Bachelor of Business
Unlock your full potential with the Bachelor of Business (BBus). Be equipped with the tools to help organisations become more efficient, profitable and sustainable, so they can thrive in changing times.
360 points, 3 years
Hamilton, Tauranga
Papers offered differ by location. Find a Paper for full location info.
Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)
Why study the Bachelor of Business?
Ranked in the top 1% of business schools globally, Waikato Management School is proud to offer the best undergraduate business degree in New Zealand.
Our Bachelor of Business (BBus) takes you beyond the textbook to tackle practical, real-world challenges facing companies, government, and community organisations. This hands-on learning approach will provide invaluable insights to supercharge your future career.
This degree is underpinned by academic excellence, and you'll be taught by passionate teachers who are also highly regarded business consultants.
But what really sets the Bachelor of Business apart is the focus on real-world experiences and professional skills. Today's employers want graduates who can lead people, build successful teams, communicate ideas, think creatively, solve problems, analyse data to find trends, plan and deliver projects, and much more.
And that's exactly what this degree delivers to set you up for success. It provides a strong foundation of knowledge across core business areas such as strategic management, economics, and analytics, along with advanced expertise in your major/minor subjects. You will also take a paper focused on developing your intercultural capabilities in professional contexts.
We've designed our business degree to offer students more flexibility and choices so that your papers align closely to your career interests.
You will gain the insights and technical skills to understand customer needs and changing market forces, assess financial performance, create new products and services, implement digital technologies to enhance productivity, and strategise for the future.
For the capstone paper MNGMT321 Applied Business Challenge, students tackle a case study of a real New Zealand business, and devise an innovative strategy to grow the company's market share and profits.
Get set to embark on an exciting career as an entrepreneur, business advisor or manager across a diverse range of industries.
Study the Bachelor of Business at either our Hamilton or Tauranga campus.
Career Opportunities
- Accountant
- Agri-consultant
- Banker (commercial or investment)
- Business development manager
- Customer experience manager
- Digital business manager
- Economist
- Entrepreneur
- Financial advisor / analyst
- Human resources manager
- Logistics / Supply chain manager
- Marketing manager
- Operations manager
- Policy advisor / analyst (eg.government)
- Portfolio or wealth manager
- Project Manager
- Public relations manager
- Sharebroker
360 points, 3 years
Hamilton, Tauranga
Papers offered differ by location. Find a Paper for full location info.
Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)
Degree information
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Plan your study -
Subjects Choose a major subject
Browse available subjects and choose one for more information.
Browse BBus subjects Browse available subjects and choose one for more information
Note: Tourism and Hospitality Management is not available to new students starting in 2025.
See subject majors offered with the Bachelor of Business at our Tauranga campus.
Minor subjects You have the option to include one or two minors (60 points) in almost any subject as part of your degree programme, instead of taking a 2nd Major or eight elective papers.
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Entry Requirements There are five ways you can gain admission to the University of Waikato.
- NCEA University Entrance
- Admission at entrance level
- Discretionary entrance
- University Entrance prior to 2015
- Special admission.
For full details visit Entry Requirements.
As an international student studying at undergraduate level, you are required to meet English language and academic entry requirements.
View Entry requirements for undergraduate international students.
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Fees and scholarships Estimated fees
$7,740 per year
-
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
Estimated fees
$36,430 per year
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
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Graduate outcomes Graduates of the Bachelor of Business are expected to have engaged with the issues and concepts inherent in the six Cs:
1. Commercial context:
- Have a broad understanding of the local and global business environment and the organisational context in which management decisions are made.
- Can demonstrate their ability to apply their business knowledge to real-world situations.
2. Connectedness:
- Can think and act globally and locally.
- Are aware of the impact of cultural differences in the local and global business environment.
- Have the ability to build effective business relationships (including the use of technology).
3. Citizenship:
- Have developed awareness and holistic understanding of their role as responsible citizens within their organisations and society more generally.
- Understand the ethical roles and responsibilities of business and individuals in society.
- Have an understanding of the implications of sustainability.
4. Critical thinking:
- Can engage real-world problems in a theoretically informed, rigorous and questioning manner.
- Develop thinking skills which enable them to synthesise and evaluate information for its validity, appropriateness and usefulness.
- Can use a range of analytical tools and frameworks in applied business situations.
- Have quantitative and qualitative skills to assist decision-making and problem-solving.
5. Communication:
- Have excellent oral, aural, written, and digital communication skills.
- Can convey information effectively in written English.
- Have effective presentation skills.
- Can effectively gather, interpret, and disseminate information through a variety of media.
6. Collaboration:
- Have the interpersonal skills required to participate effectively within and between organisations.
- Show an ability to work effectively as part of a team.
