Study Accounting in Australia 2026: Fees & Visa

Study Accounting in Australia if you want a practical business degree with career options in audit, tax, finance, reporting, advisory, compliance, and professional accounting. In 2026, international students should compare course level, tuition fees, CRICOS registration, CPA Australia or CA ANZ recognition, intakes, student visa rules, and post-study career options before applying.

Here’s the short answer: accounting is still a strong study choice in Australia, but only when the course fits your academic background, budget, visa plan, and professional pathway.

Many students search for accounting courses in Australia because the subject feels safe. That is partly true. Accountants work across almost every industry. But a course title alone will not protect your future. You need the right subjects, the right provider, and a clear plan from admission to graduation.

This guide explains how to study accounting in Australia as an international student in 2026, including course options, fees, entry requirements, scholarships, visa steps, CPA and CA pathways, post-study work, and career outcomes.

If you are still comparing destinations, start with the wider Australia study pathway before choosing one accounting course.

Study Accounting in Australia: 2026 Quick Facts

Area	What international students should know
Main course options	Diploma, Bachelor of Accounting, Bachelor of Commerce with Accounting, Master of Professional Accounting
Typical course length	Diploma: 6–18 months; Bachelor’s: around 3 years; Master’s: around 1.5–2 years
Indicative tuition fees	Around AUD 25,000–62,000+ per year at university level
Lower-cost route	Some VET or diploma options may start from around AUD 8,000–25,000 per year
Common intakes	February/March, July, and sometimes October/November
Visa for onshore study	Usually Student visa subclass 500
Student visa charge	From AUD 2,500, unless a lower cost or exemption applies
Living-cost benchmark	AUD 29,710 for the primary student applicant
Professional bodies	CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants ANZ, and IPA
Common career roles	Graduate accountant, auditor, tax consultant, management accountant, finance analyst, accounts officer
Important 2026 update	The Accounting Professional Year Programme has closed; do not build your plan around old PY advice

A smart accounting plan starts before you apply. Check the course, the cost, the visa logic, and the professional recognition together.

Why Study Accounting in Australia?

Accounting in Australia gives international students a business degree with practical career value. You do not only study numbers. You learn how organisations record money, report performance, manage tax, follow rules, and make decisions.

That matters in real jobs.

A strong accounting course can help you build skills in:

• financial accounting
• management accounting
• taxation
• audit and assurance
• business law
• corporate finance
• accounting systems
• business analytics
• professional communication

Here’s the thing many students miss. Employers rarely hire a graduate only because the degree says “Accounting”. They want someone who can explain figures clearly, use spreadsheets, understand compliance, work with accounting software, and communicate with clients or managers.

If you want to see how accounting fits into the full student journey, compare it with this broader guide for international students planning Australia.

Accounting Courses in Australia for International Students

There are three main ways to study accounting in Australia. The right route depends on your previous education, budget, English level, and career goal.

1. Diploma or VET Accounting Pathway

A diploma or VET accounting pathway can suit students who want practical accounting skills before moving into a degree.

These courses may include:

Study area	What you learn
Bookkeeping	Recording business transactions
Payroll	Processing wages and employee payments
Accounting software	Using digital tools for finance tasks
Business records	Maintaining invoices, receipts, and reports
Tax support	Understanding basic tax documents
Financial documents	Preparing simple reports and reconciliations

This route can cost less than a university degree. But do not choose it only because the fee looks lower.

Check three things first:

1. Is the course listed on CRICOS?
2. Can it lead to a Bachelor’s degree later?
3. Does it support your Student visa plan?

If budget is a major factor, compare lower-cost course options in Australia before finalising your shortlist.

2. Bachelor of Accounting or Bachelor of Commerce

A Bachelor of Accounting in Australia usually suits school leavers or students who want a full undergraduate business degree.

Many universities also offer accounting as a major inside a Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Business. This can be useful because you learn accounting while also building wider business knowledge.

