| Duration | 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time |
| Location | Online and |
| Next start term | Term 1, 2025 |
| Study mode | On Campus, Online |
| Course code | CC57 |
| First-year fee | $25,203 (Indicative) (FFP) |
Overview
Technology and data are creating an exciting new era for the accounting profession making now a great time to change the trajectory of your career and qualify as a professional accountant. Accounting is harnessing the power of the digital revolution that is fuelling technological trends such as cloud-based computing, artificial intelligence and robotic process automation to provide real-time finance tracking and fraud vulnerability assessments for organisations.
The Master of Professional Accounting is an ideal course for professionals seeking a career change into accounting and financial management.
You will develop professional skills sought after by industry, government and the accounting profession across accounting, finance, computer software applications, economics, statistics and business law. The Master of Professional Accounting will also allow you to choose to develop specialist skills in accounting systems and information assurance, forensic accounting, and financial data analytics meaning you will be well equipped to leverage artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies to provide real-time finance tracking, cloud based accounting services and fraud risk assessments for today’s business world.
With a focus on providing practical skills, you will have opportunities throughout the course to gain hands-on experience with Microsoft Excel and Access, and the world-leading SAP enterprise system software. Plus, choose a professional internship in a professional workplace to contextualise your learning and expand your networks in the industry.
Designed with flexibility in mind to suit current professionals, you can choose between online or on-campus study options, and full-time and part-time modes. Take advantage of CQUni’s three terms across the year to study the Master of Professional Accounting, when and how it suits you.
If you are a domestic student, and your undergraduate degree is in business or related disciplines including management, marketing and human resources, you may be interested in our Master of Professional Accounting Accelerated. This 12-unit masters course can be studied in as little as 18 months of full-time study.
Transcript
Professional accounting is a field that's in high demand. It's needed by every organisation, so there are a lot of opportunities.
The Master of Professional Accounting is a course designed for graduates of any discipline to achieve professional accounting qualifications.
Our Master of Professional Accounting has a set of core units plus space for two electives, and students can take electives in a number of areas, including forensic accounting, data analytics or they can take a business internship where they get the opportunity to work with a company for 10 weeks.
Internship requires them to attend a company's premises and do work for four days a week for 10 weeks in a normal term, and that's unpaid employment, but it's realistic employment.
At the same time, the student completes a research project for that company.
CQUniversity provided me with many platforms to go beyond my potential. This course provided me financial literacy, theoretical skills as well as computer skills.
Currently, I am working as an Assistant Accountant in the construction industry. This was my first accounting job in Australia, and I got promoted after a year.
The course meets the accreditation requirements for professional accounting in Australia to become a CPA or a chartered accountant.
Our staff are all doctorally qualified, including casual staff. They need to be active researchers and they are working in very applied areas including, for example, fraud detection, areas like sustainable business, sustainability reporting, so they're very applied industry relevant sort of areas.
We design our teaching approach using effectively a flipped classroom model. We use a combination of lecture recordings and workshops.
The workshops are small in size, limited to under 50 students. And, students engage in quite practical activities, applying concepts to authentic case studies and situations, and they have the opportunity to work in small teams to discuss those questions.
My advice to the students studying in university and the graduates is to upskill yourself and learn new things. Learning does not stop at university. So, if you want to get the dream job you want, work smart and work on your soft skills as well.
The future of accounting is less focused on the debit and credit bookkeeping side because that is being automated but becoming more focused on the analysis of accounting data and looