Why Study / Key Benefits

• Study accounting within a broader business degree rather than a narrowly focused accounting qualification.
• Develop skills in analytical thinking, auditing and taxation, business acumen, digital literacy, financial and sustainability reporting, and problem-solving.
• Gain practical exposure to financial information systems and management accounting/business intelligence.
• Study company accounting, auditing, taxation, financial management and accounting, society and sustainability.
• Develop practical digital skills through contemporary business platforms including MYOB, Xero and Google Analytics.
• The degree includes a 12-month paid professional work-placement opportunity, allowing students to gain full-time industry experience while earning academic credit.
• Connect with industry experts and mentors and develop professional networks.
• The Bachelor of Business (Professional) is AACSB accredited.
• Swinburne states that graduates may be eligible to apply for membership with CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants or the Institute of Public Accountants, subject to the respective professional body's requirements. Swinburne specifically notes that LAW20019 Law of Commerce is required for CPA Program eligibility and that additional units may be required for overseas accounting bodies.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The current published course sequence is an indicative Semester 1, 2026 sequence. Swinburne states that the sequence may change according to unit availability, advanced standing and exemptions.

Year 1 – Business foundation

100 credit points:

Semester 1:

• Financial Information for Decision Making — ACC10007
• Economics for Business Decision Making — ECO10005
• Business Digitalisation — INF10024
• Contemporary Management Principles — MGT10009

Semester 2:

• Business for Sustainability, Social Change and Impact — BUS10014
• Creative Mindset and Entrepreneurship — BUS10015
• Financial Statistics — FIN10002
• Marketing and the Consumer Experience — MKT10009

Year 2 – Accounting specialisation

100 credit points:

Semester 1:

• Financial Information Systems — ACC10008
• Management Accounting and Business Intelligence — ACC20021
• Elective
• Elective

Semester 2:

• Company Accounting — ACC20013
• Law of Commerce — LAW20019
• Elective
• Elective

Professional work placement

100 credit points:

• Work Experience in Industry A — WEI20001: 25 credit points
• Integrated Professional Placement A – Business — BUS20010: 25 credit points
• Work Experience in Industry B — WEI20002: 25 credit points
• Integrated Professional Placement B – Business — BUS20011: 25 credit points

Year 4 – Advanced accounting and business

75 credit points:

Semester 1:

• Accounting, Society and Sustainability — ACC30012
• Auditing — ACC30010
• Financial Management — FIN20014
• Elective

Semester 2:

• Taxation — ACC30005
• Business Consulting Project — BUS30032
• Elective
• Elective

Disciplines / Specialisations

The selected major is Accounting.

The Bachelor of Business (Professional) provides other major options, including:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Business Analytics and Analysis
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Management
• Marketing
• Sports Management

Programme Highlights

• Four-year Bachelor of Business (Professional)
• Accounting major
• Hawthorn campus, Melbourne
• CRICOS code 095883G
• 375 credit points for the standard 12-month placement structure
• 12-month paid professional work-placement opportunity
• 1,672–1,976 hours of professional placement, depending on placement duration
• Financial information systems
• Management accounting and business intelligence
• Company accounting
• Law of Commerce
• Accounting, society and sustainability
• Auditing
• Financial management
• Taxation
• Business consulting
• Digital business skills
• Industry networking and mentoring
• AACSB accreditation
• Potential pathways toward membership eligibility with professional accounting bodies, subject to their individual requirements. 

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies potential career opportunities including:

• Accountant
• Business manager
• Project manager
• Administrator
• Risk analyst

The programme's Accounting major develops skills relevant to areas such as:

• Financial reporting
• Management accounting
• Auditing
• Taxation
• Financial management
• Business intelligence
• Financial information systems
• Sustainability reporting
• Business consulting

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current 2027 start dates are 1 March 2027 and 2 August 2027.
• The current course CRICOS code is 095883G.
• The course code is BA-BUSPRF1.
• The course requires professional-placement participation as part of the Professional degree structure.
• Professional placement is subject to a competitive selection process.
• Swinburne has additional academic-progress rules for the Professional degree. Students may be classified as being at risk if they fail a unit, breach the Student Charter during placement, or are unsuccessful in securing a professional placement two months before the relevant final-year milestone. Further failure or placement-related issues can result in an unsatisfactory-progress classification and progress-review procedures.
• The course includes required professional capabilities involving communication, numeracy, collaboration, critical thinking, digital literacy, professional conduct and ethical behaviour. Reasonable adjustments may be available for adaptable components, while some professional-placement activities have limited flexibility.
• The current published study sequence is indicative and may change according to unit availability, advanced standing and exemptions.
• Specific placement employer, individual placement location and individual remuneration are not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying this course in Australia generally require the Australian Student visa, subclass 500.

The Department of Home Affairs currently requires Student visa applicants to:

• Be enrolled in an eligible course and hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when the visa is decided.
• Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Meet the applicable visa eligibility requirements.
• Satisfy the Genuine Student requirement where applicable.
• Meet applicable health and character requirements.
• Demonstrate sufficient financial capacity where required.
• Comply with all visa conditions.