Graduate Certificate in Commerce

The Graduate Certificate in Commerce, UNSW Sydney, builds the framework to support and strengthen your career progression, and provides a pathway to further study. Tailor your education to suit your goals - choose courses from a wide variety of business areas, including Finance, Analytics, Marketing, Management and more.

The flexible course selection offers two outcomes for your study – gain a contemporary understanding of a preferred business topic, or a broad understanding of key business practices and theories.

In less than a year, graduates gain the critical thinking and decision-making skills to underpin their future career success.

Why choose this graduate certificate?

No need to have completed a bachelor's degree – the Graduate Certificate in Commerce is designed for professionals who are looking to upskill in a range of business areas.

Gain exposure to business thinking, principles and their application in Accounting, Analytics, Finance, International Business, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Risk Management or Business Law. See the program structure for detailed information.

Subject to meeting entry requirements, successfully completed courses from the graduate certificate are transferrable to the Master of Commerce.

The skills and insights gained from your Graduate Certificate in Commerce can have an immediate positive effect on your career. Your education is shaped by industry leaders and world class academics – experts who recognise the future will present career opportunities that don’t exist today - and your potential professional network extends to more than 90,000 Business School alumni worldwide.

Who is this degree for?

• Professionals with more than 5 years of work experience but no bachelor’s degree
• Those interested in developing capabilities in a particular business area
• Those seeking a pathway to a postgraduate qualification in business

Job and career prospects

The graduate certificate can be a gateway to further studies in business, which will create career opportunities including:

• Business Analyst
• Consultant
• Customer Experience Manager
• Data Analyst
• Digital Innovation Manager
• Entrepreneur
• Financial Advisor
• Financial Technology Developer
• Human Resource Consultant
• Investment Banker
• Marketing Analyst
• People and Culture Specialist
• Portfolio Manager
• Product Manager
• Risk Analyst
• Social Entrepreneur
• Strategist
• Venture Capitalist

Why the Business School?

UNSW Business School is a leading business school in the Asia-Pacific, with our subjects consistently ranking within the top 50 worldwide. Within Australia we rank 1st for Accounting and Finance, and 2nd for Business and Management studies. Worldwide, these subjects rank within the Top 50 along with Economics and Econometrics, and Computer Science and Information Systems. Read more about our rankings and reputation.

The Business School offers students a suite of professional development opportunities with Career Accelerator. With Career Accelerator you can build industry connections through networking and mentoring, and you can undertake internships and global business practicums for credit towards your degree.

The Graduate Certificate in Commerce is a flexible program that can be tailored to suit your professional development needs (subject to prerequisite requirements).

Students must complete 24 UOC as a standalone program.

Any level 5 Accounting course

Any level 5 Commerce course

Any level 5 Economics course

Any level 5 Finance course

Any level 5 Information Systems course

Any level 5 Marketing course

Any level 5 Management course

Any level 5 Risk Management course

Any level 5 Taxation and Business Law course

To be eligible for this program you must have:

• A recognised undergraduate degree(or equivalent qualification), as determined by UNSW Business School with an average grade of 60% or greater
  

OR

• 5 years relevant work experience: For example, clerical or administrative work in a commercial or public service organisation, supervisory or management, banking, finance or marketing experience or other business-related positions.

Application Requirements

• Detailed resume (outlining competencies and achievements)
  
• Supporting statement responding to the following question:
  In no more than 500 words outline why you would like to study the Graduate Certificate at UNSW Business School, and which specialisation you are interested in pursuing to meet your career options.

The UNSW English Language requirements also apply to this program.

Progression Requirements:

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Commerce comprising 24UOC from the Business School Postgraduate suite (excluding AGSM courses), and having achieved a minimum WAM of 65 overall, you may articulate into the Master of Commerce or Master of Commerce (Extension). To articulate into the Master of Commerce or Master of Commerce (Extension) you are required to complete an internal transfer request form.

Note: The Graduate Certificate in Commerce allows students to choose any courses from the Business School Postgraduate suite (excluding AGSM courses) to make up the 24UOC required. It is recommended that you consult the handbook for the MCom or MCom (ext.) to ensure that you are following a sequence that meets the requirements of a specialisation (major).

For more information on university policy or progression requirements please visit Academic Progression.

UNSW Business School students are Australia’s best and brightest, with a reputation for drive and innovation. Our graduates have exceptional employability rates, performing well above the national average. In the 2018 QILT survey, 93% of our postgraduate students were employed full-time within four months of graduating and were earning a median wage of $120k.

Our degrees include up to two for-credit industry experiences, such as internships or global business practicums. The experiences are part of a suite of opportunities that is exclusive to UNSW’s Business School students and organised through Career Accelerator. The professional development opportunities complement your studies, build connections to industry and give you a clear advantage after graduation.

The opportunities are grouped within the Networking, Mentoring, Internships, and Global sections of Career Accelerator.

Networking

The people you meet during your time at university can play a profound role in positively shaping your career. Connect with like-minded and influential people through:

• Industry Insights – workshop sessions delivered by industry partners
• Industry Events – invitation-only events hosted by industry partners
• Business Case Competitions – impress future employers with your problem-solving skills

Mentoring

Participating in a mentoring program will boost your confidence, help grow your professional network, develop your communication, teamwork and leadership skills as well as building upon your business acumen.

• Career Mentoring Program – a 10-week program of career mentoring and coaching
• Australian Business Essentials – mentoring for international students with no previous Australian work experience

Internships

UNSW Business School’s for-credit and not-for-credit opportunities such as traditional internships, consultancy projects, social entrepreneurship practicums, virtual internships and extra-curricular experiences.

• Internships & Consulting Projects – for-credit projects available in person and online
• Social Entrepreneurship Practicum – for-credit practicum to develop professional team skills in a real project
• Business Experience – online and in-person projects for professional development

Global

The personal and professional benefits of living, studying or working in a different culture are immense and recognised by employers.

• Global Business Practicum - work in small cross-disciplinary student consulting team on a genuine business issue, usually in Asia
• Social Entrepreneurship Practicum - build entrepreneurial, workplace and leadership capabilities in Bali
• Student Exchange – live and study overseas at one of our 200 partner universities

View the full suite of Career Accelerator opportunities.