How to Apply to Economics at RMIT University: Economics Is a Major in the Bachelor of Business and the Bachelor of Commerce Has a Quantitative Economics and Finance Major, With Entry Requirements for Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

RMIT University is in central Melbourne, and business degrees are taught by the College of Business and Law, which RMIT says is AACSB accredited. On the degree pages used for this guide there is no stand-alone economics bachelor degree: economics is one of 13 majors in the Bachelor of Business (BP343), which also has a Digital Economy major and Economics and Law and Economics minors, while the Bachelor of Commerce (BP357) has a Quantitative Economics and Finance major. Business administration and computing are not covered here. This guide covers 2027 entry for Australian students, international students (including those from China) and transfer students.

1. The two degrees and the economics-related majors

• Bachelor of Business (BP343): three years full-time (six part-time for local students), City campus, 24 subjects. First year is four business foundation subjects (Understanding the Business Environment, Business Decision Making, Business in Society, Integrated Perspectives on Business Problems); after that you can take a single major (usually eight subjects), a double major (eight each) or no major, and the capstone is compulsory. RMIT says the degree has no exams, with presentations, assignments and similar assessment. The page says both “13 majors” and, elsewhere, “14 majors”, so RMIT’s own count is not consistent. International intakes are February, July and October (October is not open to advanced-entry students); local intakes are February and July.
• Economics major (Bachelor of Business): RMIT describes it as covering economic theory, data analysis and statistical methods, policy evaluation, market dynamics and global economic issues. The sample course map lists Macroeconomics for Decision Making, Managerial and Business Economics, Basic Econometrics, Big Data, Machine Learning and Society, Strategic Games for Business and Behavioural Economics, plus two electives from a list that includes Development Economics, Forecasting and Quantitative Analysis and Frontiers of the Digital Economy. RMIT says the major can also be taken within its business and commerce double degrees.
• Bachelor of Commerce (BP357): three years full-time, City campus; international intakes February and July. A major is compulsory, from five: Cyber Security Law and Governance, Enterprise AI and Business Analytics, International Business, Marketing Technology and Quantitative Economics and Finance. First year is eight core subjects (including AI and business analytics, business law, financial instruments and digital business security), there are two designated work-integrated learning (WIL) subjects, paid or unpaid internships are possible, and third year includes a capstone. The Quantitative Economics and Finance major covers financial innovation, corporate finance, big data and machine learning, forecasting and portfolio management.
• How they differ: the Bachelor of Commerce has a higher entry level and requires mathematics; the Bachelor of Business has no mathematics prerequisite (see below).

Australian students

• Bachelor of Business: for Semester 1 2027 the degree has a Guaranteed ATAR of 70.00 (excluding adjustment factors); reach it and meet the prerequisites and RMIT guarantees an offer. The lowest ATAR (with adjustments) to receive an offer in 2026 was 67.00. The only prerequisite is VCE English (other than EAL) 25, or EAL 27.
• Bachelor of Commerce: Guaranteed ATAR 80.00 for 2027; the 2026 lowest offer was 80.05. Prerequisites are VCE English 25 (EAL 27) and a study score of at least 20 in General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics.
• Adjustment factors: for both degrees a study score of 25 in any business, information technology, mathematics or psychology subject earns 1 point per study, and a score of 35 in any English subject earns 2 points. Subject adjustments are capped at 8 points for the Bachelor of Business and 5 for the Bachelor of Commerce; equity schemes are counted separately and total adjustments are capped at 28. Applicants from low socio-economic areas receive an automatic regional adjustment. For VTAC applicants the course must be your highest eligible preference.
• Local-student fees: in RMIT’s 2027 Commonwealth supported place band table, subjects in the band that includes Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications and Society and Culture have a maximum of AU$18,025 for a standard full-time year. HECS-HELP loans can defer payment. Which band each subject falls in is on RMIT’s site.

