When you choose to study business, you’re not only investing time in getting your qualification – you’re also investing in setting up a course for your future. So, is studying business the right path for you?
Here are five important questions you should ask yourself before launching into a business degree.
Why do I want to do a Business Degree?
This is an important question to think about – not just as a way of answering your friends, family and university application papers, but more importantly as a means to carefully consider your own goals, passions and pursuits before starting your degree. Giving proper thought as to where you’d like to head in the future will definitely help guide you in the right direction when making decisions now, especially about where, when and in what business-related field you’ll be studying.
Having a good starting idea of what you want to use your business degree for – and really honing in on the specific steps you can take to make those dreams a reality – can make all the difference.
Which major should I focus on?
So, you’ve decided that yes – your heart’s in this. You have a goal to reach. The next question you might ask is – specifically, to reach that goal, what kind of business degree do you want to do?
Are you aiming to become an entrepreneur? An economist? A business analyst? Do you want to start up your own business during or after graduation?
If you have a specific goal in mind, you may want to consider a specialisation – for example, a Bachelor of Business (Business Economics) or Bachelor of Business (Entrepreneurship) to gain specialist knowledge. Other specialisations may include areas like human resources, International business, management or marketing. If you can, chose majors which best align with your career goals and aspirations. Whilst a general business degree might offer you a bigger perspective of business industry landscapes, focusing on a specialisation can also allow you to really pinpoint and target your studies to become an expert in a more specific field.
Are there any industry placements or work experience opportunities?
It’s important to find degrees which foster, encourage and offer work experience opportunities you can use to learn and grow, even beyond the classroom. Will this degree connect you to a network of other potential business mentors, collaborators and classmates, career services, professional alumni, corporate connections and work experience opportunities or programs? Does it encourage or offer student internships, work integrated learning, practical industry placements or similar chances to experience a real business or workplace environment?
Having some degree of real life work experience is tremendously important, as it affords you practical skills and a knowledge of Australian work-culture which signals to potential employers that you are capable, experienced and work-ready!
Do you want to focus on studying a single degree, or take a combined degree?
Combining your specialist business field with other fields like Arts, Commerce, Financing, International Relations, Laws and Legal Practices (etc!) will see you being trained in two disciplines, broadening your skill-sets and, excitingly, will afford you the opportunity to study a course really tailored to your specific interests.
In an already competitive job market, taking a combined course may well give you that extra edge that will really set you apart from other students. It may open you up to exciting job prospects not readily available to those who only studied one degree, and can strengthen your chances of getting a job in both chosen disciplines. What’s more, it’s a smart move, saving time and money – you’ll earn two degrees with just 1-2 more years of extra study (as opposed to taking two separate long courses).
Is this the right university for me?
It should be a given – but before you apply, take a look at your desired university’s website, social media pages and course outlines. Do the learning outcomes of the course match up with your own values, aspirations and expectations for what you want to study? Do you feel that the culture of your desired university is conducive to exploration, efficient learning and personal growth in all the areas you want to explore?
The absolute best way to check this all out is to actually go to the universities. Attend Open Days, speak with current students doing your degree, chat with the teachers – and really find out if the university is the right fit for you!
Choose the road which best works for you, and you’ll no doubt soon be on your way and ever closer to achieving your career aspirations and business goals. Just remember, again – don’t be afraid to ask yourself – and others – lots of questions!
Best of luck with the degree!
