Master of Professional Accounting

This is a Master of Professional Accounting for people who want to move into accounting or formalise what they already do. It suits career changers and graduates from other fields as much as it suits people with a business background. The degree covers financial accounting, management accounting, audit and assurance, taxation, corporate finance, business law and economics, then pulls it together with professional and ethical standards. You graduate with the technical base and the judgement to work in an Australian accounting practice, a commercial finance team or a public sector finance role. It also prepares you for the accreditation pathways that lead to CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the IPA, confirm the current accreditation status with CIHE Australia and the professional bodies before you enrol.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees run for one to two years, and this one is 1.5 years. Teaching is organised by semester or trimester, with each unit of study carrying a set number of credit points. You complete core accounting units first, then choose electives or a specialisation, and finish with a capstone unit or research project that applies what you have learned to a real accounting problem. The exact unit list, credit point values and course rules are set by CIHE Australia, check the official course page for the current sequence.

Work-integrated learning and professional experience

Accounting is a field where practical experience matters, so expect some form of work-integrated learning. That can be a placement with an accounting firm, a corporate finance team or a government agency, or a capstone project using real client data. Many students also work part-time while they study. As an international student on a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the semester and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream gives you time to gain Australian professional experience, check your eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs.

Skills you gain and who this suits

You learn to prepare and analyse financial statements, apply accounting standards, build budgets and forecasts, assess internal controls, handle tax compliance and communicate financial information to people who are not accountants. The course suits three groups: career changers who want a recognised accounting qualification, international graduates who need Australian accounting knowledge, and people already working in finance who want to move into a professional accounting role. English proficiency is required. IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for coursework postgraduate courses, though some fields require higher. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 114297H. Confirm fees, intakes, unit details and English requirements on the official CIHE Australia page before you apply.

• Financial accountant, prepares financial statements and reports for companies, not-for-profits and government agencies across Australia.
• Management accountant, works inside an organisation on budgeting, costing and performance analysis to support decisions.
• Auditor, examines financial records and controls at accounting firms, in-house audit teams and the Australian National Audit Office.
• Tax accountant, handles tax returns, compliance and planning for individuals and businesses, often at mid-tier and boutique firms.
• Business services accountant, advises small and medium businesses on accounting, tax and compliance at suburban and regional practices.
• Financial analyst, builds models and analyses investments in banking, funds management, insurance and corporate finance.
• Payroll or systems accountant, manages payroll compliance or accounting software and reporting systems.
• Graduate roles in public practice, many graduates start at accounting firms and work toward CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA membership.