BBus
Bachelor of Business

The Bachelor of Business takes you beyond the textbook to tackle real challenges facing companies, government, and community organisations today.

As New Zealand's #1 ranked business school, Waikato is proud to offer the best undergraduate business degree in the country. It's available at our campuses in both Hamilton and Tauranga.

Our BBus has been refreshed for 2024 to give students even more choices and flexibility, all underpinned by the same academic excellence our students have come to expect over the last 50 years.

What really sets this degree apart is the focus on practical experiences. You'll have the opportunity to tackle real business challenges through internships, projects, and our new optional Experience Modules - which are exclusive to Waikato Management School! This hands-on learning approach will provide invaluable insights that can supercharge your future career.

Today's employers are looking for graduates with an agile and curious mindset, who can lead, communicate, negotiate, problem solve, and collaborate with others. And that's exactly what this degree delivers. You'll also develop a solid mix of analytical, numeracy, financial and project management skills to set you up for success.

We've designed the Bachelor of Business so you have the flexibility to tailor your subjects and papers to match your learning style and career aspirations - no matter which of our 15 subjects you are most excited about!

At Waikato, you'll be taught by passionate lecturers who are also sought-after business consultants and researchers, with links to leading companies and government agencies. You will be empowered to think independently and work collaboratively, with interactive discussions and experiential learning. Class sizes tend to be smaller at Waikato, so our teaching staff will know your name and can provide extra support when you need it.

Once you graduate, you can use your expertise to help organisations become more efficient and profitable, adapt to fast-changing global markets, help develop new products and services, drive technological innovations, manage international supply chains, and thrive in the 21st century.

Real-world experiences

Connect with industry: The BBus includes a workplace internship or consulting project for a real organisation, based in New Zealand or overseas. This will give you practical business experience in your major subject/s, and allow you to grow your skills and confidence before you graduate.

Experience Modules: We are the only university in New Zealand offering our new Experience Modules, focused on specialist topics such as international business or Te Ao Māori business. These unique block courses are designed to enrich your student experence and give you a competitive edge in the job market. They will be offered in the teaching breaks between trimesters A, B and C. If you complete three Experience Modules, you'll receive credit for one 15-point paper at 200 Level.

Capstone paper: Your final year culminates with our legendary capstone paper, MNGMT321 Applied Business Challenge (previously known as the WMS Case Competition). You'll work in a team with other students to tackle a real-world case study of a New Zealand business that is looking to expand and grow. By bringing together your team's combined expertise, students will develop an innovative strategy for the business to increase its revenue and profits.

Learn from the best in the business

You can expect a world-class business education at Waikato Management School, which is ranked #1 in New Zealand for Business & Economics in the Times Higher Education Rankings in both 2022 and 2023.

Waikato is also in the top 1% of all business schools globally, thanks to our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB.

The Bachelor of Business provides a strong foundation across core business areas such as strategy and economics, along with advanced expertise in your specialist subjects, and cross-functional skills that are in high demand with employers.

In your first year you can choose from a selection of papers in accounting, finance, digital business, marketing, and supply chain management. This will help you discover which aspects of business you’re most passionate about, before deciding which subjects to focus on in your second year.

Tailored for your ambitions

Customise your degree to align with your career interests. Our degree structure lets you choose from one of 12 business first majors, including a brand-new major in Leadership.

You also have the freedom to add either a second major subject (8 papers) or two minor subjects (4 papers each) or up to 8 elective papers from any discipline that interests you across the University of Waikato - such as law, arts or science.

You can even opt to study a second degree alongside your BBus (eg. LLB, BA or BSc) - known as a conjoint or double degree - for a truly unique educational experience. This allows you to complete both degrees in a much shorter timeframe than if you had enrolled in them separately.

Major subjects for the BBus degree:

Choose one of the following subjects as your 1st major:

• Accounting (Tauranga and Hamilton)
• Agribusiness (Hamilton)
• Digital Business (Hamilton)
• Economics (Hamilton)
• Finance (Tauranga and Hamilton)
• Human Resource Management (Hamilton)
• Leadership (Hamilton)
• Marketing (Tauranga and Hamilton)
• Public Relations (Hamilton)
• Strategic Management (Tauranga and Hamilton)
• Supply Chain Management (Hamilton)
• Tourism and Hospitality Management (Hamilton)

You can opt to take a second major or 1-2 minors in almost any other undergraduate subject offered at your campus.

Professional Accounting pathway

If you'd like to become a certified Professional Accountant (by joining either CA ANZ, CPA Australia, CIMA or ACCA and passing their exams), you can use this internationally accredited degree to fast-track your journey by taking an approved suite of accounting and business papers.