Bachelor of Business
Undergraduate
GRF-BUS-DEG 2024Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Get the professional skills employers are looking for
Learn how organisations work and visualise where you fit in. Get familiar with financial documents, risk, and business comms. This business course gives you a 360-degree view of business strategy. Specialisations include marketing and management.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Business
About this degree
KNOWLEDGE
Graduates of the Bachelor of Business will have a broad and coherent body of knowledge that underpins theory, practice and professionalism within one of the disciplinary areas associated with the degree. In addition they will have specialist technical knowledge in at least one field of business and management studies.
SKILLS
Graduates of the Bachelor of Business will have:- cognitive skills to synthesise theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and its application to business
- cognitive and technical skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theory to different bodies of knowledge and practice in business
- cognitive, technical and creative skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise the use of techniques, processes, and contemporary practices in business to identify and solve problems, preparing students for the workplace
- communication skills to present in a clear, coherent manner within the organisational context, catering for a variety of audiences, including employees, government, employers, community and markets.
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Graduates of the Bachelor of Business will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:- in planning and problem solving and apply appropriate decision making in the main areas of business practice and/or scholarship
- to make independent judgements in a range of business related problems and situations through problem solving and applying theory to real world scenarios and cases
- in diverse contexts with responsibility and accountability for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters.
The world is evolving, with a clear shift away from outdated business practices. Our Bachelor of Business is an alternative to more traditional business degrees, combining new skills, new values and new opportunities relevant for the new economy. It's a whole new way of thinking for a whole new generation of business professionals.
The modern business practices of adaptivity, creativity, diversity and sustainable business are ingrained in this degree, so that you graduate with the skills needed for the rewarding career opportunities that the new economy brings.
This degree offers you a choice of 6 majors and the opportunity to complete elective subjects.
- Human Resource Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Sport Management
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
This degree includes subjects from Griffith University and other universities through OUA.
Recommended study pattern
Students are recommended to follow this study pattern:
- Complete Level 1 Business core subjects
- Complete Level 2 Major & Elective subjects
- Complete Level 3 Major & Elective subjects
Award requirements
To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Business (BBus), an OUA student must acquire 24 subjects as prescribed below:
- 7 Business core subjects
AND
- One Business major comprising 6 subjects and 11 electives
OR
- Two Business majors comprising 12 subjects and 5 electives
AND
- Complete no more than 10 subjects at Year 1 level and
- Complete at least 6 subjects at Year 3 level
Choose your subjects
Majors
Marketing Major
If you’re creative, a good communicator and a quick thinker, marketing is for you. You’ll gain perspective on how a market works; its audiences, drivers, barriers and consumer behaviour. You’ll also learn about data-driven decision making and identifying target markets. Learn to stay ahead of competitors with effective promotion and advertising.
Human Resource Management Major
HR management professionals work with people to help them with their careers. In this major, you’ll learn about selection and recruitment procedures, staff training, development, performance management, and organisational change. You’ll be able to advise organisations on their staffing needs to enable them to deliver their core business.
Management Major
If you like to plan, organise, lead and direct people to achieve a specific goal, then management is for you. You’ll learn about management’s core functions: communication, planning, teamwork, strategy, human resources and self-development. You’ll also develop analytical, communication and decision-making skills to add value to any organisation in a range of areas.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Do you have a creative idea for a new product or service and want to launch your own business or start-up? In this major, you’ll learn how to be an effective, innovative and dynamic manager, and a graduate with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to develop and manage a successful business.
Sport Management
Are you a sport fan? Imagine turning your passion into a fulfilling and exciting career. In this major, you'll develop specialist knowledge of the sport industry and gain solid business skills to enable you to manage professional and not-for-profit sport organisations and clubs.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Logistics and supply chain management plays a crucial role in business. In this major, you'll learn how to source the best materials for the best price, develop good relationships with suppliers and customers, monitor the movement and storage of raw materials, maintain inventories of stock, and track goods.
Electives
Students can complete electives drawn from the majors listed in the program (see below) or from any undergraduate program offered by Open Universities Australia provided you meet the degree requirements. This includes the completion of at least eight second and third year subjects which are part of the Bachelor of Business degree requirements and which have not been credited towards another award.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Students are required to register with Griffith University for this award by completing a registration for a study plan (Griffith OUA - Study Plan) by paying the required fee. The non-refundable $150 registration fee is payable when the registration is submitted.
The $150 fee is not applicable to students who have accepted a Commonwealth supported place.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
For students who commenced in the Bachelor of Business prior to 2022 and/or, commenced the Human Resource Management Major prior to 2023, the following recommended study pattern and transition arrangements will be put in place to ensure students are able to progress their studies through to completion.
