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Key details
Duration
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
40Course code
Overview
The Graduate Certificate of Accounting Studies will help you develop an understanding of accounting principles. This course articulates into the Graduate Diploma of Accounting Studies and the Master of Professional Accounting and can be your first step to an accounting career.
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Fees
Non-Commonwealth supported places
Full fee paying places are available in this course.
Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
Why study accounting at CDU?
Enhance your career and improve upon your previous accounting studies. You'll network with industry leaders while you develop the skills and knowledge to succeed in roles across the finance and banking industry, as well as diverse roles in the public and private sector.
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Study electives from other areas to complement your career options or interest
Why study accounting at CDU?
Enhance your career and improve upon your previous accounting studies. You'll network with industry leaders while you develop the skills and knowledge to succeed in roles across the finance and banking industry, as well as diverse roles in the public and private sector.
- Study electives from other areas to complement your career options or interests
- Placements available for some courses
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
Why study accounting at CDU?
Enhance your career and improve upon your previous accounting studies. You'll network with industry leaders while you develop the skills and knowledge to succeed in roles across the finance and banking industry, as well as diverse roles in the public and private sector.
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Study electives from other areas to complement your career options or interest
Why study accounting at CDU?
Enhance your career and improve upon your previous accounting studies. You'll network with industry leaders while you develop the skills and knowledge to succeed in roles across the finance and banking industry, as well as diverse roles in the public and private sector.
- Study electives from other areas to complement your career options or interests
- Placements available for some courses
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
What will I study?
The course structure includes the compulsory study of an accounting principles unit to equip you with specific skills and knowledge to help you apply underlying theory and concepts in a professional or academic context. You will then be able to select your remaining units from a list of accounting and business units offered in the Master of Professional Accounting to support your career goals.
Course structure
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 40 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core (1 unit) | 10cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 10 credit points as detailed below. ACT501 Accounting Principles |
| Specialist Elective (3 units) | 30cp | Specialist Elective Units totalling 30 credit points selected from the below: ACT502 Management Accounting |
| 40cp | Total Credit Points |
Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)
- See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.
Study plan
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 1
The Recommended Study Plans provided below are suitable for students enrolling in a full-time or part-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
Full-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective 1 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 3 | SE | ||
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
Part-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles | CO | Specialist Elective 2 | SE |
| Specialist Elective 1 | SE | Specialist Elective 3 | SE |
Specialist electives may be selected from the following:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| ACT502 Management Accounting | ACT502 Management Accounting |
| ACT503 Corporate Accounting | ACT503 Corporate Accounting |
| ACT504 Auditing | ACT504 Auditing |
| ACT505 Accounting Theory | ACT505 Accounting Theory |
| ACT506 Accounting Information Systems | ACT506 Accounting Information Systems |
| ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability |
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance | |
| LAW511 Australian Tax Law | LAW511 Australian Tax Law |
| LAW513 Corporate Law | |
| LAW514 Commercial Law | LAW514 Commercial Law |
| STA510 Business Statistics | STA510 Business Statistics |
_____________________________________
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 2
The Recommended Study Plans provided below are suitable for students enrolling in a full-time or part-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
Full-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective 1 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 3 | SE | ||
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
Part-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective 1 | SE | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 3 | SE | ||
Specialist electives may be selected from the following:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| ACT502 Management Accounting | ACT502 Management Accounting |
| ACT503 Corporate Accounting | ACT503 Corporate Accounting |
| ACT504 Auditing | ACT504 Auditing |
| ACT505 Accounting Theory | ACT505 Accounting Theory |
| ACT506 Accounting Information Systems | ACT506 Accounting Information Systems |
| ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability |
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance | |
| LAW511 Australian Tax Law | LAW511 Australian Tax Law |
| LAW513 Corporate Law | |
| LAW514 Commercial Law | LAW514 Commercial Law |
| STA510 Business Statistics | STA510 Business Statistics |
___________________________________________
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SUMMER SEMESTER
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for students enrolling in a part-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
Part-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester | |||
| Calendar Year 1 | |||||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles | CO | ||||
| Specialist Elective 1 (ECO505) | SE | ||||
| Calendar Year 2 | |||||
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | ||||
| Specialist Elective 3 | SE | ||||
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised Bachelor degree in any discipline. Applicants who have fully satisfied the entry requirements of the accounting professional bodies are not eligible for entry. Consideration will be given to applicants who do not have one of the above qualifications, but have either:
- a combination of postgraduate qualifications and relevant professional experience in accounting and finance roles; or
- at least five years full time equivalent relevant professional experience in accounting and finance roles
Applicants applying with this pathway must provide further documentation detailing their employment experience (i.e. work experience certificate from an employer/s) and outlining their roles and achievements in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV) and a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should address why you would like to be admitted into the course, career goals and aspirations and benefits the course will provide you.
Essential requirements
English language requirements
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. From 2025 all applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidencing of one of the following:
| Year 12 | Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). |
| 0.5 FTE Higher Education Study | Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years. |
| CDU Enabling Course | Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5FTE (40 credit points). |
| TAFE Qualification | Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia. |
| AHPRA Registration | Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement. |
| English Test^ | Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores outlined in the table below. |
^ Minimum Requirements for English Tests:
| Postgraduate requirements | Undergraduate requirements | |
| CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes | Successful completion of EAP004 | Successful completion of EAP003 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below: 6.0 | Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169 | Overall minimum: 169 No skill below 169 |
| Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 58 No score below 50 | Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50 |
| Test of English as a Foreign language | Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21 | Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21 |
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted, allowing candidates to retake a single skill within 60 days of sitting their initial test. One Skill Retake results are valid for two years from the date of the first test (not from the date of the Retake test) to the date of commencement at CDU.
CDU accepts combined results from two test sittings of IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL, taken within a six-month period, if:
- Both tests were under the same testing system; and
- The overall score in both tests meets the overall minimum; and
- The applicant achieved the section minimum for each section in at least one test.
Recognised English-speaking countries:
| Standard List | Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America. |
| Extended List | Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. |
For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.
I love CDU! The faculty staff give out such positive vibes, inspire you to work hard and cheer you on with every step you take.
Rafat
CDU student
I love CDU! The faculty staff give out such positive vibes, inspire you to work hard and cheer you on with every step you take.
Rafat
CDU student
Course details
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.
Additional information
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
Learn more about accounting at CDU
Rafat is a CDU Alumni from Bangladesh and studied a Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice). Hear more about her experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
Learn more about accounting at CDU
Rafat is a CDU Alumni from Bangladesh and studied a Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice). Hear more about her experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
How to apply
There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.
Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.
SATAC
SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.
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