The Bachelor of Accounting is designed to develop your knowledge and skills in reporting, analysing and managing financial resources in business and government entities. In addition to meeting the education requirements for membership of the Australian accounting professional bodies, the degree offers flexibility for you to study in related disciplines of your interest, including finance, business information systems, management, marketing, international business and corporate sustainability.
You will be equipped with the ability to critically analyse emerging accounting issues, and be inspired by the professional and scholarly accounting research that provides you with insights into issues underlying the accounting numbers, thus fostering your academic and professional competence. Gaining these academic and professional attributes will enhance your accounting career opportunities, or pursuance of advanced accounting studies.
The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its some fifty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Learning Outcomes
- Integrate theoretical and technical accounting knowledge in a business context.
- Exercise judgement under supervision to provide possible solutions to routine accounting problems in straightforward contexts using where appropriate social, ethical, economic, regulatory, sustainability, governance and/or global perspectives.
- Critically apply theoretical and technical accounting knowledge and skills to provide possible solutions to routine accounting problems.
- Justify and communicate accounting advice and ideas to both specialists and non-specialists.
- critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
- identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
- evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
- communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
- understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.
Further Information
Students wishing to qualify for membership of CPA Australia must enrol in BUSN2101 Law of Business Entities, INFS2005 Accounting Information Systems and BUSN3014 Principles of Taxation Law. BUSN3002 Auditing is optional, but students are strongly advised to complete it in their degree. Students who do not complete this course at university must complete it in the CPA program in order to advance to CPA status.
Students wishing to qualify for membership of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand must also enrol in BUSN3002 Auditing, In addition to BUSN3014 Principles of Taxation Law, BUSN2101 Law of Business Entities and INFS2005 Accounting Information Systems.
Electives:Students have 48 units of electives in a single degree program. Electives can be selected from CBE or other Colleges. No more than 10 courses at 1000 level.
Students wish to undertake an out of college elective may contact the relevant College directly.
Student Responsibility:
It is the student's responsibility to select electives in such a way that:
- they satisfy prerequisites for the corresponding course/s.
- they conform to the rules set out in Programs and Courses or if unsure seek advice from the CBE office.
FDD with Law (ALLB):
Due to incompatibilities between (BUSN1101 and LAWS1204) and (BUSN2101 and LAWS2203), student will need to select three courses other than BUSN1101 and BUSN2101 from the second list of courses (that is, select three courses from BUSN2036, BUSN3008, BUSN3017 and INFS2005).
You will meet the prerequisites of BUSN3014 by studying LAWS1204.
FDD with Commerce:
Bachelor of Accounting cannot be combined with Bachelor of Commerce with an Accounting major.
Students wishing to qualify for membership of CPA Australia must enrol in BUSN2101 Law of Business Entities, INFS2005 Accounting Information Systems and BUSN3014 Principles of Taxation Law. BUSN3002 Auditing is optional, but students are strongly advised to complete it in their degree. Students who do not complete this course at university must complete it in the CPA program in order to advance to CPA status.
Students wishing to qualify for membership of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand must also enrol in BUSN3002 Auditing, In addition to BUSN3014 Principles of Taxation Law, BUSN2101 Law of Business Entities and INFS2005 Accounting Information Systems.
Electives:Students have 48 units of electives in a single degree program. Electives can be selected from CBE or other Colleges. No more than 10 courses at 1000 level.
Students wish to undertake an out of college elective may contact the relevant College directly.
Student Responsibility:
It is the student's responsibility to select electives in such a way that:
- they satisfy prerequisites for the corresponding course/s.
- they conform to the rules set out in Programs and Courses or if unsure seek advice from the CBE office.
FDD with Law (ALLB):
Due to incompatibilities between (BUSN1101 and LAWS1204) and (BUSN2101 and LAWS2203), student will need to select three courses other than BUSN1101 and BUSN2101 from the second list of courses (that is, select three courses from BUSN2036, BUSN3008, BUSN3017 and INFS2005).
