CM58 - Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting

Overview

Course Overview

The Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting offers you the opportunity to experience University-level studies in fields such as accounting, financial services, and business management. You will learn key accounting and financial services approaches and develop foundational skills that prepare you to become valued accounting professionals. Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting allows you to learn how to build foundation accounting and business management skills and prepares you for the future world of work. The undergraduate certificate also offers an opportunity to acquire new skills or add to existing qualifications. An Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting is a pathway to further study of higher awards, such as a Diploma or Bachelor degree in Accounting.

Career Information

The Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting offers students the opportunity to experience University-level studies in fields such as accounting, financial services, and business management. Students learn key accounting and financial services approaches and develop foundational skills that prepare them to become valued accounting professionals.Graduates will have the skills and knowledge to choose from a broad spectrum of occupations including administration officer/manager, economics advisor, or consultant. You will have diverse employment opportunities and the ability to advance from an entry-level position involving business analysis and decision-making in business, government or non-profit organisations.

Course Details
Duration 0.5 years full-time or 1 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 24
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Undergraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) UGCertAcct
AQF Level Level 5: Diploma
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,496
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $9,144
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,778

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable
Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.

Domestic Availability

Term 3 - 2026

Online

Term 2 - 2026

Online

Term 1 - 2026

Online

Term 3 - 2025

Online

Term 2 - 2025

Online

Term 1 - 2025

Online

Term 3 - 2024

Online

Term 2 - 2024

Online

Term 1 - 2024

Online

Term 3 - 2023

Online

Term 2 - 2023

Students must successfully complete the course by the end of Term 1 2025.
Online
Show All

International Availability

Term 3 - 2026

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2026

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2026

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 3 - 2025

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2025

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2025

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 3 - 2024

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2024

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2024

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 3 - 2023

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2023

Students must successfully complete the course by the end of Term 1 2025.
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at https://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
Entry Requirements - What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Rank Threshold SR 50 | ATAR 50
Academic Requirements

English Language Proficiency Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:

  • A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or

  • An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or

  • Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:

  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or

  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or

  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.

If you are an International student please visit International students English requirements for further information.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Assumed Knowledge

Recommended study - English (4, SA), Mathematical Methods

Security Requirements
No information available at this time
Health Requirements
No information available at this time
Fees and Charges
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Not applicable

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

Not applicable

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 1
Inherent Requirements
There are Inherent Requirements (IRs) that you need to be aware of, and fulfil, to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course. IRs are the essential capabilities, knowledge, behaviours and skills that are needed to complete a unit or course.

Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.

If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.

Ethical Behaviour

Examples are:

  • Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy and Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedures, and Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
  • Demonstrating honesty and integrity in academic and accounting practice.
  • Critically reflecting on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ethically correct decisions and/or ensuring awareness of applicable ethical thinking and behaviour.

Behavioural Stability

Examples are:

  • Being reflective with personal behaviours appropriate for professional performance and being positive and receptive to processing constructive supervisor/lecturer feedback or criticism.
  • Successfully processing and coping with your own emotions and behaviour when dealing with individuals or peers in the professional environment.
Legal Compliance

Examples are:

  • Functioning with an awareness and understanding that Accounting practice is mandated by specific legal and regulatory requirements and standards to enable the professional delivery of practice.
  • Having knowledge of and compliance with Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards, which informs and determines accounting practices.
  • Applying appropriate legal principles and disclosure requirements in preparing financial reports.
  • Complying with the policies and practices of organisations in which you may be placed for find employment.
  • Complying with the requirements for registration with the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB).
Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal, Written and Technology)

Examples are:

  • Understanding and responding to verbal and communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner.
  • Providing clear instructions in the context of the situation.
  • Providing accurate, timely, clear feedback and reporting in the delivery of accounting practice.
  • Delivering interactivity with your communication (timeliness, accuracy and effectiveness) to resolve complex problems and maintain trusting and effective relationships.
  • Verbally communicating in the English language with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness.
  • Actively participating in discussion activities related to the course.
  • Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual or group.
  • Establishing rapport with clients in the delivery of accounting practice and respond appropriately to clients, supervisors and other professionals.
  • Recognising, interpreting and responding appropriately to behavioural cues.
  • Being self-aware of your own use of non-verbal cues during interactions.
  • Having sensitivity and empathy to cultural, religious and individual differences.
  • Being able to consistently display appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, body movements and gestures while being mindful of personal space and boundaries.
  • Being able to demonstrate effective non-verbal communication that is respectful, clear, empathetic, honest and non-judgemental when communicating with students, families and professional colleagues.
  • Effectively and appropriately communicating, in written English, in a wide variety of contexts to engage in activities related to the course and in professional settings.
  • Acquiring, understanding, applying and conveying information in a written format.
  • Competently and appropriately producing written assessment work in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar and punctuation to the required academic standards.
  • Expressing complex and detailed information and knowledge into a logical and legible report, in a timely manner that meets professional standards and clearly communicates the intended message.
  • Accurately conveying and documenting information in a written form that meets legal and accounting practice requirements.
Cognitive Abilities (Knowledge and Cognitive Skills, Literacy and Numeracy)