Typical subjects include:

Subject	Why it matters
Financial accounting	Helps you prepare and analyse financial statements
Management accounting	Supports budgeting, costing, and internal decisions
Taxation	Important for tax roles and advisory work
Audit and assurance	Useful for audit, risk, and governance careers
Business law	Helps you understand legal and compliance issues
Corporate finance	Connects accounting with investment and business value
Accounting information systems	Builds digital accounting knowledge
Business analytics	Helps you work with data and reporting tools

A Bachelor’s degree usually takes around three years full-time. It gives you more time to adjust to Australia, improve English, build networks, try internships, and prepare for graduate roles.

3. Master of Professional Accounting

The Master of Professional Accounting is one of the most popular accounting courses in Australia for international students.

It usually suits students who already have a Bachelor’s degree and want to move into accounting. Your first degree does not always need to be in accounting, although each university sets its own entry rules.

A good Master of Professional Accounting should cover:

• accounting fundamentals
• financial accounting and reporting
• management accounting
• audit and assurance
• taxation
• business law
• economics
• finance
• information systems
• professional ethics

Think about it this way. A student with a business, finance, IT, engineering, or even non-business background may use an MPA to build the academic foundation for accounting. But the course must include the right subjects if the student wants CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA recognition later.

Before accepting an offer, check the course page and use the CPA Australia accredited course search. Also check CA ANZ accredited tertiary course information if your goal includes the CA pathway.

Best Universities to Study Accounting in Australia

The best university is not always the most famous one.

That may sound surprising, but it is true for accounting. The better choice is the university where the course fits your budget, professional recognition goal, intake, academic profile, and city preference.

Use this shortlist method:

What to check	Why it matters
CRICOS listing	Needed for most onshore international study plans
CPA or CA recognition	Helps with professional accounting pathways
Tuition fee	Prevents budget shock after offer
Course duration	Affects total cost and visa timeline
Intake availability	February and July seats can fill early
City cost	Rent and transport can change the full budget
Career support	Internships and employer links matter
Subject structure	The course should include tax, audit, law, reporting, and systems

Universities students often shortlist for accounting and business include:

• University of Melbourne
• UNSW Sydney
• University of Sydney
• Monash University
• Australian National University
• University of Queensland
• University of Western Australia
• Deakin University
• Macquarie University
• RMIT University
• University of Adelaide
• University of Technology Sydney

Rankings can help you compare reputation, but do not use them alone. Check the course details. If you prefer government-funded institutions, start with public university options in Australia, then filter by course recognition, fees, intake, and city.

Students comparing business-focused choices can also review Australian business school options before selecting an accounting major or postgraduate route.

Study Accounting in Australia Fees

Study accounting in Australia fees vary by university, course level, campus, credit load, and year.

A safe planning range is:

Course type	Indicative annual tuition
Diploma or VET accounting pathway	Around AUD 8,000–25,000
Bachelor of Accounting or Commerce	Around AUD 25,000–50,000+
Master of Professional Accounting	Around AUD 35,000–62,000+
Higher-ranked or premium programmes	May go above AUD 60,000 per year

These are planning figures, not fixed quotes. Always check the official university course page for your intake year.

Some business or commerce degrees sit around the mid-AUD 40,000 range per year. Postgraduate accounting courses at major universities can move above AUD 60,000 per year. Fees can also rise each year, so a 2025 figure may not be safe for a 2026 intake.

Total Budget for International Students

Tuition is only one part of the real cost. Students often underestimate setup costs.

Cost item	What to plan for
Tuition deposit	Often needed before receiving CoE
Student visa charge	From AUD 2,500
Living-cost benchmark	AUD 29,710 for the primary applicant
OSHC	Depends on provider, visa length, and family status
Flights	Varies by country and season
Accommodation setup	Bond, rent advance, bedding, kitchen items
Study materials	Laptop, books, calculator, software
Emergency buffer	Strongly recommended

Use the Study Australia cost-of-living calculator to estimate your expenses by city and lifestyle. For health cover, check how OSHC works for international students in Australia before lodging a visa application.

