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Course Overview
Career Information
Modern professional accountants are multi-skilled and dynamic. They enjoy a wide range of career opportunities in areas such as assurance services, consulting services, information technology (IT) services, forensic accounting, international accounting, strategic management, taxation and financial planning. The ability to give worthwhile business advice and guidance is increasingly becoming critical.
Given the need for financial accountability and cost effective decision making in most organisations throughout the world, qualified accountants are essential to a wide range of businesses, government departments and not-for-profit organisations.
| Duration | 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time |
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| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 144 |
| 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 | Each unit at this level, typically requires 144 hours of student commitment over a period of 12 weeks. |
| Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | BAcct |
| AQF Level | Level 7: Bachelor Degree |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2026
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
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.
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Domestic Availability
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Term 3 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 3 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 3 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 3 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 3 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 3 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 3 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 3 - 2020
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 3 - 2019
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Term 2 - 2019
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Term 1 - 2019
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Term 3 - 2018
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Term 2 - 2018
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Term 1 - 2018
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Term 3 - 2017
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Term 2 - 2017
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Term 1 - 2017
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Term 3 - 2016
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Term 2 - 2016
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Term 1 - 2016
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Term 3 - 2015Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 2 - 2015Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 1 - 2015Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 3 - 2014Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 2 - 2014Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 1 - 2014Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
International Availability
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Term 3 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 3 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 3 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 3 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 3 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 3 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 3 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 3 - 2020
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 3 - 2019
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Term 2 - 2019
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Term 1 - 2019
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Term 3 - 2018
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Term 2 - 2018
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Term 1 - 2018
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Term 3 - 2017
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Term 2 - 2017
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Term 1 - 2017
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Term 3 - 2016
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Term 2 - 2016
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Term 1 - 2016
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Term 3 - 2015Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 2 - 2015Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 1 - 2015Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 3 - 2014Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 2 - 2014Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
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Term 1 - 2014Students wishing to study the financial planning major will only be able to study financial planning courses via distance education.
| Rank Threshold | SR 60 | ATAR 60 |
English and mathematics
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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| Exit Awards | Not applicable |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
No Residential School for this course.
Practicum/Work Placement
| Not applicable |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 356 |
| 2024 | 293 |
| 2023 | 345 |
| 2022 | 405 |
| 2021 | 434 |
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 1. Explain the coherent body of knowledge, and the underlying principles and concepts, fundamental to, and in the broader context of, the accounting and financial planning disciplines.
- 2. Apply critical thinking, evaluation, and problem solving skills in the integration and application of theoretical and technical knowledge within the context of accounting and financial planning practice and/or scholarship
- 3. Communicate effectively, with justification, in collaborative contexts with professionals and non-professionals
- 4. Exercise professional judgement and identify and respond to ethical issues in a range of contexts
- 5. Evaluate information, synthesise relevant issues and undertake research in accounting and other contexts
- 6. Learn and work independently and collaboratively and reflect upon feedback to identify and enact self improvements
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | ||||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | ||||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | ||||||
| 4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | ||||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | ||||||
| 6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||||
| 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 | ||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | ||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner | ||||||
- 1. Explain the coherent body of knowledge, and the underlying principles and concepts, fundamental to, and in the broader context of, the accounting and related disciplines.
- 2. Apply critical thinking, evaluation, and problem solving skills in the application of theoretical and technical knowledge within the context of accounting and related practice and/or scholarship
- 3. Communicate effectively, with justification, in collaborative contexts with professionals and non-professionals
- 4. Exercise professional judgement and identify and respond to ethical issues in a range of contexts
- 5. Evaluate information, synthesise relevant issues and undertake research in accounting and other contexts
- 6. Learn and work independently and collaboratively and reflect upon feedback to identify and enact self improvements
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | ||||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | ||||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | ||||||
| 4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | ||||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | ||||||
| 6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||||
| 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 | ||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | ||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner | ||||||
- Complete the core structure
| Number of units: 16 | Total credit points: 96 |
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4 compulsory core courses
Level 1
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| ACCT11057 | Principles of Accounting | |
| COIS11011 | Foundations of Business Computing | |
| LAWS11030 | Foundations of Business Law | |
Advanced
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| ACCT19084 | Financial Accounting | |
12 Accounting Technical Specialist courses
| Number of units: 8 | Total credit points: 48 |
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| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| FINC11001 | Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning | |
| FINC19012 | Investment Analysis and Risk Management | |
| FINC19016 | Retirement and Superannuation | |
| FINC19018 | Estate and Succession Planning | |
| FINC19019 | Insurance Planning | |
| FINC19020 | Financial Plan Construction | |
| ECON19033 | Macroeconomics | |
| MGMT19114 | Strategic Management | |
| Number of units: 8 | Total credit points: 48 |
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| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| HRMT11010 | Organisational Behaviour | |
| MRKT11029 | Marketing Fundamentals | |
6 electives
Electives should be selected from any 6 unit of credit undergraduate course offered by CQUniversity, subject to approval by the Dean. A maximum of 12 Level 1 courses may be credited towards the Bachelor of Accounting.
It is recommened that students who have not completed Mathematics B (advanced maths) or an equivalent subject at secondary school level complete MATH11246. This will assist students to successfully complete STAT11048 to fulfil the requirements for accreditation with accounting bodes - CPA Australia and ICAA.
Work Integrated Learning
Students wishing to undertake Work Integrated Learning as part of their program of study are encouraged to undertake BUSN19024 and BUSN12001 as electives in their program of study. By undertaking this suite of courses, students will secure and undertake an approved full-time work placement of appropriately 12 weeks duration.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Professional Project Major - suitable only for domestic students who meet the criteria with a CQU approved Employer.
Interim Awards
The Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting interim award is only available to domestic students.
Course management
A recommended course planner for this course can be obtained from the following website https://www.cqu.edu.au/study/future-students/your-journey/enrol/course-planners
Students must also check to see when and where a unit is offered before enrolling. See the unit availability section in this handbook for details.
The course planner provides a general overview of the recommended unit enrolment, whether you’re studying full or part-time, for each of our upcoming intakes. If you need more specific information about a particular unit you'll be studying, you can access its profile via the links below for a detailed overview. It is important to note that full-time students usually enrol in 4 units per term and part-time students usually enrol in 2 units per term.
Need a tailored course planner?
If you're a current student and need a tailored course planner, get in touch with our Course Management Team via your MyCQU student portal.
Application for credit transfer
If you have previously studied at another institution, you may be eligible for credit, also known as recognition of prior learning (RPL), credit exemption and advanced standing.
Credit Transfer will only be granted where a student is able to demonstrate that they have completed and received a 'Pass' or above in tertiary studies equivalent in content, depth and rated units of credit to a Bachelor of Accounting unit, and that such credit meets the requirements of the professional bodies that accredit the course. Students must contact the relevant professional bodies to determine whether the credit transfer/exemption they have requested and/or received will affect their application for membership.
Refer to the Credit Transfer website at http://www.cqu.edu.au/credittransfer for further details on the guidelines and application process.
Computing Requirements
As a student, it is necessary to have access to a computer or equivalent device in order to complete your coursework. You should have a good understanding of technology and the ability to navigate the online environment, which may involve completing online assessments, participating in online forums, and responding to emails. There may be instances where you need to use a computer or equivalent device for in-class tasks or assessments. It is important that you have dependable access to the internet and a computer or equivalent device capable of video conferencing for online classes. Make sure to review your unit profiles to learn about any specific technology requirements for your coursework.