Accounting courses
Do you love focusing on details and solving problems that others can’t? Accounting may be the career for you. With the right qualification, you’ll have the confidence you need to decode complex financial cases, navigate tax law and guide businesses on their financial responsibilities.
Harness your natural talent for numbers and start your career with the support of Open Universities Australia. Whether you're interested in studying a Bachelor of Accounting or upskilling with a Master of Accounting, we can help you explore online accounting courses with some of Australia’s leading universities.
Why should you study accounting?
With your strong business and financial acumen, you’ll be qualified to work in almost any industry. After finishing your accounting degree online, you will have the flexibility to choose from financial roles in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.
Accounting is a career that can offer you:
- Job stability. The world always needs more accountants, and demand is expected to be strong over the next five years. Nearly 225,000 accountants will be employed in Australia by 2025.
- High earning potential. Experienced or specialist accountants can earn upwards of $100,000 per year.
- Freedom to travel with your work. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are becoming the norm in the accounting industry. Large firms like Deloitte and KPMG even allow employees to work remotely for extended periods while travelling overseas.
Discover accounting courses online
Discover online accounting subjects
What you'll learn in an accounting course
As an accounting student, you’ll learn the fundamentals of accounting and finance so you can embed yourself in any business. Expect to cover corporate law, taxation, auditing and assurance, financial management and economics.
Some courses also allow you to explore other areas that are in-demand with employers, including:
- data analytics for accounting
- taxation law
- financial decision making and strategy
- management accounting
- sustainability accounting
- business management and leadership
No matter the path you choose, know that you’ll graduate with an ability to solve complex financial problems, which will make you an asset in the business world. Your course may also make you eligible to join an industry body like CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, which can lead to more varied job opportunities.
Accounting course FAQs
Open Universities Australia can help you find an online accounting course that’s right for you—whether that’s a short course, single subject or degree.
If you’d like to become a fully qualified accountant, you should consider a Bachelor of Commerce or a Bachelor of Business with a major in accounting. Both qualifications are recognised by the main accounting bodies, and will help you become accredited.
Those who already have a degree in another discipline may be eligible to enrol directly in a postgraduate accounting qualification, like a Graduate Certificate or Masters Degree.
It depends on what—and how—you choose to study.
As a general guide:
- A Bachelor Degree is equivalent to three years of full-time study.
- A Graduate Certificate is equivalent to six months of full-time study.
- A Graduate Diploma is equivalent to a year of full-time study.
- A Masters Degree is equivalent to two years of full-time study.
That said, if you choose to study online through Open Universities Australia, you can control how long it takes to complete your qualification. You have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take at once, and scale them up and down as it suits you. While some universities will require you to complete your course in a set time period, other universities have no limit at all.
If you’d like to find out more about this, reach out to us directly and our friendly student advisors can help you out.
Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open entry subjects, which anyone can study. Chat with us to find out more.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
Student stories and study advice
Why study online through Open Universities Australia?
Find the right course for you
Explore and choose from thousands of degrees, subjects and short courses from leading Australian unis.
Start studying, regardless of academic history
We offer entry without requirements through single undergraduate subjects from full degrees.
Gain credit towards your degree
Apply for credit for past study, or your work experience, and finish your studies faster.
Graduate with a degree from a leading uni
Enrol through us and graduate with exactly the same qualifications as on-campus students.
Feel supported from start to finish
Our student advisors can guide you in the right direction and help with your enrolment.
Get going with OUA
Compare and apply
We’ll help you find the right course for you. Our student advisors are ready to answer your questions.
Work out your finances
During your enrolment, we’ll offer you the option to pay upfront in full, or defer your payment using a student loan. Remember to look into income tax deductions for course fees and study-related expenses.
Get credit for your success
We won’t let your hard work go unrecognised. Choose to take a single subject, or combine your work as part of a degree.
Get help every step of the way
Our student advisors can assist you with enrolment, help you plan your studies, and answer questions about how studying through Open Universities Australia can get you from where you are today, to where you want to be tomorrow.