Overview
Become a business leader of the future
The Bachelor of Business (Economics) is a versatile degree where you will learn how the world of business works and gain the skills to interpret global information and events.
Level
- Undergraduate, NZQF Level 7
Campus
- Auckland, Manawatū
Distance learning
- Available
Duration
- 3 year(s) full-time. Available part-time.
International
- Available for international students studying in NZ or via distance learning
A versatile major, the Bachelor of Business (Economics) trains you in understanding how the economy operates at both micro and macro levels.
You will study the business environment, the role of competition and the connections between different sectors in the economy. You will learn about the effects the world economy has on New Zealand business and people. This includes what the government can do to foster healthy businesses and advance innovation, but also about effects of excessive government interventions.
In this major you can specialise in a number of areas including: international trade and finance, resource and environmental economics, financial economics, managerial economics and public policy.
Our lecturers and professors are actively researching both nationally and internationally, bringing the most relevant developments in business theory and practice to the classroom.
The Bachelor of Business will give you the leadership, communication and critical thinking skills that will make you a sought-after employee. It will give you skills you can use in many different types of businesses, in New Zealand and around the world.
You will gain a good grounding in economic fundamentals as well as a broad understanding of the core elements of business.
Careers and further study
Careers
There are career opportunities in both public and private sectors, large and small firms, international agencies, education sector, economic policy makers and social organisations. The following are examples of some of the career options:
- agricultural economist
- business analyst
- economic consultant
- energy research officer
- environmental economist
- financial policy advisor
- health economist
- international economist
- institution development coordinator
- energy researcher
- competition analyst
- trainee dealer.
Government agencies such as Treasury, The Reserve Bank, the Ministry of Business and Innovation, and international agencies such as World Bank or International Monetary Fund all recruit economics graduates.
An economics degree can also be a gateway to employment in many other areas, like management, planning, politics, education, finance and banking, or in journalism and the media. You can design your economics major to suit your interests and career objectives.
Further study
You may wish to consider the Master of Business Studies and then a PhD upon completion of this programme.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
Entry requirements
University admission
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Programme admission
Required
There are no specific entry requirements for this programme, outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
If you do not have the entry requirements
English language and foundation courses
Before you start
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
- English Language Proficiency
- Foundation Certificate in Academic English
- Foundation Certificate in Advanced Academic English
- Full Foundation - Certificate in Foundation Studies
While you study
The language used in the study of business can be technical. If English is not your first language and you would like to increase your confidence in academic English we recommend you incorporate one of both of these programmes as electives. This will support the successful completion of your Bachelor of Business.
- 192.101 is Academic English for ESOL Students. It includes advice, practice and assessment of reading, writing, speaking and listening at University for students from non-English-speaking backgrounds.
- 192.102 is Academic Writing for ESOL Students. It includes advice, practice and assessment in essay and report writing for students from non-English-speaking backgrounds.
These courses both include research based written assessments of more than 1000 words.
Summer School
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
Courses and planning
Credit summary
360 credits
- Core courses – 120 credits
- Major courses – 120 credits
- Electives – 120 credits
Ensure that overall, you have:
- Not more than 180 credits at 100 level (including no more than 90 credits of 100‑level electives)
- At least 75 credits at 300 level (including at least 15 credits of 300‑level electives, if necessary)
You could replace electives with a second BBus major, or some electives with a recognised minor.
Courses for this specialisation
Compulsory courses
| 75 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 178200 | Macroeconomics | 15 |
| 178201 | Microeconomics | 15 |
| 178250 | Contemporary Economic Issues | 15 |
| 178280 | Economic Analysis and Applications | 15 |
| 178352 | Survey of International Economics | 15 |
Compulsory course selection
| 15 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 178300 | Macroeconomic Policy and Applications | 15 |
| 178301 | Microeconomic Theory and Applications | 15 |
Subject courses
| 30 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 115388 | Internship in Business | 30 |
| 115389 | Business Internship | 15 |
| 178300 | Macroeconomic Policy and Applications | 15 |
| 178301 | Microeconomic Theory and Applications | 15 |
| 178360 | Environmental Economics | 15 |
| 178370 | Development Economics | 15 |
| 178380 | Applied Econometrics | 15 |
Planning your programme
Planning overview
Core business courses
Core courses are compulsory. These are courses which cover topics across the business spectrum. They are designed to give you the leadership, communication and solid business skills that you will need in your career.
The BBus provides considerable flexibility, enabling you to take control of your own programme within the regulations.
Capstone course
‘Capstone’ courses are designed to be taken in your last year of study. This relies on you having completed the correct first and second year courses and ties your learning together.
Minors
Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.
A minor must be in a different subject from your major.
A Bachelor of Business (Economics) with a minor
You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another undergraduate degree, the regulations of that programme will apply.
An Economics minor (for students who are studying a different degree)
If you are not studying a Bachelor of Business (Economics) and wish to complete a minor in Economics see the BBus regulations for the requirements of this minor.
Fees and scholarships
Fees and finance
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student homepage login
A good fit if you:
- have an interest in the world of finance
- enjoy working with numbers
- think analytically and logically.
Meet our students
“
While challenging, I found the economics major at Massey to be extremely versatile, interesting and valuable. I developed strong quantitative, qualitative and critical thinking skills throughout. Skills that have enabled me to apply for, and deliver tangible change within, a wide range of jobs.
” Jessica Black
Accreditations and rankings
Massey Business School is rated in the top 5% of global business colleges by AACSB International.
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 300 universities for business and management.
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 300 universities for economics and econometrics.
Massey University is ranked #1 in New Zealand and in the top 150 universities globally for business administration and finance by ShanghaiRanking.
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Regulations
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
Undergraduate programmes
Applying and enrolling
Applying for the programme
Check you are ready
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
Choose your programme and click on Apply now
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
Receive and accept an Admission Offer of Place
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
Enrolling in courses
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
- prerequisites (courses you have to do before the one you are enrolling in)
- corequisites (courses you have to do at the same time as the one you are enrolling in)
- restrictions (courses that you cannot enrol in if you are completing or have completed another identified similar course)
- location – for instance some distance-based courses still have an on-campus element, so double check that the way the course is taught is suitable for your situation.
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
What are courses and credits?
What are courses and credits?
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
- See the ‘Courses for this programme’ section for the list of courses.
- Courses search
Understanding course numbers
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
- sub-degree courses are '0' (i.e. xxx.0xx)
- undergraduate study begins at 100-level, (i.e. xxx.1xx)
- as you progress through 200- and 300-level courses this number changes to 2 and 3 respectively. The higher the number that starts the second three digits, the higher the level of study
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
About electives
Electives are courses that are not compulsory. Certain guidelines are usually provided on courses you may take. Elective courses contribute to the programme, but not to your major or specialisation.
Elective courses can be chosen from any area of study that interests you, as long as it fits the timetable for courses for your Bachelor of Business.
We do recommend that you choose one of the following for your electives in your first year: 161.101 Statistics for Business or 161.120 Introductory Statistics.
These courses will assist with your numeracy abilities.
If English is not your first language we also recommend you include English language electives as part of your study. See the ‘If you do not have the entry requirements’ section for more.
Workload and time management
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
Scholarships and awards
Scholarships related to this programme
- FUJIFILM Business Innovation Global Student Exchange Scholarship
- FUJIFILM Business Innovation Scholarship for Women
- McEwan Pacific Student Scholarship
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.