Bachelor of Business (Accounting)

The Bachelor of Business (Accounting) at Ozford Institute of Higher Education is a three-year Australian bachelor degree. It sits at Level 7 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, the same level as any other bachelor degree in the country. You study full time over three years, usually across trimesters, and graduate with a qualification that accounting employers and the professional bodies recognise.

What you actually study

This is an accounting degree inside a business degree, so your first year covers the shared business core: accounting principles, business law, economics, statistics, management and marketing. From second year you specialise. You work through financial accounting, management accounting, corporate finance, taxation, auditing and accounting information systems. You learn to prepare financial statements, analyse a set of accounts, work out a company's tax position and test whether reported numbers can be trusted.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You complete a required number of units to reach the credit points needed for the award. Ozford delivers the course in trimesters, which means three study periods a year rather than the two semesters many universities use. Most students take a standard load each trimester and finish in three years; some choose to spread the load and take longer. Check the official course page for the exact unit list and credit point totals.

Work-integrated learning is part of how business degrees are taught in Australia. You may complete industry projects, case studies built on real organisations or a placement with an accounting firm, a bank or a corporate finance team. Assessment is a mix of exams, assignments, reports and group work, which is what you will face in a professional accounting role. If you are considering an honours year, that is a separate fourth year of research training on top of this degree.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers who want a professional career with a clear path, and mature students moving into finance or bookkeeping who want the formal qualification. It also works for international students who want an Australian accounting degree and the chance to work here after graduating. While you study, your student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may give you time to work in Australia, depending on your circumstances. English requirements for entry are set by the institute, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 088193C. Confirm fees, entry requirements, unit lists and intake dates on the official page before you apply.

• Assistant accountant, preparing financial statements and reconciliations in accounting firms, corporate finance teams and government agencies.
• Tax accountant, working on tax returns, BAS statements and tax planning for small businesses and individuals.
• Auditor, checking financial records and controls at audit firms, listed companies and public sector bodies.
• Management accountant, budgeting, forecasting and cost analysis inside manufacturing, retail, health and mining organisations.
• Financial analyst, building models and reporting on performance in banking, insurance and superannuation.
• Bookkeeper or accounts officer, managing day-to-day ledgers and payroll for small and medium businesses.
• Graduate roles in the Australian Public Service, finance, compliance and policy positions in federal and state departments.

Accounting is on Australia's skilled occupation lists, and graduates commonly go on to complete the professional body programs (CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA) while working. Confirm current registration and migration requirements with the relevant body and the Department of Home Affairs.