Accredited Accounting and Finance Degrees in Australia and New Zealand

Why accreditation matters

If your goal is a professional accounting designation — CPA from CPA Australia or CA from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) — the degree you choose matters. To enter a professional program you generally need a degree (or major) that the professional body has accredited as meeting its academic entry requirements.

An accredited program covers the core accounting and business areas the bodies expect, so graduating from one means you have already satisfied the academic stage. Choosing an unaccredited program can mean extra bridging study later, so it pays to check accreditation before you enrol.

Bachelor and master options

Both bachelor and master degrees can be accredited. A Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Accounting with an accounting major is a common undergraduate route, while a Master of Accounting or Master of Professional Accounting is a common option for graduates from other fields who want to convert into accounting.

Finance-focused degrees may also include accredited accounting majors or specialisations. What counts is whether the specific program and major are on the professional body's accredited list — the degree title alone is not enough.

How to confirm a program is accredited

Accreditation is decided by the professional bodies, not by the university alone. CPA Australia and CA ANZ each publish information on the programs and institutions they recognise, and universities usually state on the course page which body has accredited the program and for which pathway.

Use both sources together: check the university's official course page and cross-check on the professional body's official website. If you are unsure, contact the body or the university's faculty before enrolling.

• Identify your target designation (CPA, CA, or keep both open).
• Find degrees with an accredited accounting major, not just any accounting subjects.
• Confirm accreditation on the university's official course page.
• Cross-check the program on the CPA Australia and/or CA ANZ official website.
• Note any specific subjects required for your chosen pathway.

International students and overseas degrees

International students studying in Australia or New Zealand should pick an accredited local degree just as domestic students do. If you already hold an overseas accounting qualification, the professional bodies can assess it to see how much of their academic requirement it covers.

That assessment may recognise prior study or require additional accredited subjects. Because recognition rules differ and change over time, get your overseas qualification assessed by the relevant body and confirm any gap study before assuming your degree will be accepted.

Aligning your degree with the right body

Many accredited accounting majors satisfy the academic entry requirements of both CPA Australia and CA ANZ, which keeps your options open while you decide on a pathway. Some specific subject requirements can differ between the bodies, so plan your electives accordingly.

If you have already chosen CPA or CA, confirm the exact accredited-subject list for that pathway and build it into your degree plan. When you are still deciding, prioritise a program accredited by both. Always verify current requirements on the official sources, as they are updated periodically.