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Science is a more popular undergrad university degree than commerce among Australia's top CEOs

Sharon Masige

  • A new report has found science to be the most popular undergraduate degree among Australia's top CEOs.

  • Commerce was the next most popular undergrad degree, followed by having no degree at all.

  • The report also found 60% of the Top 50 CEOs didn't complete a postgraduate degree.

A new report has found that studying science is the most popular pathway to becoming a top CEO in Australia.

The inaugural Australian Top 50 CEO 2019 report from Apollo Communications looked at the characteristics of chief executives from the top 50 companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Among the list of companies were Commonwealth Bank, Qantas, BHP, Woolworths and Wesfarmers.

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The report found that science was the most popular undergraduate degree among the top Aussie CEOs. 13 CEOs were found to have undertaken a Bachelor of Science degree, including Coles CEO Steven Cain, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and AMP CEO Francesco de Ferrari.

Commerce degrees were second place, followed by having no degree at all.

Surprisingly, the report found that 60% of the top 50 CEOs didn't complete a postgraduate degree. But of those who did, two thirds completed an MBA (Masters of Business Administration).

In terms of the reasons why CEOs undertake postgraduate study, the report said they "range from wanting a sense of personal achievement or to satisfy curiosity in a specific subject area, through to ensuring that they have the complete skillset to reach their professional objectives."