You will meet the prerequisites of BUSN3014 by studying LAWS1204.
FDD with Commerce:
Bachelor of Accounting cannot be combined with Bachelor of Commerce with an Accounting major.
Admission Requirements
- ATAR:
- 80
- International Baccalaureate:
- 29
Prerequisites
There are no formal program prerequisites. But assumed knowledge is:-ACT: Mathematical Methods (Major) or NSW: HSC Mathematics Advanced or equivalent. More information about interstate subject equivalencies can be found here.
Adjustment Factors
Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant's Selection Rank (for example an applicant's ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.
Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded.
You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:
- applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
- undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
- achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
- not previously attempted tertiary study.
Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.
Indicative fees
Bachelor of Accounting - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Bachelor of Arts - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $46,680.00
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Accounting flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 48 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 96 units must include:
24 units from completion of minor in Business and Economics Essentials
30 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
BUSN1002 Accounting Processes and Systems
FINM1001 Foundations of Finance
BUSN2011 Management Accounting
BUSN2015 Company Accounting
BUSN3001 Accounting Theory
18 units from completion of courses from the following list:
BUSN1101 Introduction to Commercial Law
BUSN2101 Law of Business Entities
BUSN2036 Financial Statement Analysis
BUSN3008 Financial Reporting By Corporations
BUSN3017 Corporate Social Responsibility, Accountability and Reporting
INFS2005 Accounting Information Systems
18 units from completion of courses from the following list:
BUSN3002 Auditing
BUSN3003 Advanced Management Accounting
BUSN3006 Public Sector Accounting
BUSN3008 Financial Reporting By Corporations
BUSN3014 Principles of Tax Law
BUSN3017 Corporate Social Responsibility, Accountability and Reporting
BUSN3051 Accounting Analytics
6 units from completion of courses on List 1 of the ANU College of Business and Economics
If your flexible double degree is within the College of Business and Economics (for example Commerce and Economics), the below study plan may show the same course twice. If this is the case, you must only do the course once and replace the other course with a University Wide Elective or CBE List 1 elective. Please note that you cannot exceed 8 out of college electives.
The minor in Business and Economics Essentials will not be listed on transcripts for students completing the Bachelor of Accounting.
For majors and minors offered by the ANU College of Business and Economics, students may count a course towards multiple majors and minors. If a minor is a subset of all stated courses and/or prerequisites for a major, then completion of the major overrides completion of the minor, and only the major is regarded as having been completed.
The Bachelor of Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 96 units must consist of:
48 units from the completion of one of the following majors
MAJORS
Disciplines and Fields
Technology, Networks and Society
Languages
Geographically Defined Area Studies
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Indian and South Asian Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
EITHER:
48 units from completion of a second major from the list above
OR
24 units from completion of one of the following minors, which must have a different name to the major
MINORS
Disciplines and Fields
Technology, Networks and Society
Languages
Geographically Defined Area Studies
Asian and Pacific Anthropology
Asia and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Asian-Pacific International Relations
Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
Indian and South Asian Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
ANIP
ANIP3007 Australian National Internships Program D *
And 24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU
OR
48 units from completion of two of the above minors, which must have different names to the major
Majors
Bachelor of Arts Majors
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient History
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Biological Anthropology
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Criminology
- Development Studies
- Digital Humanities
- Economic Studies
- English
- Environmental Studies
- French Language and Culture
- Gender, Sexuality and Culture
- Geography
- German Language and Culture
- Global Security
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Evolutionary Biology
- Human Rights
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Language and Culture
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Music
- Music Technology
- Musicology
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Performance
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sanskrit Language
- Screen Studies
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish
- Technology, Networks and Society
- Thai Language
- Vietnamese Language
- War Studies
Minors
Bachelor of Accounting Minors
Bachelor of Arts Minors
- Advanced Ancient Greek
- Advanced Arabic
- Advanced Chinese Language
- Advanced French Studies
- Advanced German Studies
- Advanced Italian Studies
- Advanced Japanese Language
- Advanced Korean Language
- Advanced Latin
- Advanced Persian
