The Programme

The Bachelor of Business in Accounting is a part-time degree programme offered in Hong Kong by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies (CAPS), Caritas Francis Hsu College. The degree offered in Hong Kong is of the same standing and recognition as the degree offered on the University campus in Australia.

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Programme Objectives

The programme is designed for graduates of approved Hong Kong Post-Secondary institutions holding accounting or business-related diplomas to upgrade their academic credentials to a bachelor's degree and thus qualify them for graduate admission to professional accounting bodies.

Career Prospects

The degree opens the way to many new career directions. Students are trained to work in the public practice as

• auditors,
  
• tax agents,
  
• management consultants and
  
• company secretaries.

Graduates in countries where this programme is offered, including

• Australia,
  
• Hong Kong,
  
• Malaysia and
  
• Singapore,

are prepared to take up senior managerial positions in commerce and industry as well as
become accounting academics.

Recognition

The Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree is accredited by both the Certified Practising Accountants Australia (CPA Australia) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), and is recognised internationally. Graduates are eligible to apply for the Associate Membership (ASA) of the CPA Australia and enrol in the CPA Program. On completion of six CPA Program segments and 3 years mentored work experience, candidates will gain the qualified CPA(Aust.) designation of CPA Australia.

Programme Structure

The programme covers a wide range of subjects which include Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Auditing, Commercial Law, Corporations Law, Australian Taxation, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Financial Management, Business Computing and others.

To graduate, students must normally complete 24 subjects, consisting of 8 core subjects, 10 specialisation subjects and 6 elective subjects (the number of subjects each student is required to take varies according to individual credit packages):

• ACC100 Accounting 1
• ACC110 Accounting 2
  
• ECO110 Microeconomics
• ECO120 Macroeconomics
  
• LAW110 Business Law
• MGT100 Organisations and Management
  
• MKT110 Marketing Principles
• QBM117 Business Statistics
  

2. Specialisation Subjects

• ACC200 Accounting Systems
• ACC210 Management Accounting 1
  
• ACC322 Company Accounting
• ACC310 Management Accounting 2
  
• ACC222 External Reporting
• ACC331 Auditing and Assurance Services
  
• ACC341 Accounting Theory
• FIN211 Financial Management
  
• LAW220 Business Organisations Law
• LAW301 Taxation Law (Principles)
  

3. Elective Subjects

Six electives will be assigned by the university to the students. The actual number of electives each student is required to take also varies according to individual credit packages. The follows are some of the possible courses that will be offered to students:

• ACC260 International Accounting
  
• ECO320 International Economics
  
• FIN221 Investments
  
• FIN230 Financial Institutions & Markets
  
• FIN340 International Finance
  
• ITC180 Introduction to Information Systems
  

Unit Descriptions

Prerequisite: N/A

An introduction to financial accounting.

Provides students with basic skills, knowledge and attitudes which enable them to process financial data, to analyse and interpret accounting reports, and to present the results within an ethical framework to financial decision makers.

Prerequisite: ACC100

An introduction to accounting systems and to management accounting. The analysis of cost concepts and behaviour. Understanding and using basic skills in product costing, profit planning, budgeting and performance evaluation and presenting this information for use in managerial decisions.

Prerequisite: N/A

The subject aims to develop understanding of the functioning and limitations of the market system and to apply micro models in economic problem solving. The theoretical framework includes the basic economic problems, supply and demand analysis, consumer theory, production and cost theory, market structure, market failure and microeconomic policy.

Prerequisite: N/A

Macroeconomic concepts and principles are used to study the structure and performance of the Australian economy. Topics include national income measurement and the business cycle, theories of income determination, money, the financial system and monetary policy, balance of payments and trade, macroeconomic policy issues, stagflation and economic growth.

Prerequisite: N/A

Examines major features of the Australian Legal System by analysing, describing and researching its structure, creation and interpretation. Introduces the concept of civil liability by looking at substantive areas such as contract and tort law. Criminal liability in business is also examined. Property, both real and personal, is introduced through study of its framework and various property interests.

