The Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at Te Whare W?nanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) is a flexible 360-point undergraduate business degree designed to develop knowledge and practical skills for a global business environment. Students can specialise through a major, add a minor, or complete two majors, while also taking courses from other UC faculties. The current UC programme information confirms February and July entry and a standard three-year full-time duration.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Flexible 360-point business degree that can be tailored around a student's career interests.
• Students can choose a major, major plus minor, or double major.
• Students can take a minor from Commerce or a wide range of other UC faculties.
• Practical learning opportunities include industry internships, business competitions, project-based learning, international exchanges and overseas study tours.
• UC Business School has the international "triple crown" of AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditations. UC states that only about 1% of business schools worldwide hold all three.
• UC's Trading Room provides a simulated real-world trading environment using live market and stock data and trading simulation tools.
• Students can develop entrepreneurship, project-management, teamwork, communication, problem-solving and management skills.
• The BCom can be combined with another degree through UC's double-degree and conjoint-degree options.
• UC Business School has close industry connections, helping keep teaching connected to current business practice.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The BCom starts with a broad business foundation before students progress through their selected major/minor combination.

The five 100-level compulsory courses are:

• ACCT102 – Accounting and Financial Information
• ECON104 – Introduction to Microeconomics
• INFO123 – Business Information Systems and Technology
• MGMT100 – Fundamentals of Management
• STAT101 – Statistics 1

UC explains that these courses establish a general business foundation and are prerequisites for some higher-level courses. Depending on the major, some may be completed later.

Additional compulsory courses include:

• BSNS201 – Business and Culture
• BSNS299 – UC Employability Portfolio

Disciplines / Specialisations

UC's current BCom major information lists the following major areas:

• Accounting
• Economics
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• International Business
• Management
• Marketing
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Taxation and Accounting. 

Students can also select minors. The current BCom page provides a very broad list, including:

• Business Analytics
• Business and Sustainability
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Science
• Cybersecurity and Networking
• Digital Humanities
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• International Business
• Marketing
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Psychology
• Statistics
• Taxation
• Tourism Marketing and Management
• Writing
• Youth and Community Leadership

Students may complete:

• One major
• One major plus a minor
• Two majors/double major. 

Programme Highlights

• 360-point BCom.
• 3 years full-time.
• February and July entry.
• Flexible major/minor combinations.
• Double-major option.
• Ability to combine Commerce with another degree.
• Industry internship opportunities.
• International exchange opportunities.
• Overseas study tours.
• Business competitions and project-based learning.
• UC Employability Portfolio.
• Real-world Trading Room environment.
• Strong industry links.
• UC Business School triple-crown accreditation: AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA.

Career Outcomes

UC states that BCom graduates are working in roles including:

• Accountants
• Software developers
• Consultants
• Marketers
• Entrepreneurs

Examples of career directions include:

• Accounting and financial reporting
• Financial analysis
• Banking and financial services
• Business analysis
• Consulting
• Human resources
• Information systems
• International business
• Management
• Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• Operations
• Procurement
• Supply chain management
• Economics and policy-related work
• Taxation

UC also provides pathways into postgraduate study, including:

• Graduate Diploma in Commerce
• Bachelor of Commerce with Honours
• Postgraduate Certificate in Business
• Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing
• Postgraduate Certificate in Information Systems and Technology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Business
• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Information Systems
• Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems and Technology
• Master of Applied Finance and Economics
• Master of Business
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Business Information Systems
• Master of Commerce
• Master of Marketing
• Master of Product Innovation
• Master of Professional Accounting
• PhD

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• UC's current BCom information confirms 2027 international tuition of NZ$39,590 per 120 points.
• UC's current Business School international page was updated 3 September 2026 and confirms 2027 BCom duration, intakes, tuition and scholarship information.
• Current BCom degree plans apply from 2026 onwards; students who commenced before 2026 may have different degree structures.
• The BCom is flexible, but each major has specific course requirements.
• A 300-level course can count toward only one major or minor.
• A 200-level course may count toward up to two majors in the same degree, subject to UC's rules.
• Internship, exchange and overseas study opportunities have limited places and may depend on academic performance.
• For UC Global Exchange, BCom students normally need a B average or higher, although marginally lower grades may be considered case-by-case. The earliest exchange opportunity is normally Semester 2 of the second year.
• UC Business School retained its AACSB and EQUIS accreditation in 2025, maintaining its Triple Crown status with AMBA.

International Student Visa Requirements

For a standard international fee-paying student, the relevant New Zealand visa is the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently requires applicants to:

• Have an Offer of Place from an approved education provider.
• Have sufficient money to pay tuition fees or have an appropriate scholarship.
• Have sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Declare that they will hold insurance acceptable to their education provider.
• Meet other applicable immigration requirements.

Current visa information:

• Visa: Fee Paying Student Visa
• Cost: from NZ$850
• Maximum stay: up to 4 years
• Processing: INZ currently states 80% are processed within 8.5 weeks.
• Applications must be submitted online.
• INZ strongly encourages international students to apply approximately three months before their intended travel date.

Living-cost funds:

• NZ$20,000 per year for tertiary study lasting one year or more.
• NZ$1,667 per month where the study period is shorter than one year.