5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Australian Business Degree

When you are thinking of completing a business degree in Australia, you are not only investing in time and money to get your qualification. You are also investing in effort to setup the right career path for your future. So, is studying business the right path for you? Which business programs should you consider?

Why do you want to study a business degree?

This is an important question to think about – not just as a way of answering your friends, family and application papers, but more importantly as a mean to carefully consider your own goals, passions and pursuits before starting your degree. Giving proper thought as to where you’d like to head in the future will definitely help guide you in the right direction when making decisions now, especially about where, when and in what business-related field you’ll be studying. Having a good starting idea of what you want to use your business degree for – and really honing in on the specific steps you can take to make those dreams a reality – can make all the difference.

Which university or business school is should I consider?

In general, all business programs in various institution & universities has its pros & cons. However, most employers or government bodies would usually use world ranking tables as a reference tool when conducting staff recruitment. It is a safe bet if you do a quick ranking reference check on some of the popular ranking tables like the QS Rankings or the Times Higher Education Rankings to get a rough idea of which institution you should consider depending on which specialisation you are interested in.

It is also vital that you look into individual subject rankings, for instance if you are interested in the field of Accounting & Finance – 11 out of Australia’s 39 universities, business schools & faculties are listed Top 100 in the world under the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018 for Accounting and Finance. 

If you are interested in Business & Management, 9 out of Australia’s 39 universities, business schools & faculties are listed Top 100 in the world; and 6 universities in Australia is ranked top 100 in the world for Economics & Econometrics

And it is pretty much the same thought process if you are thinking of studying in any other exotic location like the USA or United Kingdom

Which major should I focus on?

So, you’ve decided that YES – your heart’s in this. You have a goal to reach. The next question you might ask is – specifically, to reach that goal, what kind of business degree do you want to do?

Are you aiming to become an entrepreneur? An economist? A business analyst? Do you want to start up your own business during or after graduation?

If you have a specific goal in mind, you may want to consider a specialisation– for example, a Bachelor of Business (Business Economics) or Bachelor of Business (Entrepreneurship) to gain specialist knowledge. Other specialisations may include areas like human resources, International business, management or marketing. If you can, chose majors which best align with your career goals and aspirations. Whilst a general business degree might offer you a bigger perspective of business industry landscapes, focusing on a specialisation can also allow you to really pinpoint and target your studies to become an expert in a more specific field.

Are there any internship or work experience opportunities?

It’s important to find degrees which foster, encourage and offer work experience opportunities you can use to learn and grow, even beyond the classroom. Will this degree connect you to a network of other potential business mentors, collaborators and classmates, career services, professional alumni, corporate connections and work experience opportunities or programs? Does it encourage or offer student internships, work integrated learning, practical industry placements or similar chances to experience a real business or workplace environment? 

Most business degrees would have subjects where students can enroll, complete an internship or work-integrated learning (WIL) For example – The Bachelor of Business at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have a subject in Business Internships where students complete 210 hours of internship to receive credit points. You should really take a look into the course handbook of various business courses to see if these opportunities are provided to students.

Some universities would also establish a landing page which includes jobs, internship positions and graduate positions for international students. Again, let us take UTS as an example where they have an Job Board for International Students.

Having some degree of real life work experience is tremendously important, as it affords you practical skills and a knowledge of Australian work-culture which signals to potential employers that you are capable, experienced and work-ready!

Do you want to focus on studying a single degree, or take a combined or double degree?

Combining your specialist business degree with other degrees like Arts, Engineering, IT, Design, Law, etc. will see you being trained in two disciplines, broadening your skill-sets and, excitingly, will afford you the opportunity to study a course really tailored to your specific interests.

In an already competitive job market, taking a combined course may well give you that extra edge that will really set you apart from other students. It may open you up to exciting job prospects not readily available to those who only studied one degree and can strengthen your chances of getting a job in both chosen disciplines. What’s more, it’s a smart move, saving time and money – you’ll earn two degrees with just 1-2 more years of extra study (as opposed to taking two separate long courses). 

For example, if you are interested in completing a business degree and would also like to dig into the world of information technology. You can actually complete a business and info system degree in 4 years by studying the UNSW’s Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Information Systems degree

Is this the right university for me?

It should be a given – but before you apply, take a look at your desired university’s website, social media pages and course outlines. Do the learning outcomes of the course match up with your own values, aspirations and expectations for what you want to study? Do you feel that the culture of your desired university is conducive to exploration, efficient learning and personal growth in all the areas you want to explore?

The absolute best way to check all this out is to visit Excel Education – E2 and receive some educational counselling from our professional consultants who are highly trained and have completed their degree in Australia. They will also be able to arrange for you to speak with a university representative, alumni or even arrange a campus tour for you when you are travelling to Australia. 

Choose the road which best works for you, and you’ll no doubt soon be on your way and ever closer to achieving your career aspirations and business goals. Just remember, again – don’t be afraid to ask yourself – and others – lots of questions!