How to Apply to Business at Curtin University: Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Business Administration Entry Requirements for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Curtin University is in Perth, Western Australia. Curtin Business School is accredited by EQUIS and AACSB. Its two main undergraduate business degrees are the Bachelor of Commerce (B-COMRCE) and the Bachelor of Business Administration (B-BUSADM). This guide covers 2027 entry for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students, based on Curtin’s website.

1. The two degrees

• Bachelor of Commerce: three years full-time. You choose a major in your first semester. The degree has a five-unit business core, a major of eight or more units, eight units from a second major, specialisations or electives, and a capstone. Curtin lists 18 majors, including Accounting, Accounting and Audit Analytics, Accounting and Taxation, Business Information Systems, Business Law, Economics, Finance, Finance and Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, International Business, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing, Property Investment and Development, and Tourism and Hospitality. Curtin notes that some majors are not available to international students studying in Australia, so check each major. Double degrees with arts, science, engineering, law and psychology are offered.
• Bachelor of Business Administration: three years full-time, for students who want broad management skills. It has a five-unit business core, a six-unit management core, two four-unit business specialisations (such as Business Project Management, Business Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Management, Social Media and Digital Marketing, or Supply Chain Analytics), four units as a third specialisation or electives, and a capstone.
• Location and intakes: both are taught at Curtin Perth (Commerce also at Kalgoorlie and Mauritius; BBA also at Kalgoorlie). International students start in Semester 1 (February) or Semester 2 (July).
• Fees: both degrees have the same 2027 indicative international fees: about AU$41,146 for year 1 (based on a 200-credit full-time load) and about AU$123,438 in total. Fees are reviewed each year, vary with the units you take and exclude incidental costs and textbooks. The BBA page also lists 2026 fees of AU$35,780 for year 1 and AU$107,340 in total.

2. Students at high schools in China

Both degrees have a guaranteed ATAR of 70 and no essential or desirable prerequisite subjects. If you reach the equivalent score and meet the English requirement, you are guaranteed a place.

• Gaokao: Curtin’s list of overseas qualifications for courses requiring an ATAR of 70 asks for an aggregate of 67% of the maximum in the required subjects: 503/750, 402/600, 322/480, 543/810 or 603/900. The list sits on Curtin’s page for domestic applicants with overseas qualifications; course pages also have a country lookup, so international applicants should confirm there.
• A-levels: 5 points from the best three subjects (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1).
• IB Diploma: 24.
• AP: Curtin lists AP under US qualifications: a US high school diploma plus a total of 6 from two to four AP exams. Alternatively, a US diploma (GPA 3.0 or average B) plus SAT 1000 (at least 400 in each section) or ACT 21; Curtin notes these SAT/ACT routes do not meet course prerequisites. Curtin does not list a Chinese senior high school certificate without the Gaokao; ask Curtin’s international admissions team.

3. Students at Canadian high schools

• Canadian provincial high school diploma (including BC): 60% for both degrees. Curtin’s qualification list describes this as an average of 60% in Grade 12 subjects.
• IB and A-level students in Canada use the scores above.

4. English requirements

• Curtin’s pages differ: both course pages list IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in each band, while the English requirements page gives the undergraduate minimum as 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. To be safe, aim for 6.5 and confirm with Curtin.
• Other tests (minimums on the English requirements page): PTE 58 (from August 2026: Listening 50, Reading 50, Writing 51, Speaking 54); TOEFL iBT 81 (from June 2026: Reading 16, Listening 16, Speaking 19, Writing 19; earlier tests 79); TOEFL on the 6-point scale 4.5. Tests must be within two years of application, and results from different tests cannot be combined.
• School qualifications: an E or better in an A-level English subject; 4 or above in an IB English subject; 3 or higher in AP English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition; or SAT (from 2016) of at least 1000 with 400 in each section.
• Canadian students: a high school graduation diploma from outside Quebec with 60% or better in final-year English meets the requirement.
• If your English is not yet high enough, you can package a Curtin English course with your degree and receive a conditional offer.

5. Transfers and credit

• Credit for recognised learning (CRL): Admissions assesses credit for previous university or VET study when you apply, and any credit appears in your offer letter. International applicants can opt out of CRL when applying. After your offer, you can submit a separate CRL application if you think you deserve more credit or were not assessed, with unit outlines, transcripts and certificates. Applications for the current study period are due by the Friday of week 1.
• Curtin’s CRL search tool shows past credit decisions.
• University study: if your school qualification is not listed but you have completed at least one year of full-time bachelor study at a recognised overseas university, you may still be eligible.
• English: at least one full-time year of degree study at a recognised university in Canada, the US, Singapore or South Africa meets the English requirement.

6. Timeline for 2027 entry

• Semester 1: international applications close 28 January 2027; Semester 2: 1 July 2027. Applications for 2028 are also open. Visa processing and packaged English courses may mean you need to apply earlier.
• How to apply: through a registered Curtin agent or directly online. You can list up to five course preferences; only the first is assessed unless you do not meet its requirements. Student visa holders must choose full-time internal study.
• Application fee: the application pages reviewed do not mention one; check with Curtin.

7. Scholarships (no separate application)

These three scholarships are for international fee-paying students starting at a Western Australian campus from 2027. Applications are assessed automatically, and outcomes come with the offer letter.

• John Curtin Global Excellence Scholarship: 40% off tuition for up to four years of an undergraduate degree. It requires a course-weighted average (CWA) of 95% or equivalent in your most recent study, and a CWA of at least 70% from the second study period.
• Curtin Global Merit Scholarship: 20% off tuition for up to four years. It requires Distinction-level results or equivalent.
• Global Future Leaders Scholarship: a one-off AU$10,000 tuition credit, paid as AU$5,000 in each of two study periods. It requires Credit-level results or equivalent and at least 1.5 years of study at a WA campus.
• Curtin does not publish how the Gaokao, A-levels, IB or Canadian marks map to these levels; Curtin Admissions decides.

8. Key points by applicant

Students at high schools in China (Gaokao, A-level, IB, AP):

• Guaranteed ATAR 70: about 67% in the Gaokao (503/750), 5 A-level points or IB 24; AP must be combined with a US high school diploma
• Prepare for IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); Semester 1 closes 28 January
• You are automatically considered for the 40%, 20% and AU$10,000 scholarships

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• 60% in your high school diploma; 60% in final-year English meets the English requirement

Transfer students:

• Admissions assesses credit when you apply, and you can request more after your offer; a year at a North American university meets the English requirement

Sources: Curtin University, Bachelor of Commerce; Bachelor of Business Administration; Applying with overseas qualifications; Overseas qualifications recognised by Curtin (PDF); English language requirements; Accepted English qualifications and tests; How to apply as an international student; Credit for recognised learning; International scholarships; John Curtin Global Excellence Scholarship; Curtin Global Merit Scholarship; Global Future Leaders Scholarship. Information is for 2027 entry. Check Curtin for the latest details.