Bachelor of Business

The Bachelor of Business at Polytechnic Institute Australia is a three-year degree built around a marketing major. You'll spend your first year on the core of business, accounting, economics, management, business law, statistics and marketing fundamentals, then move into the marketing specialisation: consumer behaviour, market research, brand management, digital marketing, advertising and strategic marketing planning. Later units get into campaign analytics, pricing, distribution channels and international marketing, so you finish with both the generalist business knowledge employers expect and a genuine marketing skill set.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. A standard three-year degree is 24 units, usually eight per year across two semesters, though some institutions run trimesters. You need to pass the required core units, the marketing major units and a set number of electives, and meet the total credit points for the award. Many business degrees finish with a capstone unit, a team-based consulting project or a business plan, where you apply everything to a real organisation. Check the official course page for the exact unit list and credit point rules, because they can change between years.

Work-integrated learning and placement

Business degrees in Australia increasingly include work-integrated learning: an internship, a live industry project, or a placement with a company or not-for-profit. Marketing students often do a placement in an agency, a retail head office, a government communications team or a startup, working on real campaigns and client briefs. These units are usually assessed on a reflective report and a supervisor's evaluation rather than an exam. Placement availability varies, so confirm with the institution whether it is optional, elective or built into the major.

Skills you build and who this suits

You'll learn to read a market, design and run research, interpret data, write a marketing plan, manage a brand and measure whether a campaign worked. You'll also pick up the softer skills that get you hired: pitching, teamwork, client communication and project management. The degree suits school leavers who want a broad business qualification with a clear marketing focus, career changers who need a recognised Australian degree, and international students who want a qualification that travels. English proficiency is required, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institution's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Student visa has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs, separate from the course requirement. While studying, a student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream lets eligible graduates stay and work in Australia. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 093090A, confirm fees, intake dates and unit details on the official page before you apply.

• Marketing coordinator or assistant, supporting campaign delivery, social media, content and events for agencies, retailers, property groups and professional services firms.
• Digital marketing specialist, running paid search, social and email campaigns, and reporting on performance for in-house teams or agencies.
• Brand or product assistant, helping manage a product line or brand in FMCG, consumer goods, technology or hospitality.
• Market research assistant, collecting and analysing consumer data for research houses, consultancies and government bodies.
• Business development or sales support, building client relationships and preparing proposals in banking, insurance, IT and manufacturing.
• Communications and public relations officer, writing media releases, managing stakeholder communications and supporting reputation work in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
• Retail or e-commerce coordinator, managing online storefronts, merchandising and promotions for Australian retailers.

Graduates work across marketing agencies, media companies, banks, insurers, retailers, technology firms, government departments and not-for-profits. The degree also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a master's in marketing, business analytics or management, if you want to specialise later.