Bachelor of Accounting

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Are you looking to kick-start your career as an accountant? Our Bachelor of Accounting programme is designed to equip learners with the knowledge, technical, and professional skills that businesses and clients need from their accountants.

Quick info

Locations: UCOL | Te Pūkenga Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL | Te Pūkenga Whanganui

Duration: 3 years, full-time or part-time study options.

Dates:
Starting Semester 2 (2023 dates TBC)

Domestic Fees: *
TBCScholarship info

Find out if you're eligible for fees-free study

International Fees:*
TBC

Additional Fees
Compulsory course costs may apply.

* Fees are indicative only, and are inclusive of the student services levy and GST (goods and services tax). The fee shown is for one year of study.

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The Bachelor of Accounting programme will equip you with the specialised knowledge and skills to provide accounting support in a variety of business settings at both organisational and strategic levels. Whether your career goal is to start your own accounting business, or work for a large organisation, the Bachelor of Accounting will give you the strong understanding of accounting theory and technical skills you need to succeed.

This new degree, developed by Te Pūkenga, will meet the new competencies introduced by the accounting professional bodies, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia. Learners who complete this programme will meet the educational requirements needed to pursue a chartered accountant (CA) or certified practising accountant (CPA) designation during their careers.

You will spend part of the programme learning within a real-work environment. This experience will help you to integrate into a workplace quickly after you graduate.

*This programme is currently subject to approval and accreditation by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, so there could be some changes to the information below.

Course Hours & Duration

3 years, full-time or part-time study options.

Career & Study Outcomes

Accountants are in demand in Aotearoa New Zealand and there are good prospects to advance in your career. Once qualified, job prospects include financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, taxation, treasury, banking and finance, risk management, and business consultancy across the private and public sectors.

Graduates of this degree will also be equipped to meet the educational requirements for membership of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia.

Find out more about CAANZ here and CPA Australia here.

Course Information

LEVEL 5

Organisations in an Aotearoa New Zealand Context (15 Credits)

Learn how to analyse organisations and engage with stakeholders in a Aotearoa New Zealand Context.

Business Environments (15 Credits)

Learn how to analyse and manage the impact of environmental influences on an organisation.

Business Functions (15 Credits)

This course covers the core business functions of accounting, operations, human resource management, marketing, and sales.

Change and Innovation (15 Credits)

Learn how to contribute to organisational change and innovation.

Introduction to Accounting and Taxation (15 Credits)

Learn how to apply accounting concepts, standards, processes, and tax rules to prepare financial statements.

Applied Accounting (15 Credits)

Learn how to record and process a range of financial transactions.

Analysis of Financial Information (15 Credits)

Learn how to calculate, analyse and interpret financial information to inform decision-making for an organisation.

Budgets for Planning and Control (15 Credits)

This course covers how to prepare and use budgets to monitor performance and determine internal controls to minimise risk for an organisation.

Commercial Law (15 Credits)

Develop your understanding of the legal system and creation and interpretation of law, and how to find and apply relevant law.

Economics (15 Credits)

Learn to apply elements of economic theory to contemporary business issues.

LEVEL 6

Intermediate Management Accounting (15 Credits)

Learn how to use management accounting tools to plan, control and inform decisions about business operations.

Intermediate Financial Accounting (15 Credits)

Learn how to apply appropriate reporting frameworks to prepare and present financial statements.

Taxation in Aotearoa New Zealand (15 Credits)

This course covers how to apply taxation rules to a range of situations and entities.

Introduction to Finance (15 Credits)

Learn how to apply business finance techniques.

Data Analytics (15 Credits)

Develop the knowledge and skills relevant to business data decision-making.

Law of Business Entities (15 Credits)

Learn how to apply the law to form and operate business entities and structures.

Research Methods (15 Credits)

Learn to apply research methods within a business environment.

Accounting Information Systems (15 Credits)

Learn about the role of accounting information systems and technologies within an organisational context, and how to utilize them to meet reporting and operational obligations.

LEVEL 7

Advanced Management Accounting (15 Credits)

This course covers how to evaluate the role of advanced management accounting in organisational performance and decision-making.

Advanced Financial Accounting (15 Credits)

Develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for a critical understanding of financial accounting issues within Aotearoa New Zealand.

Auditing and Assurance (15 Credits)

Learn the skills required to operate in the auditing and assurance profession.

Professional Accounting Project (30 Credits)

Complete an accounting project that contributes to organisational decision-making.

ELECTIVE COURSE

Choose any approved Level 5, 6 or 7 course from another approved programme (15 Credits)

Domestic Entry Requirements

Applicants under the age of 20 years must have University Entrance

equivalent academic achievement,

completed an approved qualification at Level 4 or above with a relevant pathway.,

discretionary admission.

Applicants aged 20 or older who do not meet the above general admission requirements may apply for special admission.

All applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language fluency prior to acceptance in the programme.

For more information about NCEA Credits see the UCOL Te Pūkenga NCEA explained page.

International Entry Requirements

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international learner applicants.

English language proficiency

International applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5 (or equivalent including TOEFL). IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible).

Advice & Guidance

Recognition of prior learning
Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning, including Cross Credit, Credit Transfer and Assessment of Prior Learning may be made on the Recognition of Prior Learning Form where a student believes all learning outcomes for a course have already been met. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the UCOL | Te Pūkenga Academic Statute and other relevant policies and procedures.

Application checklist
It will make the process easier if you prepare the following before you apply:

National Student Number (NSN) (If you don't have a NSN, you may request one from NZQA, or you can supply a verified copy of your birth certificate, passport or Whakapapa statement.)
Evidence of your highest level of academic achievement (and evidence of prior learning, if applicable)
Evidence that you meet the entry requirements of the programme
Check if you're eligible for additional support or a scholarship. If you're 19 years or younger, you may be eligible to enrol in one of our free Youth Transition programmes.

Note that you will need to provide any verified documents in person, via post or email (not via the online application form).

Bachelor of Accounting