Prerequisite: N/A

Introduces and critically examines existing management theory and practices. Covers processes of planning, organising and controlling, problem-solving and decision making, and critical aspects of managing people, organisational environments, and change. Deals with recent developments in managerial thinking, and issues of ethics, social responsibility, global and environmental concerns.

Prerequisite: N/A

Examines the philosophy and role of marketing as a management discipline. Elements of the marketing process are examined so that students can apply marketing principles and practices to service and non service organisations in the public and private sector.

Prerequisite: N/A

Describes how statistical tools can be used by decison makers in business environments. Statistical techniques are applied in typical business situations using the computer where appropriate. The topics covered may include: descriptive statistics, probability concepts and distributions, sampling, statistical inference and correlation and regression analysis.

Prerequisite: ACC100

An overview of the accounting cycle. Traditional recording of transactions in specialised journals, general ledger and subsidiary ledgers, closing entries and preparation of financial statements. Evaluating traditional accounting information systems. Modelling business events and processes. Identifying control risks. Designing and developing typical business processes in a changing environment.

Prerequisite: ACC110

Examines the way in which accountants provide financial and other information for managers to use within organisations. Focuses on the technical design and operation of product costing systems, the design and operation of accounting control systems, and on contemporary management interventions to achieve world-class performance.

Prerequisite: ACC200

Deals with the corporate form of business organisation and how to account for its formation, changes in its capital structure, taxation of its profits, acquisition of another entity, and expansion into an economic entity (parent-controlled entity; and investor-investee relationships). The form and content of published financial reports of companies are also studied.

Prerequisite: ACC210

Adopts a strategic management accounting focus. It is concerned with providing information and analysis to support strategic management activities. Focuses on evaluating existing competitive strategies, in developing new strategies and in monitoring and assessing progress towards chosen strategies. Seeks to assist those involved in organisational choice processes by providing models which they can use in understanding and structuring problems which confront them.

Prerequisite: ACC200

Statutory and professional financial requirements for incorporated reporting entities. An understanding of the overview of the conceptual framework and the role of accounting standards leads to the study of the definition, measurement and recognition of assets, liabilities and owner's equity items and to the disclosure of these items in financial statements.

Prerequisite: ACC221 and LAW220

Adopts a risk-based approach to auditing to explore both the practice and theory of auditing. Emphasis is placed on the application of auditing concepts to financial statement audits. Topics covered include: the role of auditors and their legal and professional duties; approaches to auditing; the risk-based approach to auditing; the nature of internal controls, audit evidence, the impact of CIS environments on audit procedures and audit reporting. Auditing in the public sector, internal auditing and the expanding scope of auditing are reviewed in the latter part of the subject.

Prerequisite: ACC210 and ACC221

A capstone subject designed to give students an understanding of theory, especially as it relates to the development of the accounting system as it exists today. It will consist of five phases: an understanding of scientific theory, an examination of the prescriptive phase of accounting theory development, the scientific phase of development, a study of contemporary thought in accounting (including topics such as international accounting, environmental accounting, intellectual capital and public sector accounting) and a study of ethics.

Prerequisite: ACC100

Focuses on the goals and objectives of corporate financial management. The principal approach is to examine the theories and practice of investment, financing and dividend decisions from a corporate perspective.

Prerequisite: LAW110

Examines the modern law of business organisations including the law of trusts, partnerships, unincorporated associations and corporations. Internal rights and duties within organisations and forms of management and control are examined. The law of agency and its relevance to each type of organisation are also examined. The legal liabilities of mangers in each organisation are considered and principles of bankruptcy/insolvency and external administration of corporations will be introduced.

Prerequisite: LAW110

The fundamentals of income tax law and practice are covered. The basic ideas of assessable income including capital gains, allowable deductions and the essentials of tax accounting are examined in the context of their impact on businesses and taxpayers in general. Fringe Benefits Tax and tax avoidance are also considered.

Prerequisite: ACC110

This subject provides an insight into the accounting issues associated with the global business environment. An overview of the importance of international accounting to the multinational enterprise and an appreciation of the reasons for diversity in accounting practices across the world lead to a study of the pressures for harmonisation of practice and theory. Specific topics of financial statement analysis, segment reporting, foreign currency translation, accounting for inflation and international auditing will give both a practical and theoretical perspective of the specific financial reporting issues of international accounting.

