• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

What's the best degree to do with commerce? (1 Viewer)

Go_Lucky

New Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
24
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2013
I'm hopefully getting into a dual commerce degree at UNSW but I'm not decided on what degree I'm going to do it with, so I was hoping for advice on what to pick. I'm thinking mainly in terms of practicality. I mean, I just can't see commerce/science being that compatible except for a very niche line of work. I don't want to do engineering. Mainly looking at information systems, arts and economics. I'm concerned that information systems will be too technical (if anyone knows what it involves I'd be very grateful); arts will be useless and economics supposedly is pointless as you'll either get a job using comm or eco, not both. Any advice is much appreciated.
 

OzKo

Retired
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
9,892
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Uni Grad
2013
Would recommend Science for either the mathematics or statistics majors.
 

JohnMaximus

shepherd of the people
Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
585
Location
Elysium
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Medicine.
It's always medicine.



Or engineering. Engineering managers can make over 150k a year.
 

iJimmy

not dead
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
1,594
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
depends on career prospects or whether you want a degree that can open opportunities for multiple jobs.
 

sirable1

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
709
Location
Sydney, Australia
Gender
Male
HSC
2012
Uni Grad
2016
If you're intending to study Finance as your Commerce major, Mathematics/Statistics is a very good and reputable combination.
 

Cleavage

Clarence
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Messages
563
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
Uni Grad
2018
I haven't been to uni, so i don't know what its like, but im seriously considering pairing a Commerce degree with Science (Adv Maths) at UNSW, majoring in Quantitative Risk. I think they're a combo that complement each other.
 

fizzbylightning

Active Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Messages
367
Location
Sydney
Gender
Female
HSC
2012
Uni Grad
2020
I know it seems that pairing commerce with things that don't seem related may seem like a waste but if I had to choose, I would choose commerce and arts because I have genuine interest in arts as well and you can do commerce (international) to travel and study overseas. Learn a language, be employable. There might not be a direct alignment there, but you can use your combined degree to continue studying something you enjoy and supplement your commerce degree, not just for uni but there are always jobs out there, not necessarily "niche" jobs that can utilise both degrees.
 

Chronost

Ex CAG auditor - current CAG deal-maker
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
1,159
Location
where people need auditing
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
Apart from Mathematics,most of the time the second degree is usually the person's other interest or "backup" apart from commerce,if you're only doing a double degree degree because it extends your degree and you don't really have an interest enough to go for something else apart from commerce then just do a single degree and smash it.
 

Shadowdude

Cult of Personality
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
12,145
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
To the OP:

Do what you like, do what you're interested in - don't do a degree just because it's "the best" one. Look at the university handbooks and the like, and do some research.

I did Commerce with my maths degree before "because it'd get me a job" but I found it bland and boring so I replaced it with something I enjoy more.


I haven't been to uni, so i don't know what its like, but im seriously considering pairing a Commerce degree with Science (Adv Maths) at UNSW, majoring in Quantitative Risk. I think they're a combo that complement each other.
Quant. Risk is invite only, you have to have a certain HSC mark or average maths marks at uni to be invited.

But yes, Comm/Adv Maths is a very popular combination - I used to do that, along with maybe... 40 others? It was by far the most popular combined degree option with Maths.
 

obliviousninja

(╯°□°)╯━︵ ┻━┻ - - - -
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6,624
Location
Sydney Girls
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
Uni Grad
2017
Info systems. Ps. You can take the technical route or the managerial one.
 

iJimmy

not dead
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
1,594
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
engineering/commerce
science/commerce
probably open the broadest career choices.
 

studybuddy101

Active Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2012
Messages
103
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
doesn't sound like you have a genuine other interest worth extending your degree 2 years for. I'd stick to a single commerce degree and flesh out those skills with all the electives rather than spreading yourself thin with another degree you're not 100% passionate about
 

Go_Lucky

New Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
24
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2013
Info systems. Ps. You can take the technical route or the managerial one.
So, I'm gathering that information systems is far less technical than information technology. Can anyone confirm/elaborate on this? And if anyone's done it I'd love to know how you found it.
 

OzKo

Retired
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
9,892
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Uni Grad
2013
In regards to dual degrees, it can be difficult to figure out what jobs would use both degrees but it's very common these days to find firms hiring students which have studied across a broad range of fields.

Something may not seem like a natural match but you'll find that the general skills you develop during uni afford you the flexibility across many industries.
 

InsoulvencyReaper

Existential Crisis
Joined
Aug 13, 2012
Messages
800
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
I wouldn't do a double degree, only because of how long it will take to complete. Also, think about the costs of studying a dual degree, will it really be worth it?

Commerce alone is a very broad degree and can go anywhere in business. If you want to be a little broader why not do a double major instead?
 

Trebla

Administrator
Administrator
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
8,402
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
I wouldn't do a double degree, only because of how long it will take to complete. Also, think about the costs of studying a dual degree, will it really be worth it?

Commerce alone is a very broad degree and can go anywhere in business. If you want to be a little broader why not do a double major instead?
I would argue that Commerce alone is far too common a degree to equip you with skills and knowledge that allows you stand out from the crowd. I wouldn't worry too much about cost because the benefits of getting more (and more diversified) knowledge and experience and maturing far outweigh the extra cost (which doesn't kick in until you get a good job to be able to pay for it anyway).

Science and commerce would be your best bet because common complementary majors include Maths/Stats with Finance or Economics, Computer Science with Information Systems, Psychology with Marketing or Human Resources etc. Also, keep in mind that just because you do say a Maths and Finance major doesn't mean that you are restricted to jobs that have to use both. It also opens you to areas which may be exclusively Maths or exclusively Finance, hence broadening your career prospects.
 
Last edited:

OzKo

Retired
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
9,892
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Uni Grad
2013
I would argue that Commerce alone is far too common a degree to equip you with skills and knowledge that allows you stand out from the crowd. I wouldn't worry too much about cost because the benefits of getting more (and more diversified) knowledge and experience and maturing far outweigh the extra cost (which don't kick in until you get a good job to be able to pay for it anyway).

Science and commerce would be your best bet because common complementary majors include Maths/Stats with Finance or Economics, Computer Science with Information Systems, Psychology with Marketing or Human Resources etc. Also, keep in mind that just because you do say a Maths and Finance major doesn't mean that you are restricted to jobs that have to use both. It also opens you to areas which may be exclusively Maths or exclusively Finance, hence broadening your career prospects.
Would like to add that doing a double degree would be recommended if you are looking to get into a specific field (that's where picking the right majors becomes extra important) unless you are able to do a thesis based around that particular field (even then a double degree would be better imo).
 

InsoulvencyReaper

Existential Crisis
Joined
Aug 13, 2012
Messages
800
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
^ Maybe I have a generalised and narrow view on the whole importance of doing a double degree. If you want to specialise, do as they say above.

HECS, is probably why I'm thinking of the finances, since I'm an NZ citizen and can't apply for it... :)
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top