Professional accreditations

Within the Bachelor of Commerce (and related combined programs), students may choose to pursue a program of study that would allow them to seek accreditation with particular professional bodies.

Professional accounting accreditation

(i) CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)

Completion of an accredited degree is a recognised pathway to a career in professional accounting. Subject to a reaccreditation review due in semester 1 2018, the Bachelor of Commerce, and the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, can provide a recognised pathway to a career in professional accounting, and associate membership in CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) through accreditation of these degrees.

Students enrolled in these degrees need to complete the Professional Accounting program in order to complete all the required accredited units of study covering the foundational competency areas to meet the joint accreditation requirements for CPA Australia and/or CAANZ. These required accredited units are listed in the professional accounting accreditation link in the Accounting Discipline area of the Business School website where information on accreditation and accredited units is updated regularly.

As accredited units are subject to review by the professional accounting bodies, students are advised to check the CAANZ and CPA Australia websites for units accredited in the year they commenced their course.

If required, the CPA/CAANZ Accreditation Liaison Officer in the Discipline of Accounting can provide further advice on professional accounting accreditation.

(ii) Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Students who complete the Bachelor of Commerce (with a major in Accounting) may be eligible to receive four exam exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).Students who complete other accredited units of study are also eligible for additional ACCA exam exemptions.

These required accredited units are listed in the professional accounting accreditation link in the Accounting Discipline area of the Business School website where information on accreditation and accredited units is updated regularly.

Further information on ACCA exam exemptions can be found on the ACCA exemptions enquiry database.

Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) accreditation

Students wishing to satisfy the requirements for professional membership of AHRI should complete an Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major as part of their degree. The required units of study for the major are listed under the Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management subject area. All undergraduate degrees incorporating a major in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management are AHRI-accredited.

CFA® program partners

CFA Institute® partners with globally diverse, high profile institutions who cover a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge TM and who embrace the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct in their degree programs. CFA program partnership is recognition that the university curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA exams.

The University of Sydney is recognised as a program partner through the Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Finance) degree program. The required units of study for the major are listed under the Finance subject area. In addition to the Finance major, it is also recommended that students complete the free online learning module, Ethics and Standards of Practice available through the CFA Institute.

Students are advised to refer to the CFA Program Partners information on the Business School website for further information.