- Advanced Sanskrit Language
- Advanced Spanish Studies
- American Studies
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient History
- Anthropology
- Applied Linguistics
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Archaeology of Aboriginal Australia in its Regional and Cultural Context
- Art History and Theory
- Asian and Pacific Anthropology
- Asian and Pacific Archaeology
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian and Pacific Linguistics
- Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
- Asian Art History
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Asia-Pacific International Relations
- Asia-Pacific Politics
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Australian Politics
- Biological Anthropology
- Burmese Language
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Climate Science and Policy
- Composition, Arranging and Sound Design
- Contemporary Europe
- Criminology
- Demography
- Design
- Development Studies
- Digital Humanities
- Economic Studies
- English
- English Language
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Studies
- Forensic Anthropology
- Forensic Linguistics
- French Language and Culture
- Gender and Sexuality
- Geography
- German Language and Culture
- Global Security
- Health, Medicine and the Body
- Heritage and Museum Studies
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Ecology
- Human Evolutionary Biology
- Human Rights
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Language and Culture
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Literary Chinese
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Mongolian Language
- Music
- Music Technology
- Musicology
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Performance
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Philosophy and Science
- Political Science
- Popular Music
- Russian
- Russian and Central Asian Studies
- Sanskrit Language
- Screen Studies
- Social Psychology
- Social Research Methods
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish
- Sustainable Development
- Technology, Networks and Society
- Tetum Language
- Thai Language
- Tibetan Language Minor
- Tok Pisin Language
- Vietnamese Language
- Visual Arts Practice
- War Studies
Study Options
| Year 1 | BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis 6 units | STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods 6 units | Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units |
| BUSN1002 Accounting Processes and Systems 6 units | FINM1001 Foundations of Finance 6 units | Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units | |
| Year 2 | ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units | BUSN2015 Company Accounting 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units |
| ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units | BUSN1101 Introduction to Commercial Law 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | |
| Year 3 | BUSN2011 Management Accounting 6 units | BUSN2101 Law of Business Entities 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units |
| BUSN3001 Accounting Theory 6 units | INFS2005 Accounting Information Systems 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | |
| Year 4 | BUSN3014 Principles of Tax Law 6 units | BUSN3002 Auditing 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units |
| Accounting course from the List 6 units | CBE LIST 1 Elective course 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units |
Back to the Bachelor of Accounting page
The Bachelor of Accounting is designed to develop your knowledge and
skills in reporting, analysing and managing financial resources in
business and government entities. In addition to meeting the education
requirements for membership of the Australian accounting professional
bodies, the degree offers flexibility for you to study in related
disciplines of your interest, including finance, business information
systems, management, marketing, international business, corporate
sustainability and economic studies.
Single degree
- This degree requires 144 units
- A maximum of 60 units of 1000 level courses
- 15 compulsory courses
- 9 electives (of which 1 must be CBE List 1 elective courses)
Commencing Semester 1:
Semester 1
- BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis - 6 units
- ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 - 6 units
- STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods - 6 units
- FINM1001 Foundations of Finance- 6 units
- ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1- 6 units
- BUSN1002 Accounting Processes & Systems - 6 units
- BUSN1101 Introduction to Commercial Law - 6 units
- List 1 Elective Course - 6 units
Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2
- ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 - 6 units
- BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis - 6 units
- STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods - 6 units
- BUSN1101 Introduction to Commercial Law - 6 units
Double degree
- This degree requires 96 units of CBE courses
- A maximum of 48 units of 1000 level CBE courses
- 15 compulsory courses
- 1 CBE List 1 elective courses
Commencing Semester 1:
Semester 1
Semester 2
Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2
About this degree
Single degree
In a Bachelor of Accounting single degree
program you will study a total of 144 units. Typically you will take 4
courses per semester (total
of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 24 courses
across
your whole degree. You will need to complete a minimum of 16 CBE courses (96
units) but will also get to choose 8 courses (48 units) from other ANU
Colleges. You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a
non-CBE subject, the choice is yours.