Prerequisite: ECO100 and ECO110

An in-depth and systematic coverage of the concepts, theories and policies relating to international trade and finance. Deals with international trade theories, commercial policies, foreign exchange determination and open market macroeconomics.

Prerequisite: FIN211 and QBM117

The financing and risk management aspects of corporate finance, and security and portfolio analysis. Valuation techniques introduced in the subject Financial Management are applied to various investment types. Current theories in Finance are examined.

Prerequisite: ECO100 and ECO110

Examines the nature and operation of financial institutions and markets in Australia and the economics of the financial system in which they operate. A wide range of financial institutions, markets and securities are examined in detail, together with financial intermediation, financial flows, interest rate determination and money supply formation. Emphasises contemporary issues in our financial system.

Prerequisite: FIN210 and FIN230 or ECO320

Covers a representative range of issues in international finance and global financial markets. Topics include spot and forward exchange rates, interest rate parity, currency hedging and exchange rate forecasting techniques. Also covers new developments in the international financial system such as euro-commercial paper and the internationalisation of the equity market.

Prerequisite: N/A

Based on the theme of traditional systems development life cycle and the five component model of a computer system in the context of both personal and distributed computer systems. Fundamental concepts of computer applications as well as specialist applications relating to the students course major are studies. Current industry standard hardware and software is used wherever possible.

Programme Duration

The Standard Programme allows students to complete 2 subjects in each Semester. Students who wish to study 3 subjects each Semester should follow the Accelerated Programme. Note that 2 subjects per Semester is the standard load for distance education students who are also working, and 4 subjects is the standard load of full-time students.

The duration of the programme varies for individual students in accordance with the number of credit exemptions granted and the number of subjects to be taken. In case of students who need to complete only 12 subjects, the minimum duration of the programme is 2 years if students opt to follow the Accelerated Programme under which 3 subjects are to be completed each Semester, or 3 years if student opt to follow the Standard Programme under which 2 subjects are to be completed each Semester.

Mode of Study

The programme is delivered via the following modes:

1. Self-Study

Quality study materials are specially designed and professionally prepared for subjects offered under the programme. The study packages for each subject contains

• comprehensive subject study notes
  
• a subject outline
  
• a study time schedule
  
• reading materials and
  
• all other relevant information.
  

You will learn using distance education notes and textbooks and you can study and learn at a time which is convenient for you.

2. Tutorial Support

Tutorials are conducted for each subject at Caritas Francis Hsu College by Hong Kong staff . Tutorial sessions are optional.

3. Academic Advisory Seminars

Once each semester, in

• April and
  
• September
  

respectively, academic advisory seminars will be conducted by Charles Sturt University academic staff in Hong Kong at Caritas Francis Hsu College. These seminars are compulsory.

Assessment Policy

Assessment for each subject shall be based on performance in the prescribed coursework assignments and in the final examination.

Students taking the programme in Hong Kong are assessed by the same method and on the same basis as other CSU students studying in Australia. All assignments and examinations are marked by CSU staff.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a post-secondary diploma or certificate in accounting or related disciplines from an approved local post-secondary institution, or equivalent.

Credit for Previous Study

Applicants with a 3-year full-time post-secondary diploma can expect to obtain credit exemptions for up to 12 of the 24 subjects in the degree. Applicants with a 2-year full-time post-secondary diploma should receive credit exemptions for up to 8 subjects. Details of various Hong Kong credit packages are shown below:

Credit Exemptions for Caritas Francis Hsu College

Higher Diploma in Accounting Studies

Higher Diploma in Company Secretaryship and Administration

• ACC100 Accounting 1
  
• ACC110 Accounting 2
  
• ACC200 Accounting Systems
  
• ACC210 Management Accounting 1
  
• FIN211 Financial Management
  
• LAW110 Business Law
  
• MGT100 Organisations and Management
  
• QBM117 Business Statistics
  
• 2 x 100 Level Electives
  
• 2 x 200 Level Electives
  

Applications for credit exemptions from candidates who commenced the Accounting Studies Course or the Company Secretaryship and Administration Course in 1992 or earlier will be considered on an individual student basis.

