Entry to this plan of study is at first year only, through the scholarship selection procedures administered by the Co-op Program Office.

The Finance (Honours) Co-op Program is a four year degree program which combines the requirements of the Bachelor of Commerce with 15 months of coordinated industrial experience. Industrial training extends outside university sessions. Co-op students are required to maintain a Distinction Average and meet the Honours entry requirements.*

Note*: With the approval of the Head of School, students who fail to meet the performance requirements for Honours may substitute an approved selection of Finance courses for Level 4 courses and will be awarded a Pass degree. [See Academic Rules, Rule 9, 9.4]

The following rules govern the award of the Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Co-op).

Rule 1 - Pass and Honours Degrees

1.1 The degree of Bachelor of Commerce in Finance Co-op is a four year degree program for which Honours will normally be granted. There shall be three classes of Honours, namely Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions and Class 3.
1.2 With the approval of the Head of School, students who fail to meet the performance requirements for Honours may substitute approved Banking and Finance and other courses for Level 4 courses and be awarded a Co-op Pass degree.

Rule 2 - Disciplinary Minors

It is not possible for students to complete the requirements of two majors in the Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Finance Co-op degree and they must therefore choose options so that they complete equivalent to a “disciplinary minor” in a discipline other than their finance major. A “disciplinary minor” is defined specifically for Finance Co-Op students as three approved session courses for non-core minors or four approved session courses for core minors from disciplinary areas within the Faculty.

Rule 3 – Entry and Continuation Conditions

3.1 Entry to the program is conditional upon:
a. meeting the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Commerce degree
b. the selection process for Finance Co-op Scholarships
3.2 Except in exceptional circumstances, continuation in the program is conditional on meeting the performance standards required to maintain the Co-op Scholarship. Students who lose their scholarship and are therefore excluded from continuing in the program will be transferred to a Bachelor of Commerce degree program and the relevant requirements.
3.3 Students must achieve a minimum average mark of 70% in Banking and Finance courses to remain in the program.

Rule 4 - Assessable Hours

4.1 On Campus Courses: Normal workload expectations for courses run in “on campus” mode are a minimum of 25 hours per session per unit of credit, including class contact hours, preparation and time spent on all assessable work.
4.2 Industrial Training: Normal workload expectations for industrial training courses are a minimum of the normal working hours per week for the site at which the student is based during the duration of the course, and program requirements as determined for placement.

Rule 5 – Passing in a Course

Where, in the following rules, reference is made to the requirement that a student shall pass a course, the requirement shall be constructed as meaning that the student shall complete assignments, laboratory work, other set work and an examination or examinations by the prescribed dates to the satisfaction of the Head of the School concerned.

Rule 6 - Normal Program

The program leading to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Finance Co-op comprises 192 units of credit to be completed over a period of four academic years. Except in exceptional circumstances, a student must enrol in a minimum of 12 units per session and will not be permitted to enrol in more than 24 units.
Except in exceptional circumstances, students are required to undertake the Industrial Training Courses at the following times during the degree program:
A. Industrial Training 1 in the summer between first and second year
B. Industrial Training 2 in the first half of their third year
C. Industrial Training 3 in the second half of their third year

Rule 7 - Minimum Time for Completion

The minimum time for completing the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Finance Co-op is eight sessions full-time and Industrial Training.

Rule 8 - Academic Program Requirements: BCom 3502

To complete the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Finance Co-op a student must complete and pass 192 units of credit which shall include:
8.1 The compulsory courses set out in the program requirements.
8.2 12 units of approved General Education courses offered by faculties other that the Faculty of Commerce and Economics.
8.3 A major of at least 48 units in Finance (which must be passed at an average distinction level) in Level 1-3 courses, in addition to Industrial Training units, and a minor in another approved disciplinary stream.
8.4 A student cannot:
8.4.1 count more than 60 units of Level 1 core and elective courses towards their degree unless in exceptional circumstances;
8.4.2 attempt General Education courses until they have attempted 48 units of mainstream courses;
8.4.3 count mainstream courses offered by other faculties as substitutes for General Education courses towards more than 6 units of General Education requirements;
8.4.4 count a mainstream course offered by faculties other than the Faculty of Commerce and Economics both as a substitute for a Commerce and Economics option and as a substitute for a General Education elective.

Rule 9 - Honours Degree

9.1 Honours may be taken in Banking and Finance only.
9.1.1 Students who achieve the performance standard for the Co-op Finance Honours Degree program at the conclusion of Stage 3, must complete the Level 4 requirements in Stage 4, or transfer to the standard BCom pass degree.
9.2 Honours degrees will not be awarded if academic performance is below the prescribed level.
9.3 Except in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Head of School to continue in the Honours program students must:
9.3.1 achieve a minimum average mark of 75% in Banking and Finance courses taken in years 1, 2 and 3 of the program, and
9.3.2 pass all components of the program at the first attempt.
9.4 Students who fail to meet the performance requirements for Honours:
9.4.1 may substitute approved Banking and Finance or other courses within the Faculty of Commerce and Economics (students wishing to undertake a major in accounting must have the approval of the Head of School of Accounting) for Level 4 courses and be awarded a Co-op Pass degree, and
9.4.2 shall not be permitted to enrol in Financial Decision Making Under Uncertainty, Advanced Topics in Asset Pricing, Research Methods in Finance 2, Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance, Recent Developments in Banking Research, Special Topics in Finance and Thesis (Finance).

The Co-op Program provides outstanding scholars with the opportunity of undertaking their course work in the Bachelor of Commerce degree with industrial training experience. By combining their degree with hands-on practical experience, Co-op scholars are provided with an excellent opportunity for furthering their knowledge and skills in partnership with sponsor organisations. The Honours (research) component of the School of Banking and Finance's Co-op model is also a central component of preparing future leaders of the finanical services industry.

The Finance (Honours) Co-op program receives applications each year Australia-wide from high calibre scholars completing their final year of secondary education. For further information about the Co-op program, including application procedures, please see:

http://co-op.web.unsw.edu.au

Current sponsors of the Finance (Honours) Co-op Program at UNSW include:

Australian Stock Exchange
ABN Amro
Commonwealth Bank
Deutsche Bank
JP Morgan
Westpac
St George Bank
Sydney Futures Exchange
UBS