Cost by City

Your city can change the full budget.

Sydney and Melbourne may offer strong networks and part-time work access, but rent can be higher. Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Brisbane, and regional locations may suit some students better depending on course choice and lifestyle.

Before choosing a campus, compare student-friendly cities in Australia with your course fee and accommodation budget.

Scholarships for Accounting Students in Australia

Scholarships can reduce the cost of studying accounting in Australia, but they are competitive.

Some scholarships are automatic tuition discounts. Others need a separate application, strong grades, an early deadline, or a personal statement.

Common scholarship types include:

Scholarship type	Who it may suit
International merit scholarship	Students with strong academic results
Business school scholarship	Accounting, commerce, and management applicants
Regional campus scholarship	Students open to studying outside major cities
Country-specific award	Students from selected countries
Postgraduate coursework discount	Master’s applicants with strong profiles
Research scholarship	Usually for research degrees, not standard MPA courses

Do not build your whole plan around a scholarship unless your profile is strong and you also have backup funding.

A better approach is to create two shortlists. One should include courses you can afford without a scholarship. The other can include universities where you may win funding.

You can explore Australia scholarship options while checking each university’s own scholarship page.

Study Accounting in Australia Requirements

Entry requirements vary by provider, but most accounting applications follow a familiar pattern.

Bachelor’s Entry Requirements

For a Bachelor of Accounting or Bachelor of Commerce, you usually need:

• senior secondary qualification equivalent to Australian Year 12
• required academic grades
• English language evidence
• passport
• academic transcripts and certificates
• sometimes mathematics or business background

Master’s Entry Requirements

For a Master of Professional Accounting, you usually need:

• a recognised Bachelor’s degree
• minimum GPA or grade requirement
• English language evidence
• academic transcripts
• passport
• CV, if requested
• statement of purpose, if requested
• references, for some providers

If you have a study gap, explain it clearly. Do not leave the admissions team guessing. Work, family responsibility, illness, professional training, exam preparation, or business experience can make sense when supported by documents.

This guide on study gap planning for Australia can help you prepare your explanation before applying.

English Language Requirements

Most accounting courses accept IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or other approved English evidence.

Common score ranges may look like this:

Study level	Common English range
Diploma or pathway	Often around IELTS 5.5–6.0 equivalent
Bachelor’s degree	Often around IELTS 6.0–6.5 equivalent
Master’s degree	Often around IELTS 6.5 equivalent
Higher-demand universities	May ask for higher scores

Do not rely on a generic score table. Check the university course page and visa guidance together. Sometimes the admission requirement and visa requirement are not the same issue.

CPA Australia, CA ANZ and IPA Recognition

This is one of the most important parts of choosing an accounting course.

If you want to become a recognised accountant, check whether the course satisfies professional academic requirements. CPA Australia assesses whether tertiary programmes meet academic requirements for CPA Program entry. CA ANZ lists competence areas such as Accounting Fundamentals, Audit and Assurance, Business Law, Economics, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Finance, ICT, Management Accounting, and Taxation.

Use this check before applying:

Professional path	What to check
CPA Australia	Whether the course satisfies academic requirements for CPA Program entry
CA ANZ	Whether the course covers required competence areas
IPA	Whether the course supports IPA academic recognition
Skills assessment	Whether your qualification and subjects match current assessing-body rules

A course title may look right, but subject gaps can create problems later. That is why students should check professional recognition before accepting an offer.

2026 Update: Accounting Professional Year Has Closed

Many older articles still talk about the Accounting Professional Year Programme as if it is part of the normal accounting pathway.

Be careful.

The Accounting Professional Year Programme has been discontinued. Enrolments have closed, and programme activity ends by 1 May 2026 according to CA ANZ’s closure update.

That means students should not build a 2026 plan around old Professional Year advice.

Instead, focus on:

• choosing the right accounting course
• checking CPA or CA recognition
• building relevant accounting skills
• improving English score
• gaining practical experience
• following current Home Affairs and assessing-body rules

This update matters because outdated migration advice can push students towards the wrong course or timeline.

