Intakes: 

2024: February, July

Duration: 
3 years
Location: 
Fees: 

2024: $16,700*

*fee per semester

Application due dates:
We are currently accepting applications for this course.

Overview

Gain sought-after accounting expertise and CPA accreditation by studying a Bachelor of Accounting in the heart of Melbourne at Victoria University (VU).

Graduate career-ready with an accounting degree that gives you both technical and professional skills, plus a strong knowledge of global trends in accounting.

Based at VU’s new 32-level City Tower in Melbourne CBD, you’ll develop the skills you need to succeed in the workplaces of the future and become qualified for accreditation with CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).

A Bachelor of Accounting will equip you with skills to: 

  • execute case studies and business plans
  • assess and execute evidence-based projects with real clients
  • adapt cross-disciplinary knowledge to evaluate business decisions with creativity
  • develop specialist knowledge in accounting, data analytics and finance to succeed in the profession.

You’ll also develop highly-valued professional skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and collaboration, and effective communication.

As part of your accounting degree, you’ll have the opportunity to work with real clients in the unique VU Tax Clinic, under the supervision of expert chartered accountants.

Gain real-world experience assisting individuals and small business owners with tax matters, including lodging tax returns, applying for tax file numbers (TFNs) and Australian business numbers (ABNs), assisting with pay as you go (PAYG) withholding and instalments, and more.

Working directly with clients as a student practitioner will improve your confidence and increase your prospects of being offered paid roles after graduation.

Get work-ready by taking advantage of extensive opportunities to engage with industry, including workplace-based projects, authentic case study activities and sessions with accounting industry guest speakers.

Your Bachelor of Accounting includes at least two units known as ‘capstones’, in which you’ll take part in multidisciplinary group projects based on industry clients or research challenge competitions. You’ll interact with clients to capture data and information, complete gap analyses and provide expert solutions.

As a VU accounting student, you also be offered short-term workplace assignments, part-time or casual employment or voluntary work in an area relevant to your studies.

In your first year, you’ll develop essential core accounting skills. Then, in second year, you’ll further prepare yourself for your accounting career by choosing a major in one of the following areas:

  • financial planning
  • business analytics
  • risk management
  • finance
  • data and information systems management.

Whichever of these majors you choose, you’ll open the door to a wealth of additional career opportunities beyond the traditional role of an accountant.

You may also complete two minors to expand your knowledge and enhance your employability. 

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Accounting is accredited by CPA Australia, one of the world's largest accounting bodies and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), a worldwide network of finance leaders.

Careers in Accounting

Take advantage of the huge growth in the accounting industry, with 17,900 new jobs expected by 2026.

When you graduate from a Bachelor of Accounting from VU, you’ll have the skills to prepare you for a career in any accounting firm, large or small. Depending on your major, you can also apply for roles far beyond traditional accountancy.

As an accountant, you can earn high salaries working in commerce, public or chartered accounting firms, government organisations, not-for-profit sectors, or as an individual practitioner.

Career opportunities include:

  • accountant including certified practising, chartered, or forensic/investigative
  • auditor
  • budget analyst
  • business analyst
  • business risk and governance consultant
  • tax consultant/certified tax agent
  • financial analyst, controller, project manager
  • stockbroker
  • data analyst.

As well as sought-after technical and theoretical accounting knowledge, you’ll have strong analytical, communication and financial skills. 

Course structure

To attain the award of Bachelor of Accounting, students will be required to completed 288 credit points consisting of:
-
96 credit points of First Year Core studies
-
96 credit points of Professional Core studies
-
96 credit points made up of either:
Option A:
-
96 credit points of Major studies from the approved list
OR
Option B:

- 48 credit points of Minor studies BMIFPS Finance and Professional Skills AND
- 48 credit points of Minor studies from the approved list

First Year Core Units

Professional Core Units

Majors

Minors

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Integrate conceptual and technical understandings of business with advanced knowledge within the discipline and demonstrate skills to apply digital technologies;  
  2. Critically review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of business in diverse contexts, including local and global contexts;  
  3. Critically analyse and exhibit ethical and professional judgment and effective decisions by adapting the knowledge and skills to both anticipate and solve complex problems;  
  4. Persuade by communicating a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and skills in both oral and written form to a range of audiences; and,  
  5. Reflect on personal learning and skills in relation to career goals and implement effective, creative strategies to promote lifelong learning and professional development.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
PLUS:
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score or 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
OR:
Completion of a Foundation course or equivalent.

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 72 credit points of study.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

How to apply

We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.

Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.

Apply

If you have questions, please get in touch:

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.