Accounting

Learn about the financial structure of organisations and how to produce, analyse and audit financial information. By developing your knowledge of business strategy, issues and processes you will understand effective cost and performance management practices. You’ll learn to appreciate risk and have the skills for sound decision making.

Your major structure

In your first year, you will complete a compulsory core alongside 4 to 6 foundation subjects to build your fundamentals. You will also commence your quantitative pathway and start fulfilling accreditation requirements as an accountant through your breadth subjects.

In your second and third year, you will complete a sequence of subjects and electives to realise your major, plus the remaining subjects to meet your quantitative and accreditation requirements.

Professional accreditation recognition

You will need to start taking accounting subjects in your first year to fulfil your accounting membership requirements. These will vary, but usually include Principles of Company Law, Principles of Business Law and Principles of Taxation Law I. Full membership requirements may include relevant work experience and/or further study.

Breadth studies

The Melbourne curriculum allows you to incorporate breadth subjects into your degree. This gives you the chance to explore subjects or disciplines outside of commerce and accounting.

Use breadth to explore creative interests or topics you have always been curious about; or complement your accounting major and career development with a language, communication skills or technological expertise.

If you have a professional graduate program in mind, such as the Juris Doctor (Law) or Master of Engineering, you can use your breadth subjects to develop your knowledge and meet prerequisites from day one. Breadth subjects can give you the flexibility to qualify for graduate studies or explore interests in a field that’s very different from your major.

Double majors

Students can complete a double major by combining any two Commerce majors within the standard 300 credit points of the degree (no extra time required).

Specialisations

From 2026, you can deepen your knowledge by focusing 25 credit points of your level 3 elective study toward a specialisation within your major. The specialisation currently available to the Accounting major is:

• Ethics and Sustainability