General Information

Overview

The Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting is designed to develop the technical, analytical and creative skills you’ll need for a successful career in accounting and finance. This course provides an entry level into university study with admission based on your previous study and/or relevant full-time work experience. Skills learned can result in better job performance or new job opportunities within the industry.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting requires students to complete units of study to the value of 50 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Accounting Systems and Reporting
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		ACC60008
Economics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		ECO80001
Business Modelling and Analysis
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		FIN60003
Corporations and Contract Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		LAW60003

Aims and objectives

The Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting course is designed for students who wish to obtain a sound introduction to concepts and procedures in accounting and related areas of business. The course develops the technical, practical, analytical and creative skills necessary to support professional and highly skilled work by providing a body of knowledge in the areas of accounting, finance, business modeling and law. Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting allows articulation into the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting and Master of Professional Accounting.

At completion of the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting, graduates should be able to:

  • apply coherent and developed knowledge of accounting and business related concepts in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking.
  • apply problem solving, design and decision making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with reference to established frameworks
  • communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a team
  • demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, respect and a developing awareness of professional practices and cultural norms in a global and sustainable context.

Career opportunities

The accounting program provides an avenue for graduates to achieve professional recognition and help fill the shortage of professionally recognised accountants. As many candidates may already be established in a business career, the key vocational outcomes may arise from better current job performance together with new opportunities opening in the accounting and finance areas.

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Interested in the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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