Master of Professional Accounting

The Master of Professional Accounting at Ozford Institute of Higher Education is a two-year coursework degree for people who want to move into accounting or formalise the skills they already use on the job. You do not need an accounting background to get in. The course starts with the core building blocks, financial accounting, management accounting, business law, economics, finance and taxation, then moves into auditing, accounting information systems and corporate reporting. By the end you should be able to prepare and read a set of financial statements, apply Australian accounting standards, and explain the tax and legal rules that sit behind common business decisions.

Like most Australian master's degrees, this one runs on a semester or trimester calendar. You enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass a defined total to graduate. The exact unit list and credit-point structure are set by Ozford, so check the official course page and the CRICOS register entry for the current sequence. Most master's programmes of this length finish with a capstone unit, often a professional accounting project or a research-based report, that pulls together what you have learned across the earlier units. Some also include a work-integrated learning or industry placement option, which is where many students get their first real taste of an Australian accounting workplace.

Assessment is a mix of exams, assignments, case studies and group work. You will spend a lot of time in tutorials working through practical problems: reconciling accounts, preparing tax returns, analysing a company's cash flow, or arguing a point of business law. The teaching is in English, and Ozford publishes its English entry requirements for international applicants, typically IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall for a coursework master's, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa, so you need to satisfy both.

Who is this for? Career changers with a bachelor's degree in something else, people already working in bookkeeping or finance who want a formal accounting qualification, and international students looking for an Australian credential that opens doors locally. The course is delivered in Melbourne, and the Australian accounting profession is well connected to the major firms, mid-tier practices and government bodies that hire graduates. If you are an international student, a Student visa usually lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which gives you time to gain Australian work experience. Confirm the current rules on the official government pages before you rely on them.

• Assistant accountant, preparing financial statements, reconciliations and month-end reports for small and mid-sized firms.
• Tax accountant, working on income tax returns, BAS statements and tax planning for individuals and businesses, often in a public practice.
• Audit associate, testing controls and verifying financial records at an audit firm, then reporting to a senior auditor or partner.
• Management accountant, building budgets, forecasts and cost models inside a company to help managers make decisions.
• Financial analyst, analysing company performance and preparing reports for banks, insurers or corporate finance teams.
• Bookkeeper or accounts officer, managing day-to-day ledgers, payroll and supplier payments, often while studying.
• Graduate roles in government and not-for-profit finance, state and federal departments, local councils and charities all employ accounting graduates.

Australian industries that hire accounting graduates include public practice firms (Big Four, mid-tier and suburban practices), banking and financial services, professional services, manufacturing, retail, health, education and all levels of government. Many graduates work towards professional body membership and further study while they gain experience.