Bachelor of Business Professional Practice(Finance)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

RMIT University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Business Professional Practice (Finance) at RMIT University is designed for students who want to combine advanced finance knowledge with extensive real-world industry experience. Delivered at RMIT Melbourne City Campus, Victoria, this four-year degree develops expertise in financial management, investment analysis, corporate finance, and risk management while integrating professional industry engagement throughout the program.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students build a strong business foundation through core business subjects that introduce contemporary industry challenges, business problem-solving, and professional capabilities. The first year develops essential skills in communication, critical thinking, and business decision-making while preparing students for specialised finance studies and introductory virtual internship experiences.

Year 2: Students begin their Finance major studies, exploring subjects such as Financial Markets and Institutions, Business Finance, and Investment Analysis. These courses develop an understanding of financial systems, capital markets, investment decision-making, and the role of finance in business strategy.

Year 3: The third year focuses on advanced finance concepts through areas such as Corporate Finance, Funds Management, and Risk Analysis. Students strengthen their analytical and quantitative capabilities while learning to evaluate financial opportunities, manage investment portfolios, and address complex financial challenges faced by organisations.

Year 4: The final year centres on Professional Practice, where students undertake substantial industry engagement through internships, industry projects, partner organisations, research centres, start-up networks, or not-for-profit experiences. Alongside professional learning, students complete capstone studies that integrate finance knowledge with real-world business problem-solving and career development.

Focus Areas: Financial management, investment analysis, corporate finance, funds management, risk analysis, financial technologies, sustainable investing, behavioural finance, global financial markets, professional consulting, and industry engagement.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates develop the ability to analyse financial data, evaluate investment opportunities, manage financial risk, apply financial technologies, solve complex business problems, communicate professional recommendations, and operate effectively in diverse organisational environments. They also graduate with extensive professional experience and a well-developed professional identity.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The Finance major is affiliated with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Program, reflecting alignment with globally recognised finance knowledge and professional standards. This affiliation strengthens graduates' preparation for careers in investment management, corporate finance, banking, and financial services.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): RMIT is internationally recognised for industry-connected education and employability outcomes. The Finance discipline has been recognised in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings, and the Professional Practice degree is distinguished by its strong emphasis on internships, industry projects, and experiential learning that help graduates enter the workforce with significant practical experience.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Business (Professional Practice) majoring in Finance at RMIT University is built around hands-on industry engagement and real-world learning. Students combine finance studies with extensive professional experience, applying classroom knowledge to practical business challenges through industry projects, internships, and work-integrated learning activities. Finance students gain access to advanced trading technologies, financial simulation environments, and industry-standard analytical tools that help develop practical skills in investment analysis, risk management, portfolio management, and financial decision-making. The Professional Practice structure further strengthens employability by embedding industry engagement throughout the degree and allowing students to complete up to two semesters of professional experience with industry partners, research centres, start-ups, or not-for-profit organisations:

Professional Practice Internship: Students complete up to 96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters) of professional experience through Professional Apprenticeship subjects, working with industry partners, research centres, start-up networks, government organisations, and not-for-profit organisations.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): RMIT's dedicated Work Integrated Learning team supports students in researching, applying for, and securing internships aligned with their career goals while helping them build professional networks and workplace capabilities.
Industry Consulting Projects: Students participate in RMIT's award-winning industry project experiences, engaging directly with organisations and solving real business challenges as consultants using innovation and design-thinking approaches.
RMIT Trading Facility: Finance students gain practical experience using RMIT's state-of-the-art Trading Facility, where they explore investment strategies, market analysis, portfolio management, and trading simulations in a professional financial market environment.
Financial Market Simulation Platforms: Students access global financial markets trading platforms and industry-standard financial market simulation technologies that mirror professional investment and trading environments.
Industry-Integrated Finance Learning: Finance subjects incorporate real-world case studies, investment analysis exercises, corporate finance projects, sustainable investing scenarios, behavioural finance applications, and risk management challenges based on current market conditions.
Impact Academy Program: Professional Practice students undertake the Impact Academy subject, which introduces direct industry engagement through innovation, entrepreneurship, lean thinking, agile methodologies, and collaborative problem-solving projects.
Group-Based Industry Projects: Many subjects involve multidisciplinary teamwork where students collaborate with peers and external organisations to develop solutions for contemporary business and finance challenges.
Research Centres and Industry Networks: Students can engage with RMIT's research centres, industry collaborators, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and innovation networks as part of their professional experience pathway.
Library and Digital Resources: Students have access to RMIT's extensive library collections, financial databases, digital learning platforms, industry reports, academic journals, and business research resources that support finance analysis and decision-making.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Business Professional Practice (Finance) at RMIT University combine advanced finance knowledge with extensive industry experience gained through professional practice and industry-integrated learning. This unique combination prepares graduates for careers as Financial Analyst, Investment Analyst, Corporate Finance Officer, Risk Analyst, Portfolio Analyst, and Financial Consultant across banking, investment, consulting, fintech, and corporate sectors. With strong analytical, problem-solving, and professional skills, graduates are highly competitive in both Australian and global finance markets.

University Services for Employability: RMIT's Professional Practice model incorporates a dedicated Study and Work minor, industry projects, virtual internships, professional experiences, and direct engagement with industry, government, community organisations, research centres, start-up networks, and not-for-profit partners. Students work on real industry challenges, build professional networks, and develop a strong professional identity throughout the four-year degree.
Employment Statistics & Salary: Finance graduates continue to benefit from strong demand across banking, investment management, corporate finance, financial technology, and consulting sectors. According to RMIT's finance career information, entry-level finance professionals typically earn median salaries in the range of AUD $70,000–$85,000 per year, while experienced professionals and senior finance specialists can earn AUD $100,000+ annually depending on role, industry, and performance.
University–Industry Partnerships: RMIT maintains extensive industry connections through professional experience placements, industry consulting projects, research centres, start-up support networks, and partnerships with organisations across the public and private sectors. Finance students also gain practical exposure through RMIT's state-of-the-art Trading Facility and real-world financial simulations that replicate professional investment and trading environments.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The Finance major is a CFA-affiliated program, meaning the curriculum aligns with globally recognised Chartered Financial Analyst standards. This provides graduates with a strong foundation for pursuing internationally respected finance certifications and enhances long-term career mobility across global financial markets.
Graduation Outcomes: Upon graduation, students possess expertise in financial management, investment analysis, corporate finance, risk management, market research, financial decision-making, and professional consulting. Combined with substantial workplace experience and industry engagement, graduates are equipped to contribute immediately in finance-related roles and progress into leadership positions over time.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this degree, graduates may continue their studies through postgraduate qualifications such as the Master of Finance, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Applied Finance, Master of Business Analytics, or other specialised finance and investment programs. The degree also provides a strong academic foundation for pursuing professional qualifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and other internationally recognised finance credentials.