Breaking down the Cost of a Bachelor of Business in Accounting

Looking carefully at the cost of a bachelor of business in accounting shows why it’s worth investing in this degree for your future career.

Why choose an ICMS Bachelor of Business (Accounting)?

* The combination of core business subjects and specialised accounting subjects will give you a broad understanding of business combined with the in-depth knowledge required to excel in an accounting role. The emphasis on the interconnected business aspects of the accounting profession sets this degree apart from other accounting courses, offering you a greater degree of career choices and flexibility.

* Industry training is built into the Bachelor of Business (Accounting), giving you industry-specific experience. These courses are free – there is no charge for the internship which is individually tailored to your unique ambitions by the ICMS WIL / Professional Placement team.

Consider that at the latest ICMS Graduation Ceremony (April 2023), over a third of the cohort who left ICMS with a degree and a job can trace their employment to the WIL program.*

This demonstrates that the experience gathered while on WIL – up to 600 hours / two trimesters in your second year – is priceless on its own considering the connections and contacts you will make.

* It’s a pathway to becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA)**

Is the cost of a bachelor of business in accounting worth it?

Any degree is a large financial and time commitment. How you judge whether this investment is worth it will be up to you. The initial cost will be recovered once you start earning, and accounting is a well-paying career option.

A degree will cost you time, effort and money, but it’s a pathway to personal and professional fulfilment.

A degree is what separates lower earners from middle to upper management, and is the ticket to more responsibilities and opportunities in your industry.

According to Seek.com, the average salary of an accountant in Australia is $70,000 to $90,000 per annum. As you gain experience or diversify and specialise, this figure can go higher, especially as you work your way up the corporate ladder. Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), for example, command average salaries between $210k and $230k per annum in Australia.

For more on career options once you have an accounting degree, click here.

ICMS Bachelor of Business (Accounting) Tuition Fees***

Domestic students

Tuition fee per subject: $3,390

Year 1 = $40,680

[3 x Trimesters (4 subjects) @ $13,560 per trimester]

Year 2 = $13,560

[2 x WIL subjects ($0) + 1 x Trimester (4 subjects) @ $13,560 per trimester]

Year 3 = $27,120

[2 x Trimesters (4 subjects) @ $13,560 per trimester]

Total Tuition Fee = $81,360

International students

Tuition fee per subject: $4,100*

Year 1 = $49,200

[3 x Trimesters (4 subjects) @ $16,400 per trimester]

Year 2 = $16,400

[2 x WIL subjects ($0) + 1 x Trimester (4 subjects) @ $16,400 per trimester]

Year 3 = $32,800

[2 x Trimesters (4 subjects) @ $16,400 per trimester]

Total Tuition Fee = $98,400

Accommodation Fees

On-Campus

Moran House or Kelly House

2023 Rates range from $436 to $549 per week, with a minimum stay of 1 trimester. Rates include all meals, free wifi, the use of on-campus facilities, free parking, regular cleaning service, use of laundry facilities, a 24hr Manager on Duty and the premises are monitored by CCTV.

Off-Campus

Claremount Beach House or Wanganella House

2023 Rates range from $439 to $467 weekly, with a minimum stay of 1 week. Rates include free wifi, the use of on-campus facilities, regular cleaning service, use of laundry facilities, a 24hr Manager on Duty and the premises are monitored by CCTV.

You could choose to live in your own accommodation either in Sydney or Northern Beaches and either walk, cycle, drive or catch public transport to either the Northern Beaches Campus or the City Campus in the Sydney CBD.

How can you lower the cost of your degree?

* FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP

If you are Australian, when you attend university or another approved institute of higher education, you can get a HECS-HELP or a FEE-HELP loan to pay for your studies. Click here for more information about how to access these loans.

* Work part time while studying

ICMS offers a flexible timetable which means you can balance working while studying. An up-to-date Jobs Board is available at the ICMS Career Hub where you can find casual and graduate roles while a student. Current job listing include part-time baristas, graphic designers, working at one-off events and as on-site co-ordinators.

International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, with the current minimum wage in Australia being $23,23 per hour.

ICMS Bachelor of Business (Accounting) graduate Alana Williams worked throughout her degree, enabling her to gain work experience while studying. She was ultimately headhunted in to her current role at Peer Wealth as a graduate accountant.

“I worked full time whilst studying full time at the firm, with ICMS allowing for such a great work to study ratio and balance, where I was flexibly allowed to do both.”

* Apply for a scholarship

There are many scholarships available through the ICMS Professional Scholarships Program across a range of degrees. These scholarships are awarding via a transparent, vigorous application process so if you think you are exceptional, view them all here and see how the financial assistance rewards hard work and determination.

ICMS Professional Scholarship winner Keegan Du Preez completed his Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree and is currently working as a Financial Accountant at Ecovis Clark Jacobs. The Ecovis network spans 80 countries, giving Keegan global reach as he builds his career. If he can do this, so can you.

For more information of the Bachelor of Business (Accounting), click here.

*Graduates who are engaged in or available for work (In the Labour force). Internal March Graduate Survey 2023. Please note that the employment statistics provided in this article are based on a survey of graduates who are in the labour force and have completed the survey. This excludes individuals who are not in the labour force, including those who are unable to work, as well as those who choose not to work.

** The ICMS Bachelor of Business (Accounting) has been accredited by professional accounting bodies Charted Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), CPA Australia and by ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, providing a solid endorsement of quality.

***Fees are for programs delivered in the year selected and will expire on 31 December of each year. Fees are expressed in Australian Dollars (AU$). Fees are payable prior to each study period. Fees are reviewed annually and may be varied during the period of study.