Master of Professional Accounting

Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
  • Domestic
  • International

Offered at 2 locations
  • Melbourne
  • North Sydney

Duration
2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fees (first year)*

$15446 CSP

Start dates
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025
Applications open August 2024
Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2025
Applications open April 2025

Overview

Open the door to work in management roles and build a career in professional accounting. Artificial intelligence, machine learning and emerging technologies are creating a new era in accounting and finance, so now is the perfect time to change your focus and qualify as a professional accountant.

With us you will graduate with a Microsoft certification in Excel and will learn the latest business issues and integrate theoretical and technical knowledge of financial and management accounting, auditing, finance, economics, quantitative methods, information systems, business law and taxation law. You will also go beyond the numbers and understand how to think outside the box to develop skills in areas including literacy and writing, quantitative data and statistics, and critical thinking and complex information processing. All our units are embedded with the United Nations sustainable goals. Plus you’ll develop your soft skills in areas such as advanced communication and negotiation, empathy, continuous learning, management, adaptably, and technological skills including basic to advanced IT skills, and data analysis.

If you are a current professional with a completed bachelor’s degree looking to change or diversify your career with an accounting qualification, this is an ideal course for you.

Professional recognition

Upon graduation from the master's program, you will have met the minimum requirements for entry into CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Public Accountants.

Read more about these professional organisations

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • financial accounting
  • management accounting
  • taxation
  • auditing
  • public sector accounting
  • investment analysis
  • stockbroking
  • business analysis

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing Semester 1

  • Specified unitsACCT600Accounting for Decision Making10 cp
  • Specified unitsECON600Managerial Economics in a Global Environment10 cp
  • Specified unitsBUSN617Research Methods10 cp
  • Specified unitsMGMT641Organisational Dynamics and Behaviour10 cp
  • Specified unitsACCT602Financial Accounting and Reporting

    (Pre: ACCT600)

    10 cp
  • Specified unitsACCT604Managerial Accounting

    (Pre: ACCT600)

    10 cp
  • Specified unitsLEGL601Commercial and Corporations Law10 cp
  • Specified unitsSTAT600Data Analysis and Interpretation10 cp

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in this unit.

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings consisting of: 

1) 40 cp from Specified Units for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting; and 

2) 40 cp from other units in the Master of Professional Accounting Schedule of Specified Units 

Specified units for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting 

  • ACCT600  Accounting for Decision Making 
  • ACCT602  Financial Accounting and Reporting 
  • ACCT604  Managerial Accounting 
  • LEGL601  Commercial and Corporations Law 

Commencing Semester 2

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in this unit.

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings consisting of: 

1) 40 cp from Specified Units for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting; and 

2) 40 cp from other units in the Master of Professional Accounting Schedule of Specified Units 

Specified units for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting 

  • ACCT600  Accounting for Decision Making 
  • ACCT602  Financial Accounting and Reporting 
  • ACCT604  Managerial Accounting 
  • LEGL601  Commercial and Corporations Law 

Graduate statement

Insight

As an ACU graduate you have personal insight founded on an understanding of who you are as a professional, a citizen and a scholar. You embrace change and growth through critical self-awareness and learning autonomy. You are empowered to seek truth and meaning, drawing on the principles of justice, equity, and the dignity of all human beings.

Empathy

As an ACU graduate you value human dignity and diversity. This appreciation is founded on deep reflection, and empathy. You have experience of Indigenous Knowings and perspectives and can engage respectfully when working alongside Australia's First Peoples. You can connect with people and cultures and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and all cultures

Imagination

As an ACU graduate you utilise imagination and innovation to solve problems. You critically analyse information from a range of sources to creatively solve practical problems and use critical thinking to make decisions and advance the common good. You appreciate the role of innovation and creative thinking in developing a better future for each person and community.

Impact

As an ACU graduate you recognise your responsibility to work for social justice and a sustainable world founded on a commitment to human dignity and the common good. You lead change through respectful collaboration and effective communication of ideas to diverse peoples, groups and communities in local and global contexts. You are empowered to positively impact your profession and the community.

AQF framework

Masters (Coursework) - AQF Level 9

Exit Points

A student who has completed the requirements prescribed for the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting or Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting may exit from the course with the relevant award.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:

  1. Equivalent of an Australian bachelor’s degree in any discipline (the equivalent of an Australian bachelor's degree in a related discipline will be eligible for up to four units credit); OR
  2. A Graduate Certificate in a related discipline.

International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admissions Rules.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.

Applicants with higher education study

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course. 

If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.

You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.

Search our credit database

Learn more about recognition of prior learning

Inherent requirement

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.

Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$15446 CSP

Payment options

You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support. 

Explore your options 

Scholarships

You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.  

Search our scholarships  

How to apply

Domestic applicants

Direct application

Apply now

Deferment

Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment.

Staff Profile

Associate Professor Dr Pandula Gamage

Deputy Head of School, Peter Faber Business School

Associate Professor Dr Gamage completed his PhD at La Trobe University, Master of Commerce degree (Accounting) at the University of Melbourne and the Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education at Victoria University. Since commencing at ACU, Dr Gamage has provided and continues to provide productive and sustained leadership in a range of areas. He has taught extensively in international programs including China, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Dr Gamage also engages in high-impact research publishing in prestigious journals and received research grants linked with national professional accounting and finance associations. Prior to commencing his academic career, Dr Gamage held managerial roles in the industry. He is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. 

Dr Wendy James

Associate Professor, Peter Faber Business School

Associate Professor Dr Wendy James is a fully Certified Management Accountant (CMA) as well as a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Accountant (CA). Dr James was the National Head of the Accounting Discipline at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and has been at a number of universities including Charles Darwin University (CDU) and before that Torrens University Australia (TUA), part of the international Laureate group of universities. Dr James has also spent time with the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia where she was a senior lecturer with Open Universities Australia.

Testimonial

Mariola

"When you have travelled the world and gained enough work experience, you feel you need to back it up with something substantial. ACU met the criteria I had in mind for a university - a globally recognised qualification, a culturally diverse experience, and also cost effective."

Mariola
Professional Accounting student
 

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