International students: entry and prerequisites

• Bachelor of Business (BP343): the equivalent of a VCE average of at least 65%; no prerequisite subjects; no selection task.
• Bachelor of Commerce (BP357): the equivalent of a VCE average of at least 80%; a study score of at least 20 in General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics, or equivalent studies; no selection task. How overseas mathematics counts as equivalent is not itemised; RMIT assesses it at application.
• Completing RMIT Foundation Studies, or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline, can also meet the academic requirement. RMIT stresses that meeting the minimum does not guarantee entry.
• Tuition: AU$47,040 a year for both degrees for international students in 2027 (listed as the 2027 annual fee).
• Other costs: on top of tuition there is the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF, maximum AU$386 in 2027) and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC, required for the whole visa period for student-visa holders); some programs also have materials fees, textbooks and equipment costs. RMIT says tuition may be adjusted each January by up to 7.5% (higher-education fees are rounded up to the nearest AU$10 per credit point, so the actual rise can exceed 7.5%). Fees are fixed within a calendar year, so students starting later in the year pay slightly more in total.

Applicants from China

RMIT converts qualifications to a Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) average. The China equivalency table gives:

• Gao San: an overall average of 75% for the Bachelor of Business (VCE 65%) and 85% for the Bachelor of Commerce (VCE 80%). The table shows “not applicable” in the Gao Er column for bachelor degrees, so Gao Er results alone are not enough.
• Gaokao: RMIT publishes scores for Beijing only: 441 (Business) and 480 (Commerce). For other provinces it says to contact RMIT International; the scores are not published.
• IB Diploma: 25 (Business) and 31 (Commerce) points, including bonus and penalty points.
• A-levels and AP: the pages used for this guide do not give conversions; check RMIT’s country equivalency pages or ask RMIT International.
• Mathematics: the Bachelor of Commerce needs a VCE mathematics study score of 20 or equivalent, and how Chinese senior-high mathematics counts is not published. The Bachelor of Business has no mathematics prerequisite; whether the economics major assumes any mathematics is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the major page or ask RMIT.
• If your marks fall short: RMIT Foundation Studies is listed on the China table at a Gao Er average of 60% or Gao San average of 50%, and the University Pathways Fast Track at Gao Er 75% or Gao San 60%. The Bachelor of Business page says the Diploma of Commerce guarantees entry with two semesters of credit, while the Bachelor of Commerce page says there are no formal pathways into that degree and suggests contacting Study@RMIT.
• Documents: RMIT lists academic transcripts and graduation certificates, evidence of English level, and any course-specific documents. Whether Chinese senior-high proficiency-test (huikao) papers are asked for separately is not given on the pages used for this guide; check RMIT’s required-documents page or ask RMIT.

How to apply, deadlines and timeline (2027 entry)

• How to apply: international students apply through RMIT’s Application Portal, directly or through an RMIT-authorised agent. Students who have taken an Australian Year 12 (in Australia or overseas), or the IB in Australia or New Zealand, apply through VTAC. RMIT says applicants from some countries must pay an application fee and are strongly encouraged to apply through an authorised agent.
• Semester 1 deadline: the international bachelor-degree application deadline is 3 March 2027, and every required document must be in by that date (incomplete applications are not assessed). Outcomes are due on 5 March, which is also the last day to accept. If an interview is required, complete it by 28 January 2027 and accept and pay by 1 February. Requests for a change of program, a selection task or a credit assessment must be in by 24 February 2027. RMIT notes that programs with late-enrolment restrictions are not covered by this deadline.
• Semesters 2 and 3: RMIT says the 2027 Semester 2 and Semester 3 dates will be published “later this year”. They were not on the pages used for this guide, so check the application dates page.
• Visa timing: RMIT recommends that students who need a student visa apply and accept an offer at least 4–8 weeks before the course starts, so apply well before the deadline. Student-visa holders can only study full-time.
• Application fee: RMIT lists countries whose applicants pay an AU$100 application fee (credited to the tuition deposit once you accept and start). China is not on that list. Check the list for other countries.