In addition, Bachelor of Business graduates will have:
- A sound understanding of the principles of management with an enterprise focus.
- Developed the management skills necessary for professional practice in the area of their major subject/s.
- Specialised knowledge in the academic discipline of their major subject/s, and the ability to apply this knowledge in a business setting.
Browse available subjects and choose one for more information
Note: Tourism and Hospitality Management is not available to new students starting in 2025.
See subject majors offered with the Bachelor of Business at our Tauranga campus.
You have the option to include one or two minors (60 points) in almost any subject as part of your degree programme, instead of taking a 2nd Major or eight elective papers.
There are five ways you can gain admission to the University of Waikato.
- NCEA University Entrance
- Admission at entrance level
- Discretionary entrance
- University Entrance prior to 2015
- Special admission.
For full details visit Entry Requirements.
As an international student studying at undergraduate level, you are required to meet English language and academic entry requirements.
View Entry requirements for undergraduate international students.
Estimated fees
$7,740 per year
-
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
Estimated fees
$36,430 per year
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Business are expected to have engaged with the issues and concepts inherent in the six Cs:
1. Commercial context:
- Have a broad understanding of the local and global business environment and the organisational context in which management decisions are made.
- Can demonstrate their ability to apply their business knowledge to real-world situations.
2. Connectedness:
- Can think and act globally and locally.
- Are aware of the impact of cultural differences in the local and global business environment.
- Have the ability to build effective business relationships (including the use of technology).
3. Citizenship:
- Have developed awareness and holistic understanding of their role as responsible citizens within their organisations and society more generally.
- Understand the ethical roles and responsibilities of business and individuals in society.
- Have an understanding of the implications of sustainability.
4. Critical thinking:
- Can engage real-world problems in a theoretically informed, rigorous and questioning manner.
- Develop thinking skills which enable them to synthesise and evaluate information for its validity, appropriateness and usefulness.
- Can use a range of analytical tools and frameworks in applied business situations.
- Have quantitative and qualitative skills to assist decision-making and problem-solving.
5. Communication:
- Have excellent oral, aural, written, and digital communication skills.
- Can convey information effectively in written English.
- Have effective presentation skills.
- Can effectively gather, interpret, and disseminate information through a variety of media.
6. Collaboration:
- Have the interpersonal skills required to participate effectively within and between organisations.
- Show an ability to work effectively as part of a team.
In addition, Bachelor of Business graduates will have:
- A sound understanding of the principles of management with an enterprise focus.
- Developed the management skills necessary for professional practice in the area of their major subject/s.
- Specialised knowledge in the academic discipline of their major subject/s, and the ability to apply this knowledge in a business setting.
Real-world experiences within your business degree
Connect with industry
The BBus includes a workplace internship or consulting project for a real organisation, which is related to your major subject. This will help you to grow your skills and confidence before you are ready to graduate.
Experience modules
Unique to Waikato Management School, these are short block courses (worth 5 points each) focused on specialist topics such as international business or Te Ao Māori business. Experience Modules aim to enrich your student experience.
Capstone paper
For the capstone paper MNGMT321 Applied Business Challenge, students work in teams to tackle a case study of a real New Zealand business. Their mission is to devise an innovative strategy to grow the company's profits.
Professional accounting (CA) pathway
If you'd like to become a Chartered Accountant (CA) one day, the Bachelor of Business (BBus) offers a fast-track pathway certified by four of the world's leading professional accounting bodies to help you get there.
You will need to take an approved suite of accounting and business papers, so please speak to a study advisor first. Learn more on the Accounting subject page.
To help you decide which accounting qualification is right for you, check out this visual chart showing the steps required, from secondary school right through to the workplace.
Why study business at Waikato?
Top 1% globally
Waikato Management School is in the top 1% of business schools globally with our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB), held since 2005.
Close to the action
The Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions are part of New Zealand's economic powerhouse, with ready access to seaports, rail links, inland distribution, and world-class agricultural land.
High-tech futures
Hamilton and Tauranga are also home to a growing cluster of biotechnology, IT, aviation, manufacturing and logistics companies.
What our Business students are saying
Regulations for the Bachelor of Business
Please refer above to the online degree planner for the BBus. You can also read the full Regulations for the Bachelor of Business in the University of Waikato Calendar.
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study lets you develop advanced knowledge in an area of management that you are passionate about, giving you an edge in the job market.
Bachelor of Business with Honours
A BBus(Hons) degree provides a year of postgraduate study after your Bachelor of Business that will deepen and enrich your understanding of your major subject.
The Master of Business (MBus) will bring you closer to the frontiers of knowledge in your specialist field, and prepare you for leadership roles that require a high level of critical thinking and information analysis.