Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Business is a four-year double degree combining health science with business, management and organisational studies. Swinburne describes the course as developing complementary and cross-disciplinary knowledge for work across health and business environments.

Key benefits include:

• Combines two bachelor-level qualifications in one integrated programme.
• Provides a foundation in health science, including anatomy and physiology, digital health, statistics, health and disease, research methods and health sciences.
• Develops business capabilities in accounting, economics, management, marketing, digitalisation, consulting and entrepreneurship.
• Allows students to select a Health Science major and a Business major.
• Develops skills in analysing health-related data and making evidence-based decisions.
• Provides exposure to health-sector communication, ethics, teamwork and stakeholder engagement.
• Business learning covers areas such as management, analytics, finance, marketing, human resources, logistics and entrepreneurship.
• Swinburne provides access to technologies including virtual reality and digital dissection tables for health-science learning.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The double degree combines eight Health Science core units, a Health Science major, Business core/practice units and a Business major.

Health Science core:

• Anatomy and Physiology — BIO10004
• Introduction to Health Sciences — HEA10001
• Digital Health Foundations — HEA10004
• Brain and Behaviour — PSY10007
• Foundations of Statistics — STA10003
• Health and Disease Across the Life Course — BIO20004
• Research Methods for Health Sciences — HEA20007
• Health Sciences Project — HEA30001, for non-psychology majors.

Business core:

• Financial Information for Decision Making — ACC10007
• Economics for Business Decision Making — ECO10005
• Contemporary Management Principles — MGT10009
• Marketing and the Consumer Experience — MKT10009
• Business Digitalisation — INF10024
• Business Consulting Project — BUS30032
• Creative Mindset and Entrepreneurship — BUS10015
• One Business Practice core option.

Business Practice options include:

• Industry Study Tour – Business
• Professional Internship – Business
• Business Innovation in America Study Tour
• Business Innovation in Europe Study Tour
• Business Innovation in Asia Study Tour
• Indigenous Study Tour: Supporting Economic Development
• Business for Social Impact Study Tour
• Sustainable Business Practice
• Planning for Career Success
• Future Work Skills

Disciplines / Specialisations

Students select one Health Science major and one Business major from the available disciplines.

Health Science majors listed in the current handbook include:

• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health
• Biomedical Science
• Clinical Technologies
• Neuroscience
• Nutrition
• Public Health and Health Promotion

Business majors listed in the current double-degree handbook include:

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

Programme Highlights

• Four-year undergraduate double degree.
• Combines health science with business education.
• 400 credit points in the standard programme.
• Students select a Health Science major and a Business major.
• Health Science develops knowledge of health, wellbeing, health data and contemporary health practice.
• Business study develops management, operations, analytics, communication and decision-making skills.
• The programme includes a Business Consulting Project.
• Health Science learning includes digital health foundations and health-science research.
• Several Business majors have professional recognition or industry affiliations. For example, the Accounting major has professional accreditation arrangements with CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, while the Human Resource Management major is accredited by the Australian HR Institute. These recognitions apply to the relevant Business major rather than automatically to every student in the double degree.
• The course can incorporate professional placement for eligible students, but international students need to check the specific visa/course implications before planning a placement.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies career opportunities across both health and business sectors. Potential areas include:

• Medical research
• Health communication
• Health policy development
• Nutrition
• Consulting
• Business analysis
• Communications
• Entrepreneurship
• Event management
• Finance
• Human resources
• International business
• Management
• Marketing.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current course code: BB-HSCBUS1.
• CRICOS: 093361E.
• Current standard duration: 4 years full-time.
• Current published 2027 starts: 1 March and 2 August 2027.
• The standard degree requires 400 credit points.
• Up to 200 credit points of prior academic credit may be available, subject to assessment.
• Professional placement is competitive.
• A 6-month professional placement increases the course structure to 450 credit points.
• A 12-month professional placement increases the course structure to 500 credit points.
• Importantly, the handbook states that domestic students have the opportunity to undertake WIL professional placement, while international students may need to change courses to complete a placement and should consider visa implications and extended study duration before applying.
• Therefore, an international Student visa holder should not assume that the 6- or 12-month professional placement is automatically available within this double degree.
• The exact availability of a particular Health Science/Business major combination can depend on current course offerings.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study this programme in Australia generally require an Australian Student visa, Subclass 500.

Key requirements include:

• Enrolment in a CRICOS-registered full-time course.
• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Demonstrating sufficient financial capacity where required.
• Providing required identity and supporting documentation.
• Complying with all Student visa conditions.