Master of Professional Accounting
Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 2 locations
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Duration
- 2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025Applications open August 2024Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2025Applications 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.
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
To complete the Master of Professional Accounting, a student must complete 160 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
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:
- 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
- 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.
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
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
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. Students enrolled in this course may be eligible to receive Youth Allowance (student), or Austudy and/or the Pensioner Education Supplement
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.
How to apply
Domestic applicants
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
"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."