Honours level work may be undertaken either within the three-year pass program or as part of the four-year honours program. The main purpose is to provide additional disciplinary training to that provided in the pass courses and an introduction to research training by an exposure to a range of research questions within the discipline.

Honours classes are generally smaller than pass groups and, being comprised of high achievers with an interest in Accounting research, provide an exciting and challenging study environment. While the pass program provides a context for study of present professional methods and standards and a perspective for exploring possible innovations, the honours program is able to provide graduates with additional skills. By means of maximum participation and interaction, students are encouraged to think clearly and critically about the objectives of accounting and financial management, and to become familiar with present methods of achieving those objectives and the actual operation of accounting information systems. The program also helps students to critically appreciate how and why accounting changes in the face of new competitive pressures, different government priorities and technological development.

As a consequence, students who choose (a) honours streaming and (b) an honours degree have a more developed critical sensibility and improved ability to obtain, categorise and evaluate information and its impact. In addition, an honours degree is a requirement for anyone contemplating an academic career.

Honours classes commence during third year where extra seminar classes involve an average of one hour per week. Intending third-year honours students enrol in special honours courses (shown below) which include material covered in the normal pass courses and additional research material covered in the seminars. Students typically undertake research projects and sit for pass examination papers which have been modified to include question/s on the honours work. The composite mark covers both the pass and honours material. Provided grades are satisfactory, third-year students can then advance to fourth-year honours studies.

Fourth-year accounting honours is open to all high-achieving internal and external students regardless of whether they have completed third-year accounting honours. A number of places in the program are supported by University, employer or other scholarships. In addition, preference is given to honours students (third-year and fourth-year) students when appointing leaders under the Peer Assistance Support Scheme and in offering part-time research assistant or teaching work.

Upon completion of first or second years of a full-time program or the corresponding stages of a part-time program, a candidate may make a written application to the Head of School concerned for permission to enrol for an Accounting Honours degree. For the Honours degree, the student must complete a further 48 units of credit in an approved disciplinary area. When such permission is granted but a candidate's later performance is unsatisfactory, permission to continue as an Honours student may be withdrawn and the student may proceed to an appropriate Pass degree. A person who has graduated with a Pass degree of Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Economics can not be admitted to candidature for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Economics, except with special permission on the recommendation of the Head of the School.

Rule 4

4 For the Honours degree, a student must complete a further 48 units in an approved disciplinary stream.

4.1 Honours may be taken in one disciplinary stream only

4.2 The additional units, comprising specified courses from the relevant disciplinary stream and a thesis, must be completed in two sessions following the completion of the Pass degree component.

4.3 Honours degree will not be awarded if academic performance is below the prescribed level.

4.4 Except when recommended to the contrary by the relevant Head of School, a student intending to enter the Honours year must:

4.4.1 satisfy the Pass degree requirements and obtain a minimum average of 70% in Level 2 and Level 3 courses of the relevant disciplinary stream in the Pass degree component,

4.4.2 pass all courses in the Pass degree component at first attempt.

4.5 Except with the special permission of the program authority on the recommendation of the relevant Heads of School, a person on whom the Pass degree of Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent has been conferred shall not be admitted to candidature for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Commerce.

Contact the Undergraduate Honours Coordinator for the School of Accounting

Dr Elizabeth Carson
Level 3, Quadrangle Building, Room 3126
Tel: + 61 2 9385 5822
E-mail: e.carson@unsw.edu.au

A minor in Accounting is composed of 24 units of credit of accounting courses:

Please refer to the single major in Accounting for requirements

Please refer to the double major in Accounting for requirements

This Program is available as a single major or as a double major with Finance or Business Economics in the BCom degree only. Entry to the Program is at first year only, and through the scholarship selection procedures administered by the Co-op Program Office. For further queries contact the Co-op Program Office

CPA Australia
CPA Australia has accepted this University as an approved tertiary institution for the purpose of its membership qualifications. Associate membership of this association requires an accredited undergraduate degree with a major in accounting. Students who commence recognised programs after 1st January 2003 are no longer required to pass acceptable examinations in auditing, and Australian income taxation. However students must pass acceptable examinations in Australian business law or pass a coherent group or sequence of courses in one of the following disciplines:

Students seeking professional recognition are advised to confirm membership requirements with CPA Australia: http://www.cpaonline.com.au

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA)
Graduates who have completed the Bachelor of Commerce degree program are eligible under the Institute’s new admission requirements to enter the ‘CA Program' leading to membership. The specific courses to be included have been reduced by the ICAA to the following 6 core areas.

Students are advised to contact the ICAA in writing for current requirements: http://www.icaa.org.au