CC57 - Master of Professional Accounting

Overview

Course Overview

The Master of Professional Accounting will equip you with professional skills in accounting, finance, computer software applications, economics, statistics, and business law. It is suited to those students who meet the entry requirements and seek a career in accounting in Australia. The course will also introduce you to applied research and analysis skills that are highly sought in business. You will have the opportunity to study advanced areas in forensic accounting, financial data analytics and finance, or take a business internship.

Career Information

For graduates looking to redirect their career, this course is for you. It is suitable for persons who are interested in employment in accounting and financial management orientated careers. Potential fields of employment include financial accounting, management accounting, taxation auditing, teaching finance, banking management, administration, consulting or business advisory services.

Course Details
Duration 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 96
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Postgraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) MProfAcct
AQF Level Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework)
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $31,369.5
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $18,360
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $36,720
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $25,203
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $17,520
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $35,040
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $24,496.5
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $16,680
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $33,360
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $23,775
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $33,360
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $16,680

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.

Domestic Availability

Term 3 - 2026

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2026

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2026

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2025

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2025

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2025

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2024

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2024

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2024

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2023

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2023

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2023

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2020

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2020

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2020

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2019

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2019

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2019

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 3 - 2017

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2017

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2017

Brisbane
Cairns
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney
Townsville

Term 3 - 2016

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2016

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2016

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 3 - 2015

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2015

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2015

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney
Show All

International Availability

Term 3 - 2026

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2026

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2026

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2025

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2025

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2025

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2024

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2024

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2024

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2023

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2023

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2023

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2020

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2020

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2020

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2019

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2019

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2019

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 3 - 2017

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2017

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2017

Brisbane
Cairns
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 3 - 2016

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2016

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2016

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 3 - 2015

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 2 - 2015

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Term 1 - 2015

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
What do I need to start?
Entry Requirements

To gain entry to this course, students must have:

- A non-accounting undergraduate degree in any discipline from an Australian university, or AQF equivalent from an overseas institution; or

- An AQF equivalent accounting bachelor degree received from an overseas institution or organisation, that does not meet accreditation with an Australian Accounting registration body for associate membership purposes; or

- A graduate diploma in any discipline from an Australian university.

English Language Proficiency Requirements:

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.

Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:

  • a secondary qualification (Year 11 or 12, or equivalent); or
  • bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years full-time with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland or United States of America.

If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:

  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.

Each student will be assessed individually.

 

NOTE:  

Students who have successfully completed the CQUniversity Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting will be eligible to apply for credit for units already completed.

Students may be eligible for exemptions of up to 48 credit points for previous graduate level studies in business or accounting.

Assumed Knowledge

No information is available at this time.

Security Requirements

N/A

Health Requirements

N/A

Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards CC38 - Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting CC35 - Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting
Exit Awards CC38 - Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting CC35 - Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting
Accreditation
  • Professional Practice: Core
    Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia

    Accreditation for this course by CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and meets the membership requirements of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) - Associate Member IPA status. These organisations accredit each campus individually, so students must check the current status of accreditation for their desired study location. 

    For eligibility criteria for membership of the Professional Bodies refer to these websites:

    CPA Australia

    Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand 

    Institute of Public Accountants

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

BUSN20020 -

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 371
2023 442
2022 457
2021 178
2020 510
Inherent Requirements
There are Inherent Requirements (IRs) that you need to be aware of, and fulfil, to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course. IRs are the essential capabilities, knowledge, behaviours and skills that are needed to complete a unit or course.

Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.

If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.

Ethical Behaviour

Examples are:

  • Complying with academic and non-academic policies and procedures such as Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy, Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedures, Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework), Accounting professional and ethical standards.
  • Demonstrating honesty and integrity in academic and accounting practice.
  • Critically reflecting on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ethically correct decisions and/or ensuring awareness of applicable ethical thinking and behaviour.
Behavioural Stability

Examples are:

  • Working constructively in a diverse and changing academic and professional environment.
  • Being able to work individually and in groups in challenging environments.
  • Responding objectively, consistently and professionally to challenging and demanding situations.
  • Successfully distinguishing your own personal behaviours, experiences and emotions from people and situations in a professional setting.
Legal Compliance

Examples are:

  • Functioning with an awareness and understanding that Accounting practice is mandated by specific legal and regulatory requirements and standards to enable the professional delivery of practice.
  • Knowledge and compliance with Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards, which informs and determines accounting practices.
  • Ability to apply appropriate legal principles and disclosure requirements in preparing financial reports.
  • Complying with the policies and practices of organisations in which you may be placed for finding employment.
  • Complying with the requirements for registration with the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB)
Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal, Written and Technology)

Examples are:

  • Ability to understand and respond to verbal and communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner.
  • Ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation.
  • Providing accurate, timely, clear feedback and reporting in the delivery of accounting practice.
  • Delivering interactivity with your communication (timeliness, accuracy and effectiveness) to resolve complex problems and maintain trusting and effective relationships.
  • Verbally communicating in the English language with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness.
  • Actively participating in discussion activities related to the course.
  • Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual or group.
  • Establishing rapport with clients in the delivery of accounting practice and responding appropriately to clients, supervisors and other professionals.
  • Recognising, interpreting and responding appropriately to behavioural cues.
  • Being self-aware of your own use of non-verbal cues during interactions.
  • Having sensitivity and empathy to cultural, religious and individual differences.
  • Being able to consistently display appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, body movements and gestures while being mindful of personal space and boundaries.
  • Being able to demonstrate effective non-verbal communication that is respectful, clear, empathetic, honest and non-judgemental when communicating with students, families and professional colleagues.
  • Effectively and appropriately communicating, in written English, in a wide variety of contexts to engage in activities related to the course and in professional settings.
  • Acquiring, understanding, applying and conveying information in a written format.
  • Competently and appropriately producing written assessment work in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar and punctuation to the required academic standards.
  • Expressing complex and detailed information and knowledge into a logical and legible report, in a timely manner that meets professional standards and clearly communicates the intended message.
  • Accurately conveying and documenting information in a written form that meets legal and accounting practice requirements.
Cognitive Abilities (Knowledge and Cognitive Skills, Literacy and Numeracy)

