Honours

The Discipline of Accounting honours coordinator is Associate Professor Chris Poullaos.

Reasons for Undertaking Honours in Accounting

The Honours Program offered by the Discipline of Accounting offers a number of benefits to graduates of three-year accounting programs who wish to make a significant contribution in a future career in accounting, finance or management. Features of the honours program include:

• An emphasis on problem identification, problem solving and critical thinking.
• Development of analytical, report-writing and presentation skills.
• Close interaction with research staff within the Discipline and a limited number of other elite students.
• The choice to pursue your interest within a semi-structured program.

Preparation for Final Honours Year

Prerequisite Units of Study for Eligibility for Final Honours Year

The Discipline of Accounting currently offers an Honours Preparation Program for third year students. The preparation program will be run over the full year, with 3 credit points per semester. This program is designed for exceptional students and will provide an avenue for them to pursue advanced studies in financial (ACCT 3098) and management (ACCT 3099) accounting. The program is not a prerequisite to Accounting honours, however students intending to undertake honours are encouraged to enrol in the preparation program.

How to Apply for Entry into Prerequisite Honours Units of Study

Students with an outstanding record in first and second year accounting are encouraged to enrol in the preparation program. Students with a distinction average can automatically enrol, students with a credit average will need to seek approval from the discipline before enrolling.

Undertaking this program does not automatically mean enrolment in fourth year accounting honours, for many may simply use this unit to further explore issues of relevance to accounting.

How Prerequisite Units of Study Fit into Majors

Students are expected to have a major in the field of study they wish to complete honours in and prerequisite honours units of study in Accounting do count towards your major.

Continuation in the Program

Students need to achieve an average of 70+ in the course work component to continue in the program.

Eligibility for Final Honours Year Without Having Taken the Prerequisite Units of Study at Sydney University

Students interested in completing Accounting Final Honours Year, will need to demonstrate they have completed similar units of study to the prerequisite units of study offered within the Business School. Without these equivalent prerequisite units of study, students should be prepared to undertake the units of study before entry into final year. To determine equivalence, contact the honours coordinator in Accounting.

Applications for Final Honours Year

Applications to Final Honours Year close on the final working day in November; however, earlier applications will be referred to the Accounting discipline on receipt of the application.

Successful applicants will be notified approximately four weeks from the end application date. Notification will be by mail so please ensure contact details are up to date.

• Bachelor of Commerce Final Honours Year application form
• Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) Final Honours Year application form

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is a completed pass degree with a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65 per cent across all senior units of study taken, and a minimum of 70 per cent in units completed in Accounting. Admission is competitive, and higher requirements may apply.

Final Honours Year in Accounting

Objectives of Final Honours Year in Accounting

From completing the honours program, students will:

• Develop the ability of constructive criticism in varying settings and enhance their problem solving skills.
• Through the completion of the research thesis, learn to manage time commitments, handle stress from challenging situations and meet deadlines for major projects.
• Develop a level of expertise in a chosen area of accounting or industry not available within the undergraduate program.
• Be differentiated through their proven ability to commit to a higher level of study with requirements of thinking and analytical skills beyond what could be offered in the three-year undergraduate program.

Structure

To assist in your understanding of the structure of our honours program it is requested that you read the following course descriptions:

• ACCT 4101 Honours A
• ACCT 4102 Honours B
• ACCT 4103 Honours C
• ACCT 4104 Honours D

Double or Joint Honours

Students wishing to do double or joint honours with another discipline must consult Geoff Frost before submitting their application.

Students have the option to undertake joint honours. Such studies will involve undertaking a program of studies with two disciplines. For information on joint honours please contact the relevant honours coordinators in each discipline.

Theses Submission

The honours coordinator will provide a timetable of key dates for accounting honours and details of the theses examination process.

The final grade of honours will be determined on the following University scale:

Scholarships

In addition to the University of Sydney Honours scholarships and other Business School scholarships, students enrolled in Accounting Honours are eligible for the RJ Chambers Honours Scholarships. These will be allocated after commencement of the Honours program.