Student Visa for Accounting Courses in Australia

Most international students need the Student visa subclass 500 to study accounting in Australia onshore.

You usually need:

• a CRICOS-registered course
• Confirmation of Enrolment
• valid passport
• OSHC
• financial evidence
• Genuine Student responses
• academic documents
• English evidence, if required
• health and character documents, if requested

The student visa application charge starts from AUD 2,500 unless a lower cost or exemption applies. Visa charges can change, so check the current visa pricing guidance before lodging.

The financial-capacity benchmark for the primary student applicant is AUD 29,710. You may also need to show tuition fees, travel costs, OSHC, and extra amounts for dependants where relevant.

Student Visa Application Flow

Step	What to do
1	Choose the course and university
2	Check CRICOS and professional recognition
3	Prepare academic and English documents
4	Apply to the university
5	Review the offer letter carefully
6	Accept the offer and arrange required payment
7	Receive the CoE
8	Arrange OSHC
9	Prepare visa documents
10	Lodge the student visa application

If your case includes a study gap, unusual funding source, previous refusal, dependent applicant, or course change, get visa document support before lodging.

Study Accounting in Australia Online

Can you study accounting in Australia online?

Yes, some providers offer online or blended accounting courses. But if your plan includes living in Australia on a Student visa, online delivery may not fit your visa strategy.

Check three things:

1. Is the course CRICOS-registered?
2. Does the delivery mode support your visa plan?
3. Will online study affect professional recognition or post-study goals?

Online study can be useful for learning. It may not be right for every international student who wants to study in Australia physically.

Career Opportunities After Studying Accounting in Australia

Accounting graduates can target several roles, depending on skills, visa status, experience, and location.

Career role	Where it can lead
Graduate accountant	Public practice, business services, corporate teams
Auditor	Audit firms, assurance, risk, compliance
Tax consultant	Tax practice, advisory, business tax support
Management accountant	Budgeting, costing, planning, internal reporting
Financial analyst	Finance teams, banking, corporate planning
Accounts officer	Payroll, payable, receivable, reconciliations
Compliance officer	Governance, reporting, regulatory teams
Business analyst	Finance systems, reporting, data-led decision support

Jobs and Skills Australia lists Accountants as a large occupation group, with 215,500 employed workers and median weekly earnings of AUD 2,003.

That does not mean a fresh graduate starts at that level. Entry-level salary depends on experience, city, employer, visa status, and skill set.

To improve employability, build these skills while studying:

• Excel
• Xero or MYOB
• Power BI basics
• tax fundamentals
• written communication
• presentation skills
• internship experience
• client communication
• ethical judgement
• data interpretation

A student who only studies theory may struggle. A student who combines accounting knowledge with software, communication, and workplace practice becomes much more competitive.

Post-Study Work and PR Planning

Many students ask whether accounting is a PR course in Australia.

The honest answer: accounting can connect with skilled migration planning, but no course guarantees PR.

Permanent residency depends on factors such as:

• occupation list settings
• skills assessment
• English score
• points
• age
• work experience
• state nomination
• policy changes
• timing

The Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 may allow eligible graduates to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily after completing eligible study. The Post-Higher Education Work stream applies to eligible Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral graduates, while diploma or trade graduates may need to check the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.

If PR is part of your long-term plan, read about Australian PR planning after study and compare it with courses students often consider for migration goals. Use both as planning resources, not guarantees.

Country Notes for International Students

Bangladesh

Bangladeshi students should prepare sponsor documents, bank evidence, income proof, academic certificates, English results, and a clear study plan early. If your sponsor owns a business, explain the income source properly.

You can connect your accounting plan with the wider study abroad route from Bangladesh before choosing a course.

India

Indian students often compare Australia with the UK, Canada, and the USA. For accounting, check professional body recognition first. If you already have a Bachelor’s degree, a Master of Professional Accounting may be more suitable than starting another undergraduate course.

Nepal

Nepalese students should focus on timing. Offer letters, bank documents, English tests, and visa preparation can take longer than expected.