Examples are:

  • Demonstrating the mental functioning and thinking capacities to deliver competent accounting practice.
  • Having the cognitive capacity to acquire theoretical knowledge as well as develop the cognitive processing skills to successfully undertake the course, its learning activities and assessments.
  • Having the capacity to acquire, process, integrate and implement a comprehensive body of knowledge and skills in both academic and professional practice settings.
  • Competently and consistently demonstrating the ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information in accounting practice.
  • Acquiring and interpreting evidence and accurately conveying appropriate information both in data and numerical formats.
  • Having the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts, principles and operations and competently communicate and demonstrate these in a range of contexts to solve a variety of mathematical problems associated with accounting practice.
  • Demonstrating the capacity to undertake complex financial analysis of accounting reports, including the use of Excel spreadsheet software.
Relational Skills

Examples are: 

Communicate effectively with a variety of clients, using a range of communication skills and tools. 

Work effectively with your fellow students. 

Reflective Skills

Examples are: 

Demonstrating an understanding of how theory, as well as personal, social, and cultural experiences, relate to practice or personal or professional knowledge. 

Discovering and challenging own underlying assumptions. 

Making connections between personal and work experiences and what is being learned.

 

Interpersonal Engagement

Examples are:

  • Having the ability to engage in conversation effectively in a wide range of accounting contexts.
  • Demonstrating sufficient knowledge and skills to engage in a group work.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Abilities

Examples are:

  • Having the ability to use ICT appropriately and effectively in a wide range of accounting contexts.
  • Demonstrating sufficient computer knowledge and skills to engage in the on-line learning environment that may include completing relevant on-line assessments, participating in various on-line forums, responding to emails and using spreadsheet software such as Excel.
  • Preparing accounting entries and/or reports using accounting specific ICT.
  • Processing and presenting information relevant to accounting by using specific software programs and Excel spreadsheet software.
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Demonstrate mastery of the coherent body of knowledge fundamental to accounting and related disciplines, by being able to apply effective professional communications skills to analyse and interpret complex accounting issues
  • 2. Use analytical and research skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex accounting problems
  • 3. Use appropriate project skills to design, evaluate and implement proposed solutions to accounting problems
  • 4. Communicate effectively in complex contexts with professionals and non-professionals
  • 5. Exercise a high level of professional judgement to identify and respond to ethical issues in a range of contexts
  • 6. Work independently, as a team leader and as part of a team to acquire new knowledge, or to identify and solve accounting related problems
  • 7. Reflect on feedback from others to improve performance.
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice
2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability
10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship.
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner
Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
  2. Complete electives
Number of units: 14 Total credit points: 84

ALL students must undertake the following core units.

Students must complete all core units and one major.  Students also have the option to complete an internship or elective stream in this course and should plan their enrolment according to the core requirements of their chosen stream. It is highly recommended that students consult a Course Advisor in order to plan their enrolment from the commencement of their course. Students must follow the approved planner and undertake the internship in their final term of study.

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
ECON20039 Economics for Managers
FINC20018 Managerial Finance
ACCT20070 Accounting in Australia
ACCT20071 Foundations in Accounting
ACCT20076 Foundations of Management Accounting
ACCT20072 Accounting Systems and Information Assurance
ACCT20073 Company Accounting
ACCT20074 Contemporary Accounting Theory
ACCT20075 Auditing and Ethics
ACCT20080 Ethics and Governance
LAWS20058 Australian Commercial Law
STAT20029 Statistics for Managerial Decisions
LAWS20059 Corporations and Business Structures
LAWS20060 Taxation Law of Australia
Number of units: 2 Total credit points: 12

Students who meet the prerequisite requirements and choose an internship stream in order to apply the knowledge and skills gained in this course to a professional workplace will undertake the unit BUSN20020 Business Internship.

Following the application and selection process, students placed with a host organisation will undertake their work placement for 10 consecutive weeks, working standard office hours for four days per week - approximately 320 hours in total. International students should check their work rights on their individual visa to ensure they remain compliant with visa conditions at all times. More information about visa conditions can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. Please consult a Course Advisor  as you will not be able to enrol in BUSN20020 yourself.

Students who choose, instead, to undertake the elective stream in order to enhance their career development through the study of complementary units should enrol in other units from the list provided below.

 

 

Available units
Students may choose to do any of the following:
ACCT20079 Forensic Accounting
ACCT20081 Financial Data Analytics
BUSN20020 Business Internship
FINC20023 International Financial Management
More Details

Computing Requirements

As a student, it is necessary to have access to a computer or equivalent device in order to complete your coursework. You should have a good understanding of technology and the ability to navigate the online environment, which may involve completing online assessments, participating in online forums, and responding to emails. There may be instances where you need to use a computer or equivalent device for in-class tasks or assessments. It is important that you have dependable access to the internet and a computer or equivalent device capable of video conferencing for online classes. Make sure to review your unit profiles to learn about any specific technology requirements for your coursework.