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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 develops postgraduate-level knowledge of fundamental accounting principles and relevant regulatory frameworks. The course is designed for applicants seeking to commence or transition into the accounting profession, including those without a formal university qualification who have relevant professional experience. It provides a pathway into the Master of Professional Accounting program.
Career opportunities
Completion of the Graduate Certificate of Accounting Studies provides foundational accounting knowledge and serves as a pathway into further postgraduate study. Graduates may progress to the Master of Professional Accounting to continue developing the academic and professional competencies required for professional accounting qualification and related career pathways.
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?
This course requires the successful completion of 40 credit points of postgraduate study. The course structure includes the compulsory study of accounting principles and corporate accounting units, equipping you with the specific skills and knowledge to 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 (2 unit) | 20cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below. ACT501 Accounting Principles ACT503 Corporate Accounting |
| Specialist Elective (2 units) | 20cp | Specialist Elective Units totalling 20 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.
COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2027
This course has been re-accredited for 2027 with changes to the course structure. Students who commenced prior to 2027 should note the information provided below.
- Core unit requirements have increased from 10 to 20 credit points.
- Specialist Elective unit requirements have decreased from 30 to 20 credit points.
- ACT503 Corporate Accounting has been moved from a Specialist Elective to a Core unit.
- LAW510 Business and Corporate Law has been added as a new Specialist Elective unit. Students who have already completed LAW513 or LAW514 should not complete LAW510.
- ACT505 Accounting Theory, ACT506 Accounting Information Systems, LAW511 Australian Tax Law, LAW513 Corporate Law and LAW514 Commercial Law are removed from the course from 2027. Students who have completed these units prior to 2027 can still have them counted as Specialist Electives.
Study plan
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 1
The Recommended Study Plans provided below are 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 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles | CO | ACT503 Corporate Accounting | CO |
| Specialist Elective 1 | SE | Specialist Elective 2 | SE |
Specialist electives may be selected from the following:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester |
| ACT502 Management Accounting | ACT502 Management Accounting | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability |
| ACT504 Auditing | ACT504 Auditing | STA510 Business Statistics |
| ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | |
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance | ||
| LAW510 Business and Corporate Law | LAW510 Business and Corporate 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 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 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective 1 | SE | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| ACT503 Corporate Accounting | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | ||
Specialist electives may be selected from the following:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester |
| ACT502 Management Accounting | ACT502 Management Accounting | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability |
| ACT504 Auditing | ACT504 Auditing | STA510 Business Statistics |
| ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | |
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance | ||
| LAW510 Business and Corporate Law | LAW510 Business and Corporate 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 | SE | ||||
| Calendar Year 2 | |||||
| ACT503 Corporate Accounting | CO | ||||
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | ||||
Specialist electives may be selected from the following:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester |
| ACT502 Management Accounting | ACT502 Management Accounting | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability |
| ACT504 Auditing | ACT504 Auditing | STA510 Business Statistics |
| ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | ECO505 Economics of Sustainability | |
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance | ||
| LAW510 Business and Corporate Law | LAW510 Business and Corporate Law | |
| STA510 Business Statistics | STA510 Business Statistics |
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree in any discipline is required. Applicants who have already met the entry requirements of the accounting professional bodies are not eligible for entry.
Applicants who do not hold the qualification above may be considered on the basis of 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 under an employment-based pathway must provide details of their relevant employment as part of their application.
Essential requirements
English language requirements
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the standard English language proficiency requirements for Higher Education courses at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and provide evidence as part of their application.
You can meet the minimum English language requirement by providing evidence of one of following:
| Previous study in English |
|
| AHPRA Registration | Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). |
| English Test^ | Completion of an approved English Test within two years of commencement, with the minimum scores shown below. |
| Primary language pathway | Completion of six years of primary and/or secondary schooling in a recognised English-speaking country*, including at least two years between years 7-12. |
Additional information about accepted tests and the evidence requirements is available on the English language proficiency requirements page.
^English tests - approved tests and minimum scores
| Undergraduate and postgraduate pathway program requirement | Postgraduate requirement (HDR and coursework) | |
| CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes | Successful completion of EAP003 | Successful completion of EAP004 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below: 6.0 | Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below 6.0 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50 | Overall minimum: 58 No score below: 50 |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21 | Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | Overall minimum: 169 No skill below: 169 | Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169 |
Information about test validity, accepted combined test results, IELTS One Skill Retake and evidence requirements is available on the English language proficiency requirements page.
*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, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. |
All previous studies must have been delivered in English (medium of instruction was English). Applicants who have studied at an institution from a coutnry on the extended list must provide confirmation that their study was completed within the last five years.
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.
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.
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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