Your global business journey starts here! SIT's Bachelor of Commerce will equip you with the theory and practical skills required to succeed in business, both locally and worldwide.
With a choice of three majors (accounting, management or marketing), enjoy the mix of academic theory and interactive learning experiences which will give you a strong commercial grounding in business
The new unified Bachelor of Accounting will be offered in 2023, which for those wishing to work towards accreditation with both Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and NZQA, please still enrol in the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Major) in which you will be transferred to the new programme once accredited and approved via NZQA and Te Pukenga. Please don’t hesitate to make contact with SIT programme staff to discuss further if and where required.
Three years full-time
Part-time study is available
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
With a choice of three majors (accounting, management or marketing), enjoy the mix of academic theory and interactive learning experiences which will give you a strong commercial grounding in business. SIT tutors have strong links with local businesses and focus on creating opportunities whereby you can obtain real world experience before you graduate. Tailor your degree and launch your career in the commercial field.
This three-year, full-time (or equivalent part-time) programme that will give you the analytical, technical and practical skills to apply your knowledge effectively in your career. It is approved and accredited with both Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and NZQA.
Our compulsory first year papers will equip you with the solid business grounding, the leadership skills and the global mindset required to help you to succeed in business.
Alongside technical development, in the following two years of specialised study, you will gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills to apply your knowledge effectively in the business world, providing a stimulating launching pad for your chosen business career.
Year 1
Compulsory Papers*
ACC502 Introduction to Accounting
COM540 Professional Communication
ECN520 Economics
LAW510 Commercial Law
MAN530 Principles of Management
Additional year one compulsory papers dependent on major (Can be used as elective papers for other majors)
ACC503 Accounting Practices
MAN535 Principles of HRM
MKT571 Principles of Marketing
QNT565 Quantitative Analysis
Elective papers*
ACC504 Introduction to Budgeting and Taxation
ACC505 Analysis of Financial Information
HTM501 Introduction to Tourism
HTM505 Food and Beverage Management
HTM507 Hotel Operations
HTM509 Hospitality Service Delivery Systems
MAN536 Introduction to Health and Safety
MAN537 Workplace Relations
MAN538 Change and HR Strategies
MKT573 Digital Marketing
MKT574 Effective Sales Techniques
MKT575 Marketing Issues and Relationship Management
Year 2
ACC601 Financial Accounting
ACC602 Management Accounting
ACC603 Business Finance
ACC604 Accounting Information Systems
ACC606 Taxation
HTM601 Contemporary Tourism
HTM606 Financial Management for Business
HTM608 Entrepreneurship
HTM610 Facilities Management in Hospitality
LAW610 Company Law
MAN615 Organisational Behaviour
MAN631 Change Management
MAN632 Operations Management
MAN633 Human Resource Development
MAN635 Employment Relations
MKT671 Consumer Behaviour
MKT673 Integrated Marketing Communication
MKT675 Marketing Management
MKT676 Services Management and Marketing
RES680 Research Methods
Year 3
ACC701 Advanced Financial Reporting
ACC702 Advanced Management Accounting
ACC703 Financial Management
ACC704 Applied Research Project - Accounting
ACC705 Auditing
CON759 Contemporary Issues
ETH760 Business Ethics
HTM706 Sustainability in Tourism
IBS790 International Business
ICE760 Industry Consultation
MAN734 Strategic Management
MAN735 Advanced HRM
MAN736 Applied Research Project - Management
MKT772 Strategic Marketing Management
MKT774 Applied Research Project - Marketing
MKT776 Event Management
WPE700 Workplace Experience
* This programme is currently undergoing a review and will be updated for 2023.
Graduates will have a sound understanding and awareness of the New Zealand business environment alongside practical skills that will add value to a business, either as an employer, employee or business owner. Possible careers include:
University Entrance - NCEA Level 3
NCEA level 3 awarded, including three subjects at Level 3, made up of:
Entry may also be granted to mature applicants who are at least 20 years of age when the programme begins and can provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience, or completion of an external or overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of any of the above qualifications as approved by the Programme Leader.
Special AdmissionA student who has successfully completed a minimum of four papers in the New Zealand Diploma in Business may transfer their enrolment and be admitted onto the Bachelor of Commerce programme. The Programme Leader will advise according to the current cross credit schedules.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
Provisional Part time AdmissionAn applicant who does not meet academic criteria, may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more year one papers. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for admission by mature entry.
Every candidate for the qualification of Bachelor of Commerce, is required to follow to the satisfaction of the Teaching and Learning Board of Studies, a programme of study for a minimum period of three years. Each year of study comprises two 17-week semesters.
Programmes of study for the Bachelor of Commerce are made up of clusters of papers taken at the appropriate levels as outlined in the Programme Schedule.
The Bachelor of Commerce qualification conforms to the NZQA credit requirements of 360 credits from Level 5 to Level 7. Study scheduled for each of Levels 5 to 7 is in accordance with the processes, learning demand, and responsibility that are detailed in the Programme Schedule.
Individual papers may have specific pre-requisites or other knowledge/skill requirements, which may be required to be satisfied by students.
Candidates may withdraw without penalty, provided they do so before the approved withdrawal date for the programme. Refunds and other financial arrangements attached to the SIT Zero Fees Scheme are detailed on the application form, and in the SIT Student Handbook and Policies and Procedures Manual of the QMS.
In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Commerce, the student will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the programme schedule.
A student completing the Bachelor of Commerce will normally be expected to complete the three year programme (full-time equivalent) within ten years.
Notwithstanding the requirements set out above, the Head of Faculty with the approval and recommendation of the Teaching and Learning Board of Studies may allow a student a longer period to complete the programme.
For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the sit library website.
Please note that textbooks need to be ordered at least 3-4 weeks prior to the commencement of your study