To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Business (BBus), an OUA student must acquire 24 subjects as prescribed below:
- 8 Business core subjects
AND
For those undertaking a major:
- One Business major comprising 6 subject and 10 electives
OR
For those who elect not to undertake a major:
- 2 prescribed subjects at Year 3 level and
- 4 subjects from the Business electives and
- 10 elective subjects
AND
- Complete no more than 10 subjects at Year 1 level and
- Complete at least 6 subjects at Year 3 level
Business Core Subjects
- IBA111 Management Concepts is replaced with GBS104 The Purpose of Business
- Choice of MKT103 Introduction to Marketing OR GBS109 Grand Challenges for Business
- EHR101 Work and Employability is replaced with GBS107 The Future of Work
- Choice of AFE135 Business Data Analysis OR GBS108 Business Decision-Making
- Choice of AFE215 Introduction to Business Law OR LAWS1019 Business Law (University of South Australia)
- AFE133 Economics for Decision Making 1 is replaced with a choice of AFE137 Digital Economy and Analysis (not offered from 2024) OR AFE130 Sustainable Economics OR ECON1010 Principles of Economics (University of South Australia)
- AFE112 Accounting for Decision Making is replaced with a choice of AFE114 Small Business Accounting OR ACC10007 Financial Information for Decision Making (Swinburne University)
- GIR204 Government-Business Relations continues to be offered
Major in Marketing
Students must complete 5 subjects from the following:
- MKT340 Digital and Social Media Marketing
- MKT236 Retail Marketing
- IBA345 Building New Venture
- MKT319 Franchising and Small Business
- MKT355 Green marketing
- MKT204 Consumer Psychology
- MKT203 Marketing Research and Intelligence
- MKT202 Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications
- MKT306 Service Experience
- MKT308 Sales and Negotiations
AND
1 subject from the following capstone options:
- MKT307 Marketing Behaviour Change
- MKT309 Marketing Strategy and Analytics
Major in Human Resource Management
Students must complete the following:
- EHR202 Strategic Human Resource Management
- EHR205 Organisational Behaviour
- EHR302 Developing Talent
- EHR301 Applied Human Resource Management and Change (capstone course)
AND one of the following combinations:
- EHR309 Global Human Resource Management AND
- EHR304 Managing Staffing and Performance (offered from 2023)
OR
- EHR203 Recruitment and Selection (not offered from 2023) AND
- EHR303 Performance Management (not offered from 2023)
Major in Management
- EHR205 Organisational Behaviour continues to be offered
- IBA218 The Management of Business Process continues to be offered
- IBA306 Creating Ethical and Sustainable Business continues to be offered
- IBA312 Management Strategy and Decision Making is replaced with IBA315 Managing Strategic Change
- IBA311 Management Problem Solving is replaced with IBA313 Decision Making for Innovation
- IBA305 Quality Management is replaced with IBA345 Building the New Venture
Students electing not to undertake a major
- IBA312 Management Strategy and Decision Making is replaced with IBA315 Managing Strategic Change
- IBA306 Creating Ethical and Sustainable Business continues to be offered
- At least 4-subjects of Business electives
- A maximum of 10-subjects of electives
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $46,500
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 20
Entry requirements
To be eligible for an offer of admission made through Open Universities Australia (OUA) for a Commonwealth Supported Place at Griffith University, an applicant must:
- meet the criteria for a domestic Australian student; AND
- have completed at least two Bachelor of Business core subjects with a minimum GPA of 4.0 completed within the last 12 months at the time of application for admission
To be eligible for an offer of admission made through Open Universities Australia (OUA) for a Commonwealth Supported Place at Griffith University, an applicant applying based on secondary education must:
- meet the criteria for a domestic Australian student; AND
- Achieved a minimum ATAR/Rank of 65.00
* These scores/rankings apply to this program for 2023. Until this information is updated, applications will continue to be assessed using the requirements listed above as a guide. The minimum ATAR/Ranks for admission will be updated each cycle.
More in depth information regarding Griffith entry requirements can be found at: Griffith University - QTAC.
Students may be able to receive credit for previous studies conducted at other institutions.
Credit applications will be assessed according to Griffith University policy. For more information, please contact Griffith Student Connect via oua.programsupport@griffith.edu.au
A prospective student who has previously completed or partially completed a degree, may be eligible for a CSP and may also be eligible for credit transfer. For more information, please visit the following website:
Career opportunities
Competent and competitive in many areas, graduates will be able to select from a wide range of career options within the public and private sectors.
Human Resource Management
Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for a career as a human resource manager or consultant. Human resource professionals work in many sectors including business management, counselling, workforce planning and policy, and recruiting and training staff for the public and private sectors and non-government organisations.
Management
Good managers are needed across all sectors and in businesses of all sizes. With this qualification, you can apply your business management knowledge to an area of personal interest and find work in roles as a business manager in human resources, strategy, planning and policy, and training and development.
Marketing
You will be able to work in any industry or organisation that needs to promote its products or services, including entertainment and fashion, tourism, advertising, public relations, and business consulting. You might work as a brand manager, marketing manager, advertising account manager, market research analyst, public relations manager, or sales manager.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
You’ll have an understanding of strategic and operational issues involved in a career in self-employment, or in small business. Create a career by moving from employment to self-employment, pursue the long-term growth of a high-potential new business venture, or become a serial entrepreneur, starting and selling new business ventures repeatedly.
Sport Management
Sport is big business. You'll find opportunities in government departments, local, national and international sporting clubs and event management organisations. There are also positions in sport tourism, marketing, media and athlete representation.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
You'll be able to work as a logistics and supply chain manager, purchasing manager, business or strategy manager, or export and import operations manager.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers | Over $120K | Up 18.5% |
Finance Managers | Over $120K | Up 24.7% |
Human Resource Professionals | $75K to $93K | Up 24.6% |
Management Consultants | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.