BCom vs BBA: Which program should you take?

The degrees are separate programs and cannot be taken at the same time. Both can be used as undergraduate degrees prior to a Master of Business Administration. Whether to do a BCom or BBA will depend on a student’s goals. The key difference between BBA and BCom is one of scope and focus: a BCom provides students with in-depth knowledge of business, accounting, administration, finance and economics, while a BBA focuses more on managerial, operational and marketing skills.

What is a BBA?

The Bachelor of Business Administration is a four-year curriculum that gives students a foundation on the principles of management and business. Upon completion of their BBA degree, students often pursue professional experience or continue their education by earning an MBA.

The BBA program aims to equip students with managerial abilities, professional skills and intellectual aptitude through a blend of general and business education. It also highlights the importance of developing leadership skills, as this can increase a student’s chances of securing managerial positions in organizations.

After earning a BBA degree, students will be able to:

• Understand how to create effective strategies and manage finance;
• Comprehend the theories and techniques used in successful organizations;
• Recognize the relationships that exist between various business environments, whether national or global.

What is a BCom?

The Bachelor of Commerce is a four-year undergraduate degree program that encompasses a broad range of commerce and related subjects. In contrast to the BBA, which focuses primarily on business administration and management, the BCom curriculum has a broader scope and covers a diverse range of subjects. The program is structured to help students build managerial and analytical skills, financial literacy, business knowledge and leadership abilities. The learning experience is engaging and interactive, utilizing methods such as participating in class discussions and lectures, analyzing case studies and engaging in team activities.

Upon finishing a BCom program, graduates can:

• Use managerial and financial tools to assess basic business issues critically;
• Research and analyze business systems, processes and functions in the context of local, regional and global conditions;
• Apply contemporary business methods to problems and contexts;
• Create ethically and legally sound proposals, plans and projects;
• Organize information to communicate persuasively to target audiences;
• Demonstrate critical thinking and reflection skills in course deliverables;
• Work productively in a collaborative and multicultural environment.

Two reasons why a BCom is better than a BBA are:

• Readiness for entrepreneurship and employment: Unlike the BBA, which focuses on preparing students for management positions, the BCom degree prepares students for both the corporate world and entrepreneurship. Graduates of this program possess a strong foundation in business and financial knowledge, making them equipped for both employment and starting their own businesses.
• Wide range of career opportunities: In comparison to BBA degree holders, BCom degree holders have access to a diverse array of career paths, including consulting, accounting, marketing, investment banking, foreign trading, budget planning, banking and capital management.

BCom at UCW

The Bachelor of Commerce is one of the flagship programs at University Canada West, which aims to provide students with broad knowledge about modern businesses and their practices, thus allowing them to contribute to the global economy.

The BCom at UCW is ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) accredited, which focuses on a continuous improvement model defining student learning results and recognizing teaching excellence. This ACBSP accreditation ensures that recognized business programs provide students with skills that boost their employability.

UCW’s Bachelor of Commerce consists of a four-tier framework that helps students learn efficiently. Moreover, the modules in the framework are crafted in such a way as to help students hone business skills and perspectives, research skills, team performance skills and writing skills.

Published on February 10, 2023.