Education

The Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) is designed to develop well-rounded individuals, schooled in a variety of subject areas. The BAcc curriculum adopts best practices from top American business schools, allowing students exposure to a broader spectrum of courses.

The programme has received accreditations from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS), the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). BAcc graduates are eligible to become provisional members of ICPAS without the need for further examinations, other than the qualifying tests required of all applicants to the Institute. After fulfilling the practice experience requirement, they will be eligible to practise as Certified Public Accountants (CPA). Similarly, they can apply to be associate members of CPA Australia, ICAA or ICAEW. Upon satisfying the membership requirements of these professional bodies, they can progress to CPA (Australia) or Chartered Accountant status. CPA Australia, ICAA and ICAEW have mutual recognition arrangements with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and other accounting institutes around the world. Such recognition gives SMU BAcc graduates international mobility.

The BAcc programme aims to produce professional accountants who possess the attributes and skills that are needed to thrive in a knowledge-based economy. Such attributes include analytical and creative abilities, a broad perspective to think across disciplines and geographical or political boundaries, and a confident mastery of today’s technology.

The BAcc curriculum is designed to fulfil all professional requirements for recognition by the accountancy profession without the need for further examinations, other than the pre-admission course required for all new members of ICPAS. At the same time, it offers a broad-based and liberal education so as to provide the student with a broader perspective of the work environment and the world at large.

A distinctive feature of the Bacc programme is that top accounting professionals from public accounting and industry will participate as adjunct professors. Audit and tax partners and senior managers from the Big 4 and other local accounting firms bring real world perspectives into the classroom as instructors for audit and tax courses. In addition, these accounting firms are committed to SMU BAcc internship program. These internships last for a minimum of 10 weeks and can begin anytime after the completion of the first year of studies. Many students can expect to receive employment at these firms by the time they complete their accountancy programme.