Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business is a four-year double degree combining humanities and social-science study with business knowledge.
• Students develop broad business knowledge alongside critical thinking, communication, teamwork, creative reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• The Arts component examines global, social, economic and cultural issues affecting contemporary society.
• The Business component develops knowledge in areas such as management, operations, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance and business digitalisation.
• Swinburne incorporates Work Integrated Learning into its bachelor degrees through industry-linked projects, internships and other practical experiences. In this course, students can work with industry partners on real social-change campaigns.
• The Bachelor of Business is AACSB accredited. Swinburne also has professional/industry relationships involving organisations such as AHRI, CFA Institute, CPA Australia, CA ANZ, ACCA, CIMA, IPA and CAIA. The exact relevance of an accreditation depends on the major selected.
• The course can suit students who want a flexible combination of Arts and Business rather than a narrowly specialised business degree.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The 400-credit-point programme consists of Arts study, Business study and additional minor/elective study.

Arts core units:

• Technology and Society – ART10002
• Skills and Strategies for Social Change – ART20003
• Changemakers in Action – ART30004
• BA Professional Practice – ART30005.

Business core units include:

• 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
• Business Practice Core Option.

The Business Practice option can include subjects/experiences such as:

• Sustainable Business Practice
• Future Work Skills
• Professional Internship – Business
• Industry Study Tour
• Business Innovation study tours
• Business for Social Impact Study Tour
• Indigenous Study Tour: Supporting Economic Development.

Disciplines / Specialisations

Arts majors currently listed by Swinburne include:

• Climate and Social Justice
• Criminology and Social Change
• Ethics and Technology
• Indigenous Studies
• Literature and Creative Writing
• Perspectives on Globalisation
• Politics, Power and Technology
• Screen Studies and Popular Culture.

Business majors currently listed include:

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

Programme Highlights

• Four-year Arts/Business double degree.
• 400 credit points.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• Two published 2027 intakes.
• Choice of an Arts major and a Business major.
• Industry-linked learning incorporated into the degree.
• Business Consulting Project provides project-based business experience.
• Opportunity to undertake internships or study tours through approved Business Practice options.
• Bachelor of Business is AACSB accredited.
• Selected Business majors have additional professional recognition or affiliations.
• Broad career flexibility across business, government, communications, policy, marketing, management and social-impact sectors.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies potential career opportunities including:

• Journalist
• Marketing manager
• Digital communications manager
• Business analyst
• Project manager
• Policy developer

Depending on the selected Arts and Business majors, graduates can also pursue opportunities in:

• Business and management
• Marketing and communications
• Human resources
• Finance and accounting
• Logistics and supply chain
• Entrepreneurship and start-ups
• Government and public policy
• Non-government organisations
• Social-impact organisations
• Media and journalism
• Research and community organisations.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current course code: BB-ARTBUS2.
• Current CRICOS code: 080215M.
• Current published 2027 starts: 1 March 2027 and 2 August 2027.
• International Student visa holders must study full-time and on campus.
• Swinburne's current handbook states that domestic students can undertake a WIL Professional Placement, but international students holding a Student visa are not able to undertake the Professional Placement in this course because of government regulation.
• Credit transfer is assessed individually. Swinburne's maximum academic credit for this double degree is 200 credit points, normally 16 units, with a maximum of 100 credit points from each discipline.
• Professional placement, where applicable/available to an eligible student, changes the credit requirement and increases total fees.
• The programme has published sensory, mobility, professional, cognitive and interpersonal capabilities. Swinburne indicates that reasonable adjustments can likely be supported for the listed adaptable components

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant Australian visa is the Student visa, Subclass 500.

For this course, an international student generally needs to:

• receive an offer from Swinburne;
• accept the offer and obtain a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE);
• study a full-time CRICOS-registered course;
• maintain appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC);
• satisfy the Genuine Student requirement;
• demonstrate financial capacity when required;
• meet applicable health and character requirements; and
• provide any additional documents requested by the Department of Home Affairs.

Genuine Student requirement:

• The GS requirement applies to Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.
• Applicants must demonstrate that they are genuine students and understand that study in Australia is the primary reason for the visa.
• Applicants answer questions concerning their current circumstances, why they chose the course/provider and Australia, the benefits of the course and other relevant information.
• Each response has a maximum of 150 words and must be in English.
• Supporting evidence should be attached where relevant.