Program Overview

If you don’t yet meet the entry requirements for the UC course you’re aiming for, UC College’s diplomas –  also known as higher education diplomas – will provide you with an introduction to your chosen study area. They act as an alternative entry pathway for admission to UC undergraduate courses and prepare you for university study.

Diploma of Business
The Diploma of Business is an entry level qualification, and will develop your knowledge and skills in a broad range of business-related tasks within a variety of organisational situations and environments. The Diploma offers you a pathway to the second year of a variety of business courses. Substantial credit may also be available in other courses including the Bachelor of Building and Construction Management and the Bachelor of Laws. When you study the Diploma you not only gain credit into your course but you are also supported in the development of your language and academic skills required to ensure ongoing success in your undergraduate studies. The Diploma consists of two to three terms of study (depending on the admission period). Graduating students will have the ability to perform at a level of professional expertise that allows you to confidently enter and contribute to a range of fields including Accounting*, Management, Business, Finance*, Administration and Commerce. (*Credit dependant on units studied in diploma and if seeking industry professional accreditation.

On successful completion of the Diploma of Business, you’ll receive up to 24 credit points (one year) of advanced standing into the second year of the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at the University of Canberra:

Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
The aim of this course is to produce business professionals who are equipped to solve problems in a multi-disciplinary business environment. The worlds of commerce and accounting will be explored in the context of wider social, legal, economic and political environments. You’ll gain a solid base of understanding across commerce, which is essential in a wide range of careers, plus you’ll complete a series of carefully integrated units in financial accounting, management accounting, auditing and finance.

Study a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at UC and you will:

• Evaluate and synthesise the concepts and theories acquired in accounting
• Exercise critical thinking skills when dealing with ambiguous and incomplete information
• Identify and obtain relevant information for decision making and providing advice to stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds
• Utilise discipline-specific technologies to analyse complex problems in a variety of contexts
• Communicate clear, coherent and independent knowledge and ideas to a variety of stakeholders, addressing a diverse range of business/commerce problems
• Develop the capacity to exercise initiative and professional judgement in an ethically and socially responsible manner
• Engage in a range of authentic, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities to reflect on and improve professional practice in areas of communication, judgement and cross-cultural teamwork.

Work Integrated Learning
The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) sees academics and industry working together to develop a range of diverse WIL opportunities for students, including internships, work placements, industry projects, competitions, exhibitions, study tours, virtual real-world learning experiences and more.

The faculty runs a three-week ‘pre-internship preparation program’ where students learn essential employment skills and interview techniques. The program culminates in a series of interviews hosted by Canberra-based accounting firms, with successful candidates going on to secure internships. Previous students have undertaken internships and cadetships with organisations including International IDEA, Legal Aid ACT, eChoice, Boyce Chartered Accountants, Maxim Chartered Accountants and Chartered Accountants ANZ (CAANZ).

The course concludes with a capstone project, which aims to integrate what you’ve learned throughout your degree and prepare you for the transition to either successful future employment or further studies.