an extremely broad range of postgraduate programmes, which cater for the various requirements of the commercial, financial, administrative and academic worlds.

Faculty programmes range from modular courses for working managers, to Certificate and Graduate Diploma programmes for a variety of learning needs and for post-experience students, through to the BCA(Hons), the BTM(Hons), specialist Masters programmes, and the PhD for extensive research.

Recommended Preparation

It is useful to have studied Accounting, Economics, and Maths with Statistics at high school. Any work experience in a commerce environment will also be beneficial for shaping your degree and future career aspirations.