Examples are:

  • Demonstrating the mental functioning and thinking capacities to deliver competent accounting practice.
  • Having the cognitive capacity to acquire theoretical knowledge as well as develop the cognitive processing skills to successfully undertake the course, its learning activities and assessments.
  • Having the capacity to acquire, process, integrate and implement a comprehensive body of knowledge and skills in both academic and professional practice settings.
  • Competently and consistently demonstrating the ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information in accounting practice.
  • Acquiring and interpreting evidence and accurately conveying appropriate information both in data and numerical formats.
  • Having the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts, principles and operations and competently communicate and demonstrate these in a range of contexts to solve a variety of mathematical problems associated with accounting practice.
  • Demonstrating the capacity to undertake complex financial analysis of accounting reports, including the use of Excel spreadsheet software.
Sensory Abilities (Visual, Auditory, Tactile)

Examples are:

  • Engaging in active listening, reacting and responding appropriately to information provided, and providing advice verbally.
Relational Skills

Examples are:

  • Communicate effectively with a variety of clients, using a range of communication skills and tools.
  • Work effectively with your fellow students.
  • Development of active listening skills to facilitate effective communication, avoid miscommunication and arrive at accurate conclusions.
  • Patience and avoiding or diffusing interpersonal conflict.
  • Trustworthiness and confidentiality.
  • Approachability and warmth to facilitate communication and encourage innovation and mutual cooperation.
Reflective Skills

Examples include:

  • Demonstrating an understanding of how theory as well as personal, social and cultural experiences relate to practice or personal or professional knowledge.
  • Discovering and challenging own underlying assumptions.
  • Making connections between personal and work experiences and what is being learnt.
Sustainable Performance

Examples are:

  • Managing lengthy complex meetings.
  • Planning time and workload effectively including the ability to self-manage competing commitments and take responsibility for own wellbeing.
  • Responding to assessment tasks under time pressure and/or invigilated or exam conditions as required by the accrediting authorities.
Interpersonal Engagement

Examples include:

  • Being able to work effectively and respectfully in a team situation.
  • Being able to communicate effectively with your peers, using a variety of media, such as oral and written communications.
  • Having emotional intelligence to understand the needs and feelings of others.
  • Having the ability to work in a team.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Abilities

Examples are:

  • Competently and ethically using prescribed Artificial Intelligence systems.
  • Having the ability to use ICT appropriately and effectively in a wide range of accounting contexts.
  • Demonstrating sufficient computer knowledge and skills to engage in the on-line learning environment that may include completing relevant on-line assessments, participating in various on-line forums, responding to emails and using spreadsheet software such as Excel.
  • Preparing accounting entries and/or reports using accounting specific ICT.
  • Processing and presenting information relevant to accounting by using specific software programs and Excel spreadsheet software.
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Identify and act on possible solutions to routine accounting and management problems in straightforward contexts using where appropriate social, ethical, economic, regulatory, sustainability, governance and/or global perspectives
  • 2. Demonstrate the application of theoretical and technical accounting knowledge in a business context
  • 3. Use initiative and judgment in a diverse team to collaboratively provide possible solutions to routine accounting problems in a straightforward context.
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3
1. KNOWLEDGE Have technical and theoretical knowledge and concepts, with depth in some areas within a field of work and learning
2. SKILLS Have cognitive and communication skills to identify, analyse, synthesise and act on information from a range of sources
3. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and communication skills to analyse, plan, design and evaluate approaches to unpredictable problems and/or management requirements
4. SKILLS Have specialist technical and creative skills to express ideas and perspectives
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer knowledge and specialised skills to others and demonstrate understanding of knowledge
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate application with depth in some areas of specialisation, in known or changing contexts
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical and/or creative skills in a range of situations
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate personal responsibility and autonomy in performing complex technical operations with responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad parameters for quantity and quality
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement to organise the work of self and others and plan, coordinate and evaluate the work of teams within broad but generally well- defined parameters
10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications
11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units
12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications
13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units
14. Course content drawn from higher education units
KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
Number of units: 4 Total credit points: 24

Not applicable

The core Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting units consists of four core units in the Bachelor of Accounting.

Year 1 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
ACCT11059 Accounting, Learning and Online Communication
ACCT11081 Introductory Financial Accounting
ECON11026 Principles of Economics
LAWS11030 Foundations of Business Law
More Details

As outlined in the Australian Qualifications Framework, The Undergraduate Certificate is a higher education qualification, formally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Undergraduate certificates are accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

Students have until 30 June 2025 to successfully complete their Undergraduate Certificate in Business Studies/Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting.