Bachelor of Commerce(Accounting) / Fine Arts

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales is a unique double degree that blends professional accounting expertise with creative practice in visual and fine arts, preparing students for careers that combine analytical thinking with artistic expression. It suits students who are equally interested in business, financial systems, and creative industries, offering strong career flexibility across corporate and cultural sectors.
Campus Location: Kensington, Sydney, Australia (UNSW Main Campus)

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Students begin with foundational business and creative studies, building core skills in both disciplines. In Commerce (Accounting), they explore subjects such as Financial Accounting, Business Decision Making, and Introduction to Accounting Frameworks, while Fine Arts introduces Drawing Fundamentals, Art Theory, and Visual Communication. This year establishes both technical accounting literacy and creative studio practice.

Year 2:
In the second year, students deepen their accounting knowledge through courses like Management Accounting and Corporate Financial Reporting while expanding their creative abilities through studio-based Fine Arts practice and Art History studies. They begin integrating analytical thinking with creative problem-solving through project-based learning in both faculties.

Year 3:
Students move into advanced accounting areas such as Auditing, Financial Management, and Business Law while developing independent Fine Arts studio work. This year encourages critical thinking, professional application of accounting standards, and experimentation in artistic mediums such as painting, sculpture, or digital media practice.

Year 4:
The final year focuses on advanced professional readiness and creative specialisation. Students complete higher-level accounting studies alongside a major Fine Arts project or exhibition, demonstrating both technical financial competence and creative portfolio development for industry or postgraduate pathways.

Focus Areas:

Accounting systems, financial reporting, auditing, visual arts practice, creative studio production, business analysis, interdisciplinary thinking, professional communication

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates develop strong capabilities in financial accounting, analytical reasoning, and business decision-making alongside advanced creative and conceptual skills in fine arts, enabling them to work across both corporate and creative industries or pursue specialised artistic careers.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The accounting component aligns with professional recognition requirements from bodies such as CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), supporting progression toward professional accounting pathways.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

The University of New South Wales is consistently ranked among Australia’s leading universities globally in QS World University Rankings, with strong graduate employability outcomes and high industry reputation across business and creative disciplines.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales develop both analytical business capability and creative artistic practice through a highly practical, studio- and industry-based learning environment. In accounting, students build real-world financial and business decision-making skills using applied case studies, collaborative projects, and industry-style problem solving. In Fine Arts, students develop their creative practice through hands-on studio work, experimentation, critique sessions, and exhibition-based learning, allowing them to refine both technical and conceptual artistic skills in a professional creative setting. This combination ensures graduates are confident operating in both corporate and creative industries:

Studio-Based Fine Arts Practice: Access to dedicated art studios for painting, sculpture, printmaking, and contemporary visual arts practice, supporting hands-on creative development and experimentation.
Business & Accounting Applied Learning: Use of real-world case studies, group-based business simulations, and financial analysis tasks that mirror professional accounting environments.
Industry-Standard Tools & Software: Training with professional accounting and business tools alongside digital creative software used in visual arts and design production.
Collaborative Project Work: Cross-disciplinary group projects that integrate business problem-solving with creative concept development and presentation skills.
Exhibitions & Public Showcasing: Opportunities to present creative work in exhibitions, critiques, and public-facing showcases, helping students build a professional arts portfolio.
Industry Engagement & Internships: Access to internship opportunities and industry-linked experiences across both business and creative sectors, supporting career readiness.
Workshops & Critique Sessions: Regular feedback sessions with academic staff and peers in both commerce and fine arts disciplines to refine technical and conceptual skills.
University Libraries & Learning Resources: Access to UNSW libraries, digital databases, research collections, and study spaces supporting both business research and creative practice development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) / Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales develop a distinctive combination of professional accounting expertise and creative practice skills. This unique blend prepares students for careers where financial literacy, analytical thinking, creativity, and communication intersect, enabling graduates to work across both corporate and creative industries with confidence.

Typical roles include: Accountant, Auditor, Financial Analyst, Arts Administrator.

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, arts organisations, creative industries, and corporate employers.
Employment Outcomes & Salary Insight: Accounting graduates in Australia typically achieve median starting salaries of around AUD 75,000–80,000 per year, with additional opportunities in creative industries depending on portfolio development, experience, and specialisation.
Industry Partnerships: UNSW Business School Industry Connections + UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture Networks: Students engage with accounting firms, financial institutions, cultural organisations, galleries, creative studios, and corporate partners through internships, industry projects, exhibitions, and professional 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 strong professional recognition for accounting careers in Australia and internationally.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates develop strong capabilities in financial reporting, auditing, taxation, creative problem-solving, visual communication, and critical thinking, enabling them to contribute across both structured business environments and creative professional fields.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Commerce, Master of Management, Master of Arts (Fine Arts or related disciplines), Master of Business Analytics, or research-focused honours and doctoral programs. Professional accounting pathways through CPA Australia, CA ANZ, and IPA also support progression toward full certification, while postgraduate arts study can deepen creative expertise and industry practice.