Bachelor of Commerce with Honours
Course details
| NZQF Level | 8 |
|---|
About the course
Enhance your Bachelor of Commerce degree with advanced study and research into contemporary issues that matter to society.
Adding an Honours year to your degree gives you the chance to dive deeper into your area of interest. Refine your research, writing, and analytical skills while further developing your knowledge and abilities. Explore contemporary topics such as:
- the future of work
- sustainable accounting
- digital marketing and data privacy
- digital government
- evidence-based policy making
- sustainable tourism management
- reputational risks in organisations
- the economics of disasters.
Take advantage of Wellington School of Business and Government’s strong links with international academic and professional bodies. Our close ties with Wellington’s public and private sectors also offer you plenty of opportunities for research and networking.
A Bachelor of Commerce with Honours will give you the tools for success—in your career or for further study.
Starting part time in Trimester 2 or 3
It may be possible to start the Bachelor of Commerce with Honours part time in Trimester 2 or Trimester 3, depending on the availability of courses in the subject you’ve chosen. Email [[email protected]]([email protected]?subject=Starting a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Trimester 2 or 3) to find out more.
Workload
You’ll study seven courses, usually full time over two trimesters. You can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.
Part-time students doing two courses per trimester will need to do around 20 to 23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working while studying.
You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you’ll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours of work.
Workload
You’ll study seven courses, full time over two trimesters. You can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.
You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you’ll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours of work.
How you'll study
Much of your time will be spent carrying out focused, self-directed study and guided individual research. Often there are fewer lectures than at undergraduate level, and sometimes your classes will be student-run seminars.
Support
You’ll have access to the Wellington School of Business and Government Honours Student study room set aside exclusively for postgraduate students. You can access these facilities from 7am to midnight.
Here, you’ll find computing and printing facilities, along with specialist software such as Gauss, Matlab, Mathematica, Maple, R, Shazam, and Stata.
Continue to Master’s study
At the end of your Honours year, you can apply to continue your studies to gain a Master of Commerce. This will involve an extra trimester of supervised research, for a further 60 points.
Entry requirements
Domestic entry requirements
A Bachelor of Commerce degree with an average grade of at least B+ in the relevant subject.
English language requirements
You may also be required to demonstrate your proficiency in English.
About the provider
Victoria University of Wellington, full name Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, was founded in 1897 and is one of New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious universities. The University is located in the heart of New Zealand’s vibrant capital city and its three city campuses are all within easy walking distance of one another, as well as local attractions, shopping districts, and cafés.
The University’s central location gives students access to a
variety of national organisations in the areas of business, government,
politics, culture and heritage, the arts and filmmaking industry, as well as
the science and technology communities. Wellington is a compact city where
students can easily explore nature trails, beaches, galleries, museums, and
events. It is multicultural, safe, friendly, and has a reputation for great
food and coffee—it regularly ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Victoria University of Wellington at a glance
- Top 1% of the world's universities for research quality and teaching
- 170+ subjects
- 20 undergraduate programmes and 180 postgraduate programmes
- 40+ research institutes and 4 libraries
- 3,000 of our 17,000 students are international students, from 120+ countries
- 130+ clubs and societies
- 5+ stars from the latest QS Stars Rating of Excellence
- #1 in New Zealand for research intensity (in the latest assessment of the Performance-Based Research Fund)
- Wellington School of Business and Government is one of an elite group of commerce faculties worldwide that hold the Triple Crown of international accreditations of EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA
- Top 2% of the world’s universities (QS World University Rankings 2026)
- Top 100 in the world in 7 subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
Graduate outcomes*
- Of the graduates who responded that they are currently working full time, 91% were employed prior to or within 6 months of degree completion.
- 67% were in full-time employment.
*Based on those who completed the 2023–2024 Graduate Destinations Survey.
Entry requirements
To study at Victoria University of Wellington, international students need:
- a good command of the English language
- a good record of academic achievement.
Entry requirements are provided under each programme. The University considers each student’s academic and English-language background when assessing applications. If a student doesn’t meet entry requirements, our team can help them meet their study goals.
If a student doesn’t meet the entry requirements for:
- English language - Students can apply for our English for Academic Purposes programme
- Undergraduate study - Students can apply for our Foundation Studies programme
- Postgraduate study - Students can talk to us to help build a pathway to their degree
The University offers complete support for students through a range of wellbeing and learning services. These include a specialised international team that is dedicated to supporting students during their studies, which helps international students meet new friends and settle into university and Wellington life.
Some of the support services include:
- dedicated international student orientation and events
- a free arrival meeting service at the airport
- the International Buddy Programme, where you get paired with a ‘buddy’ from the get-go
Students can make the most of the many opportunities to get
involved in different communities, embrace new experiences, and develop skills
for their future careers. The university encourages all students to develop
strong global citizenship skills through their studies and extracurricular
programmes such as the Kitea
Impact Programme, which is also free to join.