Credit Exemptions for Graduates of Hong Kong Association of Accounting Technicians

• ACC100 Accounting 1
  
• ACC110 Accounting 2
  
• ECO110 Microeconomics
  
• ECO120 Macroeconomics
  
• ITC180 Introduction to Information Systems
  
• LAW110 Business Law
  
• MGT100 Organisations and Management
  
• QBM117 Business Statistics
  

Credit Exemptions from Formerly Hong Kong Technical Colleges

Higher Diploma in Accountancy

• ACC100 Accounting 1
  
• ACC110 Accounting 2
  
• ITC180 Introduction to Information Systems
  
• LAW110 Business Law
  
• MGT100 Organisations and Management
  
• MGT110 Business Communication
  
• MKT110 Marketing Principles
  
• QBM117 Business Statistics
  

Credit Exemptions from formerly Hong Kong Technical Institutes

Course 0104 Diploma in Accountancy
Course 0103 Diploma in Business Studies

• ACC100 Accounting 1
• ITC180 Introduction to Information Systems
  
• MGT100 Organisations and Management
  
• QBM117 Business Statistics

Credit Exemptions for Applicants with other Awards

Applicants with other awards should provide extracts from their prospectus outlining their certificate or diploma course requirements, and will be supplied with a program of study when their award is assessed.

Intakes Per Annum

There are two intakes per year, in the months of

• February (Autumn Semester) and
  
• July (Spring Semester).
  

Fees and Mode of Payment

The current tuition fee is set at A$1,000 per subject, which covers

• instruction,
  
• study materials,
  
• tutorials,
  
• information transmission services, and
  
• access to College facilities.

Tuition fees are subject to annual review.

Tuition fees are to be paid by credit card or bank draft on a subject-by-subject basis. Bank drafts must be made payable to "Charles Sturt University" and forwarded to the Programme Administrator at Caritas Francis Hsu College - CAPS, 1/F, SUP Tower, 75-83 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong. If you choose to pay the tuition fees by credit card, the duly completed Credit Card Payment Authority Form is to be sent to the same address, on or before the due date for payment, as specified in the offer of admission.

Tuition fees paid will not be refunded unless there is a premature cessation of the programme, in which case refund will be made within March for the February intake and within August for the July intake.

Education Allowance and Loans

• This programme has been included in the list of reimbursable courses for Continuing Education Fund (CEF) purposes. Eligible applicants may receive up to HK$10,000 CEF reimbursement.
  
• Students of this programme may also eligible to apply for the Non-Means Tested Loan from the HKSAR government through the Student Financial Assistance Agency.

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Application Procedure

Application for admission can be made only on the University application form.

Application forms can be obtained by phone, fax or mail from
Caritas Francis Hsu College - CAPS
11 Caine Road
Central
Hong Kong

The duly completed application form must be submitted in person, together with

• a recent passport-sized photograph;
  
• a non-refundable application fee of HK$200 (payable by cash), plus
  
• originals and copies of supporting certificates, diplomas and relevant transcripts, as
  evidence of academic and professional qualifications obtained, for certification
  purpose.

Closing Dates for Application

All applications must be submitted to Caritas Francis Hsu College - CAPS on or before the respective closing dates:

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Contact Information

HONG KONG
	Programme Administrator Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
	Centre for Advanced & Professional Studies Caritas Francis Hsu College 11 Caine Road Central Hong Kong
	2508 9122
	2524 0659
	caps@cfhc.caritas.edu.hk
AUSTRALIA
	Senior Off-Shore Liaison Officer International Division
	Charles Sturt University Locked Bag 669 Wagga Wagga NSW 2678 Australia
	+61-2-6933-2553
	+61-2-6933-2799
	offshore@cus.edu.au

Local Registration

The Bachelor of Business (Accounting) has been registered with the Education Department in accordance with the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (CAP. 493). The Course Registration Number is 210093.