Bachelor of Accounting
Undergraduate
USA-BCA-DEG 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Account for a global business career.
Account for your career as an accountant, tax, business advisor, auditor or risk consultant. Quantify methods, study numbers or figure out complex finances. Count on strategy to multiply your core business knowledge. Audit global influences.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 36 months
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Accounting
About this degree
Designed specifically for online learning, the 100% online Commerce (Accounting) degree will develop your business knowledge, and skills in financial and management accounting, taxation, company law, and auditing.
You will learn about the types of influences affecting global business from economic to legal and political impacts.
In this degree, you will firstly begin with the core business subjects to provide you with a solid grounding in areas including:
- Accounting and quantitative methods for business
- Business law, finance, business intelligence and data management
- Economics and marketing principles
Following this, you will focus on your accounting specialisation and learn skills such as:
- Financial and management accounting
- Taxation and company law
- Auditing
- Sustainability accounting
- Global and contemporary accounting issues
- Strategic financial analysis
This program was previously known as Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting).
Study On Demand – a 100% online Commerce (Accounting) degree designed specifically for online learning. Take full control over your study - access support seven days a week, plan your study to fit around your life, view learning resources 24/7, and log into the interactive online environment anywhere, any time and on any device.
This is a globally competitive degree respected internationally for its quality and relevance to the accounting profession. Ranked in the top one per cent worldwide*, UniSA Business is one of the largest leading providers of accounting and finance education in Australia and Asia.
This 100% online degree is accredited by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, CPA Australia, and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
*UniSA Business is one of just ten institutions in the country and 180 globally to be accredited by EQUIS, from a total pool of 16,500 Business Schools worldwide, EFMD, February 2020.
Recommended study pattern
Note: The program structure is subject to change at any time. (Information correct as at October 2023)
Year 1
- Business and Society (BUSS 1067) or Elective
- Accounting for Business (ACCT 1011)
- Business Law (LAWS 1019)
- Quantitative Methods for Business (MATH 1075)
- Financial Accounting 1 (ACCT 1012)
- Marketing Principles: Trading and Exchange (MARK 1018)
- Principles of Economics (ECON 1010)
- Elective 1^
Year 2
- Financial Accounting 2 (ACCT 2015)
- Career Development in Business (BUSS 1066)
- Management Accounting (ACCT 2016)
- Business Finance (BANK 2010)
- Business Intelligence (INFS 2038)
- Financial Accounting 3 (ACCT 3014)
- Companies and Partnership Law (COML 2020)
- Management and Organisation (BUSS 2081)
Year 3
- Sustainability Accounting and Reporting (ACCT 3015)
- Auditing Theory and Practice (ACCT 3012)
- Contemporary Issues in Accounting (ACCT 3013)
- Taxation Law 1 (ACCT 3016)
- Elective 2^
- Elective 3^
- Elective 4^
- Strategic Financial Analysis (BUSS 3098)
^ This course may be chosen from any of the UniSA Online elective courses. Course pre-requisites must be satisfied.
*Assessment requirements for this degree include at least one online exam. The online exam software has system compatibility requirements, specifically that tablets, hybrid devices and mobile devices are not supported. Please refer to the online exam requirements prior to conducting your exam to ensure your computer and software is compatible to undertake the exam.
*Recognition for prior learning (RPL) may be granted for this subject to students who have completed relevant work experience as per the UniSA Online RPL framework. Further credit will be assessed in line with the UniSA RPL policy.
Award requirements
Students must complete 24 subjects including 4 electives.
Choose your subjects
Electives
Suggested Electives
- Managing Decision Making - BUSS 3095
- International Management Ethics and Values - BUSS 3094
- Strategic Management - BUSS 3097
- Organisational Leadership - BUSS 3096
- International Business Environments - BUSS 3107
- Organisational Entrepreneurship - BUSS 3108
- Applied Financial Planning - BANK 3015
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $43,797
The amount shown here is 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.
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is ranked as one of the best young universities in the world, and is the number one university in Australia for graduate employability. UniSA offers over 200 world-class degrees that are informed by industry and delivered with a highly practical approach to teaching and learning, and is a valuable partner with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about UniSA.
Explore UniSA courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 21
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 21
How to apply
University of South Australia manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to University of South Australia who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
This UniSA Online degree is currently available for Commonwealth supported students.
Applicants are required to fulfil at least one of the following requirements with a competitive result and meet any other academic requirements for the program:
- successfully completed equivalent to a minimum of half a year of full-time study of a higher education program at a recognised higher education provider
- completed an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV level or above
- passed a UniSA Online literacy and numeracy test and have relevant work experience
- completed a secondary education qualification equivalent to SACE, such as an interstate year 12 or international qualification
- completed a UniSA Foundation Studies Program or equivalent
- qualified for Special Entry
Students who do not meet these criteria can start studying now by enrolling in the subjects below. Students will be eligible to apply upon successful completion of four subjects and all subjects will be credited towards the degree.
- BUSS1066 Career Development for Business
- MARK1018 Marketing Principles: Trading and Exchange
- MATH1075 Quantitative Methods for Business
- ECON1010 Principles of Economics
UniSA Online offers four start dates throughout the year so you can apply as soon as you’re ready. As part of your application, UniSA Online will share information about the next available study period for this program.
If you have previous work experience, or have studied before, you could fast-track your studies by reducing the time it takes to complete your degree.
Career opportunities
As a graduate, you'll gain strong communication skills with important reporting, analytical, decision-making and problem solving skills. These will be invaluable to launch or advance your career.
As a UniSA Online graduate, you’ll be eligible for membership with CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the global Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Association of International Accountants (AIA), and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Graduates could consider the following careers:
- Practicing accountant
- Tax accountant and advisor
- Forensic accounting
- Business advisor
- Auditor/Risk consultant
Professional recognition
The degree is accredited by:
- CPA Australia and satisfies the educational requirements for entry into the CPA Program.
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and satisfies the educational requirements for entry into the Chartered Accountants Program.
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and recognised for maximum exemptions for an accelerated pathway into CIMA's professional qualification.
This degree is also recognised for maximum exemptions towards:
- the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants' (ACCA) professional programs of study.
- the Association of International Accountants' (AIA) professional examinations.
Career outlook
- Accountants:
- $75K to $93K
- Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers:
- $93K to $120K
- Finance Managers:
- Over $120K
- Financial Investment Advisers and Managers:
- Over $120K