Bachelor of Commerce(Accounting)/Bachelor of Arts

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Deakin University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University is a combined degree designed for students who want strong professional accounting skills along with broad knowledge in humanities, communication, and critical thinking. It is ideal for students who are interested in both business and society, and want flexible career options across accounting, government, consulting, and creative industries. The program is offered at Deakin’s Burwood (Melbourne) campus and Geelong Waterfront Campus, providing access to modern learning facilities and strong industry engagement opportunities.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: In the first year, students develop core foundations in both commerce and arts through units such as Financial Accounting, Economics, Academic Integrity in Commerce, and Introduction to Sociology. This year builds essential skills in accounting principles, communication, and analytical thinking while introducing students to how businesses and societies function.

Year 2: The second year strengthens accounting expertise and expands arts specialisation through subjects like Management Accounting, Corporate Law, and Media, Culture and Society. Students begin applying accounting concepts in real-world contexts while also developing critical thinking and communication skills through arts-based study.

Year 3: In the third year, students focus on advanced accounting and specialised arts electives such as Auditing, Taxation Law, and Professional Practice in Accounting. This year prepares students for professional accounting environments while allowing deeper exploration of humanities disciplines that enhance analytical and communication abilities.

Year 4: In the final year, students complete advanced coursework such as Advanced Financial Accounting, Strategic Management Accounting, and Arts Capstone Units. This year emphasises professional readiness, problem-solving, and integrating accounting expertise with broader arts-based perspectives.

Focus Areas: Accounting, financial reporting, auditing, taxation, corporate law, communication, sociology, media studies, critical thinking.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates will be able to prepare and analyse financial statements, apply accounting standards, communicate effectively in professional settings, and use interdisciplinary thinking to solve complex business and social problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The accounting component aligns with professional pathways toward CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), supporting progression into accredited accounting careers.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Deakin University is recognised for strong graduate employability outcomes and is consistently ranked in global university rankings such as QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education for business and arts disciplines.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University is designed to give students strong practical exposure alongside academic learning, ensuring they are job-ready by graduation. Students develop real-world accounting and analytical skills through applied projects, industry-focused assessments, and collaborative learning environments supported by Deakin’s digital platforms and business simulation tools. The program also benefits from Deakin’s strong industry engagement model, where students work on authentic business scenarios and gain exposure to professional practice across both accounting and arts disciplines. This combination helps students build confidence in both technical accounting and communication, critical thinking, and cultural understanding skills.

Deakin Business and Law Work-Integrated Learning :(WIL Program) Students can engage in real industry projects, internships, and professional placements with partner organisations, applying accounting knowledge to real business challenges.
myAccounting Lab & Digital Learning Tools :(Deakin Cloud Campus Tools) Students use advanced digital platforms, financial modelling tools, and accounting software to simulate real-world financial reporting and analysis tasks.
Deakin Business Analytics & Simulation Software :(Business Simulation Tools) Interactive simulations allow students to analyse financial decisions, manage business performance, and evaluate economic outcomes in a controlled learning environment.
Group Industry Projects :(Collaborative Learning Model) Students work in teams on case studies and business problems that reflect real accounting and organisational challenges, improving communication and problem-solving skills.
Deakin Library & Online Resources :(Deakin Library System) Access to extensive financial databases, academic journals, and accounting research resources supports advanced study and industry-level analysis.
Deakin Careers and Employability :(Career Support Services) Dedicated employability services provide internship matching, resume building, employer networking events, and interview preparation tailored for accounting and business students.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University develop a strong combination of accounting expertise and critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. This dual degree prepares students for careers that require both technical financial knowledge and broader problem-solving abilities in business and society. Typical career outcomes include Accountant, Auditor, Business Analyst, Policy Officer: these roles are in demand across corporate organisations, government departments, consulting firms, and not-for-profit sectors.

Career Support Services :(DeakinTALENT Career Service) Deakin University provides dedicated employability support through DeakinTALENT, offering one-on-one career coaching, resume and interview workshops, networking events, internship support, and access to employer connections and graduate recruitment programs.
Employment Stats & Salary :(Graduate Outcomes Data) Graduates entering accounting and business-related roles typically achieve median starting salaries in the range of AUD $60,000–$90,000 per year, with strong long-term progression into senior accounting, advisory, and management positions.
University–Industry Partnerships :(Industry Engagement) Deakin has strong links with major accounting firms, corporate organisations, and government bodies, providing students with internship opportunities, industry projects, guest lectures, and graduate employment pathways.
Long-term Accreditation Value :(Professional Recognition) The accounting component of this degree supports pathways toward professional certification with CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), strengthening global career mobility and long-term employability.
Graduation Outcomes :(Industry Readiness) Graduates gain a versatile skill set in financial reporting, auditing, taxation, communication, and critical analysis, enabling them to work across accounting firms, government agencies, corporate sectors, and consulting organisations.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this program, graduates can continue their studies through a Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Commerce, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Finance, or Master of Business Analytics, allowing them to specialise further and progress into senior leadership, advisory, and strategic management roles.