English requirements (undergraduate)

• For the degrees in this guide, the program pages give the same scores: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 79 (Reading 13, Listening 12, Speaking 18, Writing 21); PTE Academic 58 (no band below 50); Cambridge C1 Advanced 176 (no component below 169). Nursing has higher requirements, covered in the nursing section.
• Notes: TOEFL tests taken on or after 21 January 2026 must be the TOEFL iBT Australia test, and results on the 1–6 scale are not accepted. RMIT does not accept at-home or online tests, and results must be within two years of the course start. If your scores fall short, RMIT University Pathways (RMIT UP) offers an Academic English Advanced course.

Pathways, transfers and credit

• Pathways into the Bachelor of Business: completing RMIT’s Associate Degree in Business guarantees entry, and for the Economics major it gives three semesters of credit (stated as 180 credit points); the Diploma of Commerce guarantees entry with two semesters (96 credit points); the Diplomas of Business and Accounting give two semesters (when not entering the Business Information Systems major); the Advanced Diploma of Accounting gives three semesters into the Economics major. The page also says a full-time year is 96 credit points, so confirm how semesters and credit points convert in your offer.
• Bachelor of Commerce: RMIT says there are currently no formal pathways into this degree.
• October intake: the Bachelor of Business October intake is not available to advanced-entry students.

Transfers and credit

• From another Australian university: RMIT says students who finish first year at another Australian university may receive credit, awarded only where the completed course has an equivalent in the RMIT program. Request credit when you apply and provide detailed course outlines (volume of learning, content and weekly topics, learning outcomes, assessment types and weightings, and learning resources). For Semester 1, undergraduate credit-assessment requests are due by 24 February 2027.
• Overseas institutions: RMIT has credit agreements with some institutions around the world. If yours is not listed you may still be eligible; credit is assessed case by case.
• Credit can limit choices: RMIT warns that credit may reduce the majors or minors you can choose. The amount of credit is confirmed in your offer.

Scholarships for international students

• RMIT says it awards more than 2,000 scholarships a year. Some international scholarships are assessed automatically when you apply; others need a separate application. Criteria include academic results, country of citizenship, program and personal circumstances.
• Undergraduate Pathway Scholarship for China: RMIT summarises it as a 20% tuition reduction for students from China whose bachelor program is packaged with ELICOS, Foundation Studies, Fast Track, a vocational program or an associate degree. RMIT describes it for these packaged offers; whether direct entry to the bachelor degree qualifies should be confirmed with RMIT.
• For international students taking an Australian Year 12 or the IB in Australia, RMIT lists the Medibank Excellence Scholarship (AU$12,000) and the Medibank High Achiever International Scholarship (AU$20,000).
• The scholarships page also lists awards by region, college and course. Whether a specific award fits your degree should be checked on RMIT’s scholarships page.

Key points by applicant

Australian students:

• Bachelor of Business: Guaranteed ATAR 70.00 and only an English prerequisite; Bachelor of Commerce: Guaranteed ATAR 80.00 plus a mathematics study score of 20
• For economics, choose the Economics major in the Bachelor of Business or the Quantitative Economics and Finance major in the Bachelor of Commerce

International students (including from China):

• Bachelor of Business: the equivalent of VCE 65% (Gao San 75%, Beijing Gaokao 441, IB 25), no prerequisite; Bachelor of Commerce: 80% (Gao San 85%, Beijing Gaokao 480, IB 31), mathematics required. Scores for other provinces are not published
• IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); Semester 1 2027 deadline 3 March, earlier if you need a visa; tuition AU$47,040 a year

Transfer students:

• Request credit on your application and attach course outlines; Semester 1 credit assessments are due by 24 February 2027; credit may limit major choices
• The Bachelor of Business has internal pathways; RMIT says the Bachelor of Commerce has no formal pathways

Sources: RMIT University, Bachelor of Business (BP343); Economics major; Bachelor of Commerce (BP357); Quantitative Economics and Finance major; Apply as an international student; Application dates; China equivalencies; IB equivalencies; English proficiency tests; Fees for international students; Application fee countries; Pathways and credit transfer; International scholarships. Information is for 2027 entry. Where a page does not print a year, check the date against 2027 entry on the RMIT website, which is the final authority.