Double degree
In a Bachelor of Accounting double degree
program you will study a total of 16 courses (96 units). Typically you will take 4
courses per semester (total
of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 16 courses (96 units)
across
your whole degree. However, for each semester you are likely to take 2
courses from your Accounting degree and then 2 courses from the other half
of you degree - still a total of 4 courses a semester.
Enrolment Status
It is possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester but it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be enrolled full-time in 24 units each semester.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
When you enrol for the first time you will study ‘1000-level’ courses. These courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code, such as ECON1101.
Please also note that:
- You need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester.
- In your first year, you cannot study more than four courses (24 units) per semester, eight for the year.
- You may take 1000-level courses later in your program. But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) in total towards your single degree.
- You can change your enrolment via ISIS in courses up until the Monday of Week 2.
Electives
You can use your electives to enrol in any courses that you like, provided you meet prerequisite requirements.
- Remember that you can choose up to 8 courses from another ANU College if you are undertaking the single Bachelor of accounting degree.
- If you are in a double degree, your electives must be CBE courses.
- Don't forget the maximum number of 1000 level courses is 10 in single degree.
Study Options
Bachelor of Accounting
This is a typical study plan for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Accounting degreeStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis 6 units | ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units | STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods 6 units | FINM1001 Foundations of Finance 6 units |
| BUSN1002 Accounting Processes and Systems 6 units | ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units | BUSN1101 Introduction to Commercial Law 6 units | CBE Elective 6 units |
Bachelor of Accounting - Double Degree
This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Accounting with another degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts (degree B).Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis 6 units | ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units |
| STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods 6 units | ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units |
Disciplines
For further information on specific discipline you can:
- Find information here (http://cbe.anu.edu.au/students/)
Academic Advice
Please refer to the CBE Fast Track page:
https://www.cbe.anu.edu.au/fasttrack
Back to the Bachelor of Arts page
Course selection
Enrolling for the first time can seem like a big task. Below, you will find an example enrolment pattern for your first year of study.
There are a few items to note:
- Courses coded in the 1000 range are appropriate for first-year students. We strongly recommend that students new to tertiary study enrol in first-year courses during their first semester.
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you pick your later year courses.
- The tables below represent only one possible combination. You are welcome to pick and choose from any other 1000-coded course found under the “Study Tab”.
- The tables below assume you are new to tertiary study and ineligible for course credit.
Single degree
Students starting in Semester 1 or Semester 2 –single degree Bachelor of Arts, example
Semester 1
Arts major
Arts minor
Elective
Elective
Semester 2
Arts major
Arts minor
Elective
Elective
Search Programs and Courses for the full list of available Majors and Minors and select a 1000-level that contributes to that major/minor.
Other first year courses available: to find all other 1000-level courses, refer to the Catalogue of Programs and Courses. You may refine your selection on the right-hand column of the webpage.
Double degree
Students starting in Semester 1 or Semester 2 – double degree Bachelor of Arts, example
Semester 1
Arts major
Arts minor
Course from other degree
Course from other degree
Semester 2
Arts major
Arts minor
Course from other degree
Course from other degree
Electives
Study Options
Study Plan
Please refer to the "Study" tab.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | Arts major | Arts minor | Elective | Elective |
| Arts major | Arts minor | Elective | Elective |
Study Plan
Please refer to the "Study" tab.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | Arts major | Arts minor | Course from other degree | Course from other degree |
| Arts major | Arts minor | Course from other degree | Course from other degree |
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
Other important information for new students
Please refer to the New students page. You will find all the information you require to activate your ANU email account, enrol into courses and our O week details.
Need help?
If you would like further information or advice regarding your degree, please contact the Student Office. We offer appointments, and you can reach us at students.cass@anu.edu.au.
You can also check out our in person opening hours and location on the CASS Student Office webpage.