Master of Professional Accounting (Advanced)

The Master of Professional Accounting (Advanced) at The Institute of International Studies (TIIS) is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who want to work as accountants in Australia. It's built for graduates from any discipline, so you don't need an accounting background to get in. You'll start with the core subjects, financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, taxation law, business law and corporate finance, then move into advanced units that go deeper into accounting theory, forensic accounting, and financial reporting. The course is structured to meet the academic requirements for entry to the professional accounting bodies in Australia, so you'll graduate with the knowledge base those bodies expect.

How the degree is structured

Like most Australian master's degrees, this one runs on a semester basis. You'll enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to accumulate the required total to graduate. The 'Advanced' in the title means you take extra units beyond the standard master's, which is why it runs for two years rather than the usual one to one-and-a-half. There's a capstone unit near the end where you bring everything together, often through a simulated business case or a research project. Some units may include a work-integrated learning component, such as a placement with an accounting firm or a industry project, but check the official course page for what's currently offered.

What you'll actually study

You'll learn how to prepare and analyse financial statements, how to apply Australian tax law to real scenarios, how to audit a set of accounts, and how to use accounting software that employers actually use. The advanced units push you into areas like business valuation, risk management, and accounting information systems. By the end, you should be able to walk into a firm and handle a client's books, or explain a company's financial position to a board. The teaching mixes lectures, tutorials, and group work, with assessment through exams, assignments, and presentations.

Who it's for

This course suits two groups: people with a non-accounting bachelor's degree who want to switch careers into accounting, and international students who want an Australian accounting qualification that's recognised by the professional bodies. If you're already in accounting but want to deepen your skills or meet the requirements for CPA or CAANZ membership, the advanced stream gives you the extra units you need. You'll need to meet the English requirement, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for coursework postgraduate courses, though some institutions ask for higher. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and Cambridge C1 Advanced are accepted as equivalents. As an international student on a Student visa, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you graduate, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, check the official page for the exact figure and intake dates.

• Accountant, working in public practice, corporate accounting, or government, preparing financial statements, tax returns, and management reports.
• Auditor, in professional services firms or internal audit teams, checking financial records and compliance.
• Tax Accountant, specialising in Australian tax law for individuals and businesses, often in boutique firms or the Australian Taxation Office.
• Management Accountant, analysing costs, budgets, and performance inside a company to help managers make decisions.
• Financial Analyst, in banking, funds management, or corporate finance, building models and assessing investments.
• Business Services Accountant, in accounting firms advising small and medium businesses on tax, compliance, and structure.

Accounting graduates are hired across every industry in Australia, public accounting firms, banks, insurance, mining, retail, healthcare, and all levels of government. The professional bodies (CPA Australia, CAANZ, and IPA) recognise accredited degrees, so you can start the CPA or CA program after graduation. Many graduates also use the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to gain Australian work experience before returning home or applying for permanent residency.