#1 Melbourne university for business undergraduate employment
1 in 4 Deakin arts graduates hold leadership roles
80+ hours work-integrated learning
Why choose commerce and arts at Deakin
Deakin’s Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts double degree is designed for curious thinkers and aspiring commerce professionals who want a career shaped by choice. You will build a strong foundation in accounting, economics, finance and analytics while exploring how culture, society and creative expression influence the world.
Across both degrees, you will develop adaptable skills in communication, analysis and evidence based decision making, then tailor them through majors and minors across business and the humanities. Short, focused arts units will help you analyse data and evaluate ideas critically, communicate clearly and understand diverse perspectives. You will gain practical experience through 80+ hours of work integrated learning, consulting projects, mentoring and global study opportunities, graduating ready to succeed in business, government, community organisations and the creative industries.
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Proven employability
Study commerce at Melbourne’s #1 university for business undergraduate employment and prepare for roles in organisations in Australia and around the world.
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Practical learning for every student
Gain experience through internships, consulting projects and placements with more than 600 partner employers across business, community and creative sectors.
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Degrees shaped by employers
Learn in a program aligned with professional standards and work towards recognition with Australian accounting bodies, depending on the units you choose.
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Broad global perspective
Build business expertise and choose from a range of arts disciplines to understand culture, media and society, graduating ready to contribute in diverse global contexts.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Build commercial insight alongside critical thinking and communication skills, opening pathways into business, government, community and creative industry roles.
Marketing and communications manager
Lead marketing and communications strategies that build brand awareness and engagement, combining commercial insight with strong storytelling and audience understanding.
- $115k
Typical Australian annual salary
- 9.4%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- 4.5/5
Job satisfaction
Financial adviser
Guide individuals and organisations to set and achieve financial goals, providing advice on investments, superannuation and strategies to support long-term financial wellbeing.
- $130k
Typical Australian annual salary
- 10.7%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- 3.9/5
Job satisfaction
Other jobs
- Accountant
- Auditor
- Public relations manager
- NGO adviser
- Import/export manager
- Policy analyst
- Trade delegate
FAQs
Combining arts and commerce allows you to tailor your studies and build a diverse, in-demand skill set. You'll develop financial literacy, analytical rigour and the communication skills that employers across every sector value. Choose from commerce majors including finance, financial planning, economics or accounting, and pair it with a complimentary arts major like international relations, politics and policy studies or strategic advertising. You'll graduate with two degrees and one competitive edge.
Commerce units at Deakin cover economics, accounting, finance, marketing insights, financial planning and digital transformation – giving you a rigorous foundation in how organisations operate in global markets. Combine commerce with a Bachelor of Arts to tailor your studies and build a diverse, in-demand skill set. The Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts equips you with adaptable skills in communication, analysis and evidence based decision making. Choose from a range of commerce and arts majors to create a unique combination that inspires you and gives you an edge in the job market.
The Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts does not require advanced mathematics at entry. While some commerce units involve quantitative analysis – such as accounting and economics – these are taught from a foundational level and supported by academic learning resources. Strong analytical thinking matters more than prior maths experience, and Deakin provides free support services and resources to help you develop key academic skills.
Deakin ranks among the leading universities in Victoria for graduate employment outcomes in business. The Deakin Business School holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditation – a distinction held by fewer than 1% of business schools globally – signalling the quality of your qualification to employers. Career development programs, industry mentoring and internship opportunities are embedded throughout the degree to support your transition into the workforce.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts?
In this double degree you progress from foundations in commerce and the humanities to advanced studies in your chosen commerce major and arts disciplines. You will build a unique mix of data‑driven commercial insight, critical thinking and communication, supported by work‑integrated learning and global opportunities.
Build your combined foundations
Explore core commerce concepts
Discover how data, markets and money shape decisions as you build foundations in accounting, economics, finance, analytics and business law.
Discover key arts disciplines
Start your arts major sequence, minor or elective in areas such as history, philosophy, politics and international relations to understand how culture, history and ideas influence society.
Develop academic and professional skills
Strengthen writing, critical thinking and teamwork skills that support success in higher -level commerce and arts study.
Choose your majors and deepen expertise
Select your commerce major
Commit to a commerce study area such as accounting, economics, finance, financial planning or marketing insights and learn to provide data‑driven advice.
Shape your arts study plan
Build depth in one or more arts disciplines, exploring themes such as politics, media, culture, global perspectives or creative practice.
Connect theory with real contexts
Examine how business and arts knowledge intersect in areas like policy, communication, communities and organisations.
Integrate your learning across both degrees
Extend your commerce capabilities
Build stronger expertise in your major, using analytical, financial and digital tools to interpret data and support organisational decisions.
Advance your arts specialisation
Engage with higher‑level topics that deepen your understanding of society, culture and ideas in your chosen arts disciplines.
Practise integrated problem‑solving
Use perspectives from both commerce and arts to analyse issues such as sustainability, social impact or organisational change.
Complete advanced study and prepare for your career
Complete advanced major sequences
Finalise upper-level commerce and arts units and demonstrate your ability to analyse complex financial, economic, social and cultural questions.
Gain work‑integrated experience
Apply your learning through internships, consulting projects or placements, building networks across business, government and creative sectors.
Plan your next steps
Use electives and final-year capstone activities to refine your interests and prepare for careers in accounting, business analysis, policy, communication or the creative industries.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts students must pass 32 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Students must complete 8 units from the Bachelor of Commerce
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
Students must complete 1 Bachelor of Commerce major sequence chosen from the below list. Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability:
^M380 Bachelor of Commerce is the recommended pathway to qualify for membership of professional organisations.
