Accounting
Accounting is the language of business. A study in accounting provides capability and credibility across a broad spectrum of careers. It opens the door to many other markets and professions where the ability to understand and interpret financial information is the key capability. Students are provided with the opportunity to develop strong, technical, analytical and problem-solving skills, whilst keeping abreast of contemporary issues in accounting practice. A feature of the Business School's program is that it takes an analytical perspective of how accounting is practised and how it should be practised. These and other questions are explored in an atmosphere that encourages a sense of enquiry.
Options for studying Accounting
Students not enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce or related combined Bachelor of Commerce degrees can complete either an Accounting major or minor as a Table S (shared pool) option for their degree.
Please note that completion of the Accounting major is not sufficient for associate membership to CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand (CAANZ). A direct professional accreditation pathway covering all the required core knowledge criteria is only available through the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Economics.
Commerce students can only complete an Accounting major or minor as a Table A option for their degree.
Pathways through the major and minor
The requirements for a major/minor in Accounting are spread out over three years of the degree (four years if students are completing a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree).
(i) Accounting major
To achieve a major in Accounting, students must complete 48 credit points comprising:
- 12 credit points of 1000-level core units of study;
- 12 credit points of 2000-level core units of study;
- 12 credit points of 3000-level core units of study; and
- 12 credit points of 3000-level selective units of study.
A sample pathway for the Accounting major (over three years of a degree) is listed below.
Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence to that displayed in the table below.
Sample pathway – Accounting major (48 credit points)
| Year | Session | Units of study | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Semester 1 | Core: BUSS1030 Accounting, Business and Society | |
| Semester 2 | Core: ACCT1006 Accounting and Financial Management | ||
| Second | Semester 1 | Core: ACCT2011 Financial Accounting A | |
| Semester 2 | Core: ACCT2019 Management Accounting | ||
| Third | Semester 1 | Core: ACCT3011 Financial Accounting B | Selective: 3000-level unit listing for major |
| Semester 2 | Core: ACCT3600 Accounting and Auditing in Practice * | Selective: 3000-level unit listing for major | |
* Capstone unit for the major – completed in the final semester of study for that major. This unit of study must be completed at the University of Sydney Business School.
For details of the core and selective units of study required for the major or minor please refer to the Accounting section of the unit of study table, Table S, in this handbook.
(ii) Accounting minor
To achieve a minor in Accounting, students must complete 36 credit points comprising:
- 12 credit points of 1000-level core units of study;
- 12 credit points of 2000-level core units of study; and
- 12 credit points of 3000-level selective units of study.
Sample pathways for the Accounting major and minor (over three years of a degree) are listed below.
Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence to that displayed in the following table.
| Year | Session | Units of study |
|---|---|---|
| First | Semester 1 | Core: BUSS1030 Accounting, Business and Society |
| Semester 2 | Core: ACCT1006 Accounting and Financial Management | |
| Second | Semester 1 | Core: ACCT2011 Financial Accounting A |
| Semester 2 | Core: ACCT2019 Management Accounting | |
| Third | Semester 1 | Selective: 3000-level unit listing for minor |
| Semester 2 | Selective: 3000-level unit listing for minor |
For details of the core and selective units of study required for the major or minor please refer to the Accounting section of the unit of study table, Table S, in this handbook.
Bachelor of Advanced Studies with Honours in Accounting
Honours in Accounting commences in semester one; there is no mid-year intake.
Students enrolled in a degree combined with the Bachelor of Advanced studies who complete a major in Accounting with a weighted average mark of 70% (within the first three years of their degree) may be eligible to complete honours in Accounting as their fourth year of study in this combined degree program. Students will need to have completed any requirements of their degree not satisfied with the completion of honours (including both majors, all core units, all Open Learning Environment units, and any elective units as necessary to ensure they meet degree requirements) by the end of their third year of study to proceed to honours in their fourth year of study.
The available units of study for Honours in Accounting are listed in Table A Honours units of study in the Business School Handbook.
For details of the requirements for admission, completion and the criteria for the awarding of honours, please refer to the Degree and Faculty resolutions.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the Accounting major students will be able to:
| No. | Mid-Level Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| 1 | Use accounting systems and processes to produce business entity reports. |
| 2 | Appropriately apply accounting and regulatory requirements to produce accounting reports and financial statements. |
| 3 | Use budgets, costing and cost control, business planning, internal control, and performance management to inform management decision-making. |
| 4 | Apply contemporary audit practice within regulatory requirements in order to validate published financial reports and to inform shareholders and stakeholders. |
| 5 | Provide accurate technical tax advice to clients and produce the required written documentation. |
| 6 | Analyse and interpret commercial, economic and business information to develop solutions and responses to business problems and challenges. |
| 7 | Identify the risks and implications of misstatement, both financial and non-financial facing, in business evaluation. |
| 8 | Communicate persuasively both orally and in written business reports and audit procedures. |
| 9 | Collaborate effectively with others in a professional business manner as team members and leaders and in interactions with clients. |
| 10 | Apply ethical decision-making criteria and sustainability considerations as part of management accounting expertise in a broad business context. |
Further information
For further information regarding study in accounting at the University of Sydney, please refer to the Discipline of Accounting.