Gain skills and knowledge in banking
If you’re studying commerce and want a sharp and practical edge in finance, enrol in the Banking minor within your Bachelor of Commerce (BCom). You can also add it to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc).
You’ll gain specialist knowledge of banking regulation and learn the fundamentals of bond pricing and risk management. You’ll build skills in financial analysis, risk assessment, legal compliance, and strategic decision-making—skills valued in the banking and financial sectors.
You’ll graduate with a strong foundation in the financial and legal sides of banking, including investments and financial markets. This can help prepare you for a career with commercial or retail banks, investment firms, or financial regulators.
Why Wellington
Wellington is a rewarding place to learn Banking. The city has a strong financial infrastructure— the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is here, along with many banks and other financial institutions—supported by legal and advisory firms catering to the sector. This means you’ll have an academically rich learning experience that is closely tied to financial practice.
Wellington is also New Zealand’s financial regulatory and policy centre—it hosts New Zealand’s major public-sector financial institutions and regulatory bodies. This means you’ll have opportunities to attend guest lectures, take internships, and network with professionals in economic policy, monetary regulation, and financial oversight.
Choose your study path
You can study Banking as a minor, but not as a major. Compared to a major, a minor has fewer courses. You’ll need to choose a different subject as your major.
Banking is one of the subjects in the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom). You can also take it as a minor in some of our other undergraduate Bachelor’s degrees, including the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc).
To gain a minor in Banking, you need to do four courses at 200- and 300-level—taken in the second and third years of your degree. You also need to complete the core requirements for your degree and major subject.
What you’ll learn
For the Banking minor, you study:
- the legal environment of business, including the effect of the legal system and legislative process on the business environment
- selected areas of the law as it relates to banking, including bank-customer, liability of paying and collecting banks, and the Reserve Bank and its functions
- the institutions, markets, and instruments of the financial system, as well as the theory and practice of asset valuation and portfolio selection.
Major subjects that go well with Banking
A Banking minor gives you a strong foundation in banking and the financial sector.
If you’re studying for a BCom, combining it with a major like Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Management helps you understand how money flows through businesses, markets, and the wider economy. These combinations are useful in roles that value analytical thinking, financial literacy, and decision-making.
If you’re studying for a BA or BSc, you could add a Banking minor to subjects such as Data Science, Mathematics, or Public Policy.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Study options
Find out how you can study Banking at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Future careers
The Banking minor provides a strong platform for an engaging and future-focused career in the financial sector. By combining this minor with a relevant major, you’re developing specialist know-how that can set you apart when you’re applying for internships or graduate roles at banking, financial, and commercial institutions.
Graduates with a minor in Banking can move into a wide range of finance roles. It’s common to start your career in roles in:
- banking analysis
- credit or lending
- risk or compliance advice
- treasury or financial markets
- investment or wealth management.
You’re likely to find these roles in organisations that value strong financial insight, like commercial, retail, and investment banks, insurance companies, and government agencies.
More career information
Find out more about careers in economics and finance.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for business and government subjects
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This Scholarship is to support young Māori women studying at Wellington School of Business and Government.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Banking
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In honour of Jonathan Nicholls (ACC's Head of Actuarial Services who passed away in early 2015), ACC wishes to promote the actuarial profession in much the same way that Jonathan did. ACC is dedicated to supporting Actuarial Science students and others looking to pursue a career in the actuarial profession.
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This scholarship is to assist students in the last year of their first Bachelors degree at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship fund will be awarded equally between male and female students.
International recognition
Wellington School of Business and Government is among the top 1% of business schools worldwide that hold the ‘Triple Crown’ of international business education accreditations. By studying here, you can be confident your qualification will be recognised globally for its quality.
Postgraduate study
Once you’ve completed your undergraduate degree, if you’re aiming at specialised or senior roles, you can deepen your expertise with postgraduate study in Finance, Economics, or Professional Accounting.
We offer many postgraduate qualification pathways, such as a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma, an Honours degree, or a Master of Commerce. Eventually, you might consider enrolling in a PhD.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.