Students must complete 1 Bachelor of Arts major sequence chosen from the below list. Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability:
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability
- animation (Minor)
- anthropology (Major and Minor)
- arabic (Minor)
- chinese (Minor)
- criminology (Major and Minor)
- design thinking (Minor)
- education (Major and Minor)
- english - children's literature (Major and Minor)
- english - creative writing (Major and Minor)
- english - literature (Major and Minor)
- film and television studies (Major and Minor)
- gender and sexuality studies (Major and Minor)
- history (Major and Minor)
- indigenous studies (Major and Minor)
- indonesian (Minor)
- international relations (Major and Minor)
- media and communication (Major and Minor)
- media studies (Major and Minor)
- middle east studies (Major and Minor)
- performing arts (Major and Minor)
- philosophy (Major and Minor)
- politics and policy studies (Major and Minor)
- public relations studies (Major and Minor)
- religious studies (Major and Minor)
- social media (Major and Minor)
- sociology (Major and Minor)
- spanish (Minor)
- sport and society (Minor)
- sport journalism (Major and Minor)
- strategic advertising (Major and Minor)
- UX design (Minor) *
- visual arts and photography (Major and Minor)
- visual communication design (Major and Minor)
- web design (Minor)
* UX refers to User Experience
The remaining credit points may be used to undertake another Bachelor of Arts major, or a Bachelor of Arts minor and elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts. This may include the Employability sequence*.
* Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts course are not required to undertake MPB202 Professional Identity and Career Development (a core unit in the Bachelor of Commerce) if undertaking AWL100 Your Future Direction (a core unit in the Employability sequence) or vice versa as the units are incompatible with each other.
Professional recognition
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
Deakin’s accounting major enables students to apply for the:
- CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
- Associate membership for the CPA Program
- IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Students who complete the finance major are recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
The financial planning major satisfies the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) education standards, meaning students can provide financial advice in Australia and are eligible for financial planning certification programs including:
- the Financial Adviser Association of Australia (FAAA) CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®.
Students should consult the professional body or a course adviser to identify additional requirements for membership.
What to expect while studying
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more work integrated learning units.
Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.
International Students:
This course includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) formally registered as part of the course on the CRICOS register. The total work integrated learning hours will differ depending on the WIL unit you choose. For more information about WIL hours, please check the unit information in the handbook or the unit guide.
For information about how WIL units may impact student visa holder work rights, please visit Home Affairs. See 8105 Work limitation.
Deakin offers many courses which can be studied by distance education overseas.
However, international students living in Australia on a student visa, in each compulsory trimester (that is, Trimesters 1 and 2), must enrol in at least one unit that is offered as a Campus located unit and can, in addition enrol in units offered online. International students may undertake a maximum of up to one third (or equivalent) of their study as online study. Please note enrolment in one face to face unit in compulsory study periods is only allowed if the student is completing their final unit of study and will not exceed maximum one third (or equivalent) online requirement.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
This course structure applies to students who commenced in 2027.
Students who commenced prior to 2027 should refer to the Handbook Archive for their course structure and consult with their enrolment officer.
Students and Applicants to Geelong Waterfront Campus:
Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined degree. The Bachelor of Commerce degree will be taught at Waterfront campus and the Bachelor of Arts degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Commerce (M380) | Course Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Arts (A310) |
|---|---|
| Integrate specialist disciplinary knowledge in commerce to analyse financial, economic and market systems and generate data driven insights that inform organisational and investment decisions in interconnected local, regional and global markets. | Critically analyse and synthesise a broad and coherent body of knowledge in one or more Arts disciplines, and apply specialised conceptual understanding to professional practice and/or scholarship. |
| Apply analytical frameworks, quantitative methods and tools for commerce to interpret financial, economic and organisational data, exercising ethical professional judgement to develop evidence based analyses and advice in commercial contexts. | Articulate complex ideas using oral, written and digital communication skills and create professional and/or scholarly materials that effectively impart knowledge and research findings to diverse audiences. |
| Communicate commercial ideas, analyses and recommendations clearly and professionally to diverse stakeholders, and collaborate effectively with others, using feedback and reflection to improve professional practice. | Critically evaluate the effectiveness and ethical implications of digital technologies and apply them responsibly in the creation of research and analysis that is both authentic and accountable. |
| Critically evaluate economic and business models, strategies and practices to assess how commercial activity can balance financial performance with environmental and social sustainability. | Analyse, synthesise and evaluate, complex and wide-ranging knowledge and information to create logical judgements and informed perspectives in a range of professional and academic contexts. |
| Select and apply technologies to analyse complex commercial problems, evaluate alternative courses of action and generate evidence based insights that inform decision making in commerce contexts. | Integrate cognitive, methodological, and creative skills to generate and communicate innovative approaches to unpredictable and complex problems. |
| Apply commercial knowledge and cultural intelligence to identify and address opportunities for shared prosperity across Indigenous, regional, and international contexts. | Plan and execute actions with a high level of responsibility, accountability, and independence, while maintaining a consistent commitment to continuous learning in professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Collaborate effectively and contribute constructively to team objectives with colleagues, other professionals, and members of the wider community in diverse professional and scholarly contexts. | |
| Apply culturally responsive, critically reflective and embodied self knowledge in decolonial practice and diversity principles, to engage ethically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples as well as diverse communities and cultures, within professional and/or scholarly contexts. |
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Arts
- Year
2027 course information
- VTAC code
- 1400514433 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
- Deakin code
- D376
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 0100819 Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Apply directly through StudyLink Connect. Depending on your location, you may need to apply through a Deakin Authorised Agent, who can support and submit your application.
See our guide to applying to Deakin for application steps and requirements.
Apply through VTAC
If you are an international student completing an Australian Year 12 in Australia or overseas, you must submit an application through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). In addition, you may also apply directly to Deakin through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's international student application service.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.