If you are applying from Nepal, use an Australia preparation route for Nepalese students to avoid late intake pressure.

Nigeria

Nigerian students should make financial evidence and course logic very clear. A weak explanation can hurt a good profile. If your background includes finance, business, banking, administration, or commerce, connect it directly with accounting.

Philippines

Students from the Philippines may find accounting useful because it links with finance, payroll, business reporting, and corporate roles. Check whether your previous qualification leads to Bachelor’s admission, credit transfer, or postgraduate entry.

UK-Based Applicants

Some students apply to Australia while living in the UK. In that case, your immigration history, current location, funding source, and academic goal should tell one clear story.

This UK-based Australia application guide can help you organise the plan.

How to Choose the Right Accounting Course

Before you apply, ask these questions:

Question	Good sign
Is the course on CRICOS?	Yes, with a valid CRICOS code
Does it support CPA or CA recognition?	The university or professional body confirms it
Is the tuition realistic?	Your sponsor can cover tuition and living costs
Is the intake open?	You have enough time for offer, CoE, and visa
Is the city affordable?	Rent and transport fit your budget
Does the course include tax, audit, law, and reporting?	Yes, not just general business subjects
Does the university offer career support?	Internships, workshops, job preparation, employer events
Does the course fit your background?	Your study plan makes sense academically and professionally

Do not pick one university only because someone said it is “best”. Shortlist three to five options, then compare them side by side.

If you want help comparing course fees, intakes, and entry rules, you can speak with a counsellor before applying.

FAQs About Studying Accounting in Australia

Is accounting good to study in Australia?

Yes, accounting is a good course in Australia for students who want a practical business degree with career options in audit, tax, finance, reporting, compliance, and advisory work. The course works best when it has professional recognition and strong career support.

Which accounting course is best in Australia?

A Bachelor of Accounting or Bachelor of Commerce with Accounting suits many school leavers. A Master of Professional Accounting suits graduates who want to move into accounting. A diploma pathway can suit students who want a practical and lower-cost starting point.

How much does it cost to study accounting in Australia?

As a planning range, university-level accounting courses can cost around AUD 25,000–62,000+ per year. Diploma or VET options may cost less. Fees vary by provider, course level, campus, credit load, and year.

Can international students study accounting in Australia?

Yes. International students can study accounting in Australia if they meet academic, English, financial, and visa requirements. For onshore study on a Student visa, the course should be CRICOS-registered.

Is Master of Professional Accounting good in Australia?

Yes, the Master of Professional Accounting can be a strong option for students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree and want an accounting pathway. Check CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA recognition before applying.

Does accounting help with PR in Australia?

Accounting may connect with skilled migration pathways, but it does not guarantee PR. Migration outcomes depend on skills assessment, occupation lists, English score, points, work experience, state nomination, and policy settings.

What are the intakes for accounting courses in Australia?

The main intakes are February/March and July. Some universities also offer October or November intakes, especially for postgraduate or trimester-based courses.

Can I study accounting in Australia without IELTS?

Some universities may accept alternatives such as PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, previous English-medium study, or other approved evidence. The accepted option depends on the university and visa requirement.

Is online accounting study accepted in Australia?

Online accounting study may be available, but it may not suit every Student visa plan. Check CRICOS, delivery mode, visa rules, and professional recognition before choosing online study.

What jobs can I get after accounting in Australia?

Common roles include graduate accountant, auditor, tax consultant, finance analyst, management accountant, accounts officer, payroll officer, and compliance officer.

Final Advice

Study Accounting in Australia can be a strong decision if you choose the course carefully.

Do not start with the university name. Start with the outcome.

Check the course level, fees, CRICOS code, CPA or CA recognition, intake, city cost, visa fit, and career support. Then compare your options.

The right accounting course should answer three questions clearly: can you get admitted, can you afford it, and can it support your career plan after graduation?

If the answer is yes, accounting in Australia can be a practical and future-focused study choice for 2026.