Why Study / Key Benefits

• Specialise in finance while developing a broad understanding of business, management, economics, digitalisation and sustainability.
• The Finance major is CFA-affiliated and incorporates 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, providing exposure to concepts relevant to professional investment and financial analysis.
• Students study areas including financial forecasting, company valuation, financial risk, investment opportunities, shares and bonds.
• The degree develops analytical thinking, financial modelling, financial decision-making, investment management, risk analysis, quantitative problem-solving, communication and digital literacy.
• The Professional degree includes a 12-month paid work placement, allowing students to gain industry experience and academic credit before graduation.
• Students can develop practical digital skills through platforms and tools used in business, including MYOB, Xero and Google Analytics.
• Students have opportunities to connect with industry experts and mentors.
• Swinburne's business school is AACSB accredited, and the university identifies business and economics among its internationally ranked subject areas.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme consists of core business studies, Finance major units, electives/other study and a substantial professional placement.

Year 1 – Core business studies

Students complete 100 credit points:

• ACC10007 Financial Information for Decision Making
• ECO10005 Economics for Business Decision Making
• INF10024 Business Digitalisation
• MGT10009 Contemporary Management Principles
• BUS10014 Business for Sustainability, Social Change and Impact
• BUS10015 Creative Mindset and Entrepreneurship
• FIN10002 Financial Statistics
• MKT10009 Marketing and the Consumer Experience

Each standard unit is generally worth 12.5 credit points.

Year 2 – Finance and elective studies

Finance major units include:

• FIN20014 Financial Management
• FIN20016 Ethics and International Finance
• FIN30014 Financial Risk Management
• FIN30016 Management of Investment Portfolios

Students also undertake elective study.

Year 3 – Professional work placement

The Professional degree includes a 12-month placement worth 100 credit points:

• WEI20001 Work Experience in Industry A
• BUS20010 Integrated Professional Placement A – Business
• WEI20002 Work Experience in Industry B
• BUS20011 Integrated Professional Placement B – Business

This component combines practical industry experience with academic learning and contributes credit towards the degree.

Year 4 – Advanced Finance and business studies

Students complete:

• FIN30020 Alternative Investments
• FIN30021 Fixed Income and Debt Markets
• BUS30032 Business Consulting Project
• LAW20019 Law of Commerce
• Elective units

Disciplines / Specialisations

The selected major is Finance.

The Bachelor of Business (Professional) currently offers a range of majors, including:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Business Analytics and Analysis
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Management
• Marketing

Programme Highlights

• 4-year Professional bachelor degree
• Finance major
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne
• CFA-affiliated Finance programme
• Approximately 70% coverage of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge
• 12-month paid professional work placement
• 375 credit points
• Practical finance and investment focus
• Financial modelling and quantitative analysis
• Financial risk management
• Investment portfolio management
• Alternative investments
• Fixed-income and debt markets
• Business consulting project
• AACSB-accredited business education environment
• Industry networking and mentoring opportunities.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies potential career opportunities including:

• Investment manager
• Financial forecaster
• Business manager
• Project officer
• Administrator
• Risk analyst

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current course has a 2027 Semester 1 start of 1 March 2027 and Semester 2 start of 2 August 2027.
• The programme has CRICOS registration code 095883G, allowing it to be offered to eligible international students for Australian student-visa purposes.
• International Student visa holders studying this programme in Australia must study full-time and on campus.
• The published study sequence is indicative and may change according to unit availability, advanced standing and exemptions.
• Work Integrated Learning is a major component of this Professional degree. Students should meet the relevant requirements for participation in the placement.
• Specific placement availability, employer allocation, placement location and remuneration are not publicly specified in sufficient detail on the programme page – please confirm with IPU.
• Students should not assume that completion of the degree automatically qualifies them for professional registration or the CFA charter; any external professional credential has its own requirements.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying this programme in Australia generally require an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

Key requirements and conditions include:

• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the CRICOS-registered course.
• The applicant must satisfy the Australian Government's current Student visa requirements.
• Applicants must meet the Genuine Student requirement where applicable.
• Appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required for international students.
• Applicants must satisfy applicable health and character requirements.
• Financial-capacity evidence may be required.
• Students must comply with their visa conditions throughout their studies.