Bachelor of Commerce(Accounting) / Arts

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Arts at the University of New South Wales is a flexible double degree designed for students who want strong professional accounting skills combined with a broad understanding of the humanities, including culture, communication, and global perspectives. Campus Location: Kensington, Sydney, Australia. This program is ideal for students who want both career-ready business expertise and the ability to think critically across social, cultural, and global contexts.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
In the first year, students build core foundations in accounting and business while also beginning their Arts stream. You will study introductory commerce units such as Accounting & Financial Management 1A (ACCT1501) and Microeconomics (ECON1101) alongside Arts foundation subjects like Introduction to Humanities and Social Sciences or Writing and Research in the Humanities. This year focuses on developing analytical thinking, academic writing, and basic financial literacy.

Year 2:
In the second year, students progress into intermediate accounting and begin specialising further in their chosen Arts major. Core subjects such as Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, and Business Law are complemented by Arts electives like Sociology of Modern Society, History Studies, or Communication and Culture. This year strengthens both technical accounting capability and critical interpretation skills.

Year 3:
The third year focuses on advanced accounting and applied business knowledge, including subjects like Corporate Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, and Taxation. At the same time, students deepen their Arts major through advanced coursework such as Media, Culture and Society or Political and Global Studies. This year builds professional-level analytical and communication skills.

Year 4:
In the final year, students complete capstone commerce subjects and advanced Arts electives while preparing for professional pathways. Accounting studies typically include Advanced Financial Reporting and Strategic Management Accounting, alongside higher-level Arts research or seminar-based subjects. The year focuses on integrating business expertise with humanities insight for complex real-world problem-solving.

Focus Areas:

Accounting principles, financial reporting, auditing, taxation, business law, humanities and social sciences, communication, critical thinking, global and cultural studies

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates develop strong professional accounting skills combined with advanced analytical, communication, and critical thinking abilities, enabling them to work across finance, business, media, government, and international organisations.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The accounting component aligns with professional recognition pathways through CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), supporting progression toward accredited accounting careers.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

The University of New South Wales is consistently ranked among the top universities globally in the QS World University Rankings (top 20–50 range internationally), with strong employer reputation in business, accounting, and humanities disciplines.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Arts at the University of New South Wales blends professional accounting training with humanities and social sciences learning, giving students both technical financial capability and strong critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Learning is highly applied, with students moving between real-world business problem solving in accounting and interactive, discussion-based learning in Arts disciplines such as politics, history, languages, or sociology.

Students build job-ready capability through case-based learning, industry-style assessments, and hands-on use of professional tools and research platforms. They also benefit from UNSW’s strong focus on Work Integrated Learning (WIL), where classroom theory is directly connected to workplace practice and professional environments. This combination ensures graduates are confident in both technical accounting tasks and broader analytical thinking:

Professional Accounting Software & Tools: Hands-on experience with industry-standard tools such as Microsoft Excel (advanced modelling), accounting systems, and business analytics platforms used in real finance and accounting environments.
Bloomberg & Financial Data Systems: Access to financial market databases and terminals (such as Bloomberg/Refinitiv-style platforms) through UNSW Business School learning facilities for real-time financial analysis and market research.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Structured industry projects and practical assessments where students solve real business and accounting problems for organisations and case-based scenarios.
Group-Based Business Projects: Collaborative assignments simulating workplace environments, including financial reporting tasks, auditing scenarios, and strategic business analysis.
Arts Research & Learning Facilities: Access to specialist humanities resources including language learning spaces, media and communication tools, and research databases for essay-based and analytical coursework.
Library & Academic Resources: Extensive access to UNSW Library resources, including academic journals, legal databases, financial research platforms, and study support services for both Commerce and Arts disciplines.
Internships & Industry Engagement: Opportunities to participate in internships, employer networking events, and industry-led workshops through UNSW Business School and Arts & Social Sciences partnerships.
Case Study Learning & Simulations: Real-world accounting and business scenarios combined with social science research tasks that develop problem-solving, communication, and analytical reasoning skills.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Arts at the University of New South Wales develop a rare combination of professional accounting expertise and broad humanities-based critical thinking skills. This dual degree prepares students to understand financial systems while also strengthening communication, analytical reasoning, and global cultural awareness, making graduates highly versatile in both business and non-business environments.

Typical roles include: Accountant, Auditor, Policy Analyst, Business Consultant.

Career Development Support: UNSW Employability and Career Discovery: Provides personalised career coaching, resume and interview workshops, networking events, mentoring programs, internship support, and access to graduate recruitment opportunities across accounting firms, government departments, consulting organisations, and non-profit sectors.
Employment Outcomes & Salary Insight: Accounting graduates in Australia typically achieve median starting salaries of around AUD 75,000–80,000 per year, with strong long-term earning potential as they progress into senior accounting, advisory, or management roles.
Industry Partnerships: UNSW Business School Industry Connections: Students engage with leading accounting firms, consulting organisations, government agencies, and multinational corporations through internships, industry projects, employer presentations, and networking opportunities.
Accreditation & Long-Term Value: Professional Accreditation: The accounting component is accredited by CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), and Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), ensuring graduates meet professional standards for recognised accounting careers in Australia and internationally.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates develop strong capabilities in financial reporting, auditing, taxation, business analysis, communication, and critical thinking, enabling them to work confidently across corporate, government, consulting, and community-focused environments.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into the Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Commerce, Master of Management, Master of Business Analytics, Master of Arts (related disciplines), or research-focused honours and doctoral programs. Professional accounting pathways through CPA Australia, CA ANZ, and IPA also provide structured routes toward full professional certification and career advancement.