Bachelor of Accounting

What you’ll learn:

1. Financial Accounting: Generate logical solutions to finance problems that are fit for purpose. Gain awareness of the impact financial decisions have on businesses.
2. Management Accounting: Develop the technical skills to analyse information and support decisions that enhance value for customers and shareholders.
3. Company Accounting: Learn the technical skills to help prepare accounting information and financial statements.
4. Taxation: Understand the Australian taxation system and the basic principles of Australian income tax, fringe benefit tax and goods and services taxation legislation.
5. Auditing: Understand the nature and purpose of auditing within the regulatory auditing environment.
6. Financial Statistics: Use data to analyse and interpret information to guide business decisions in a variety of contexts.

What is the Bachelor of Accounting?

Swinburne Online’s Bachelor of Accounting is an undergraduate degree that builds the technical and analytical skills needed for careers in accounting and finance.

The course is designed so you’ll also gain industry experience by working on projects with clients that include: Build Pass, Inception Point, Insurance Brokers, and more.

You’ll develop practical, career-ready skills using industry-leading software like Tableau and Xero, while gaining invaluable insights by engaging with industry experts and building a robust professional network. Our curriculum is designed to support your long-term success, with pathways toward accreditation from major bodies such as CAANZ, CPA, IPA, ACCA, and CIMA, all underpinned by our elite AACSB International accreditation – a distinction held by only 5% of business schools globally.

Whether you’re passionate about problem-solving, working with numbers, or driving real-world business decisions, this course provides the stable demand and strong career prospects you need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

How you’ll study

• The Bachelor of Accounting runs across three Teaching Periods per year.
• Expected study load is between 8–10 hours per unit, per week.
• Set your own study pace by taking one or more units per Teaching Period.
• You’ll have 24/7 access to your online classroom, discussion boards, and learning content.
• Learning is delivered through interactive materials, including videos, quizzes, podcasts, diagrams, and written content.

Who is this course for?

• Analytical problem-solvers who enjoy working with numbers and data
• Career starters looking to build a future in accounting, finance or business
• Professionals seeking an accredited pathway towards becoming an accountant

Recommended study pattern

To be awarded the Bachelor of Accounting you must complete 24 units in total made up of:

• 6 Core Business Units
• 8 Accounting Major Units
• 8 Elective Units
• 2 Capstone Units

Each year is split into 3 Teaching Periods. You can choose to study full-time or part-time depending on your preference.

Core units

These are foundational units in major business study areas:

Learning and Communicating for Innovative Business Practice (COM10011)

Financial Information for Decision-Making (ACC10007)

Economics for Business Decision-Making (ECO10005)

Contemporary Management Principles (MGT10001)

Business Digitalisation (INF10024)

Law of Commerce (LAW20019)

Accounting Major units

Accounting major units are designed to dive into practical, future-focused study:

Financial Information Systems (ACC10008)

Management Accounting for Planning and Control (ACC20007)

Company Accounting (ACC20013)

Taxation (ACC30005)

Accounting Theory (ACC30008)

Auditing (ACC30010)

Financial Statistics (FIN10002)

Financial Management (FIN20014)

Capstone units

Sustainable Business Practice (BUS30031)

Business Consulting Project (BUS30032)

Capstone units are designed to:

• Combine the skills you’ve gained throughout your degree.
• Allow you to apply your knowledge to real business problems.
• Provide an opportunity to collaborate with peers and gain hands-on experience.
• Help you build the confidence you need to transition into the workforce with practical skills.

Recommended Electives

Tailor your course to suit your strengths, interests, and career goals by choosing elective units—free-choice units that can be from any discipline. Here’s what our Swinburne Online academic staff recommend for this course:

Forensic Accounting (ACC30003)

Planning for Career Success (CAR10001)

Big Data Management (INF20016)

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Accounting students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

• Eight [8] core units of study (100 credit points); AND
• Eight [8] units of study from the Accounting major (100 credit points); AND
• Eight [8] units of Secondary studies (100 credit points) comprising of a second major, minor/s, or electives; OR
• Sixteen [16] units of study from the Accounting and Financial Planning major (200 credit points).
• Students may not complete more than 125 credit points (normally 10 units) at Introductory Level.

A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $52,197

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Study on your own terms with this forward-thinking university.

It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

Learn more about Swinburne University of Technology

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

19

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

15

Applicants are required to meet one of the following minimum entry requirements:

• A completed or partially completed tertiary qualification (e.g. relevant Certificate IVs, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, incomplete or complete Bachelor’s degree); or
• 4+ years of relevant work experience; or
• Recent Year 12 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent completion, with the required English study score.

Credit for Prior Learning

If you have completed recent prior studies you may be eligible to request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous studies related to your chosen subjects.

This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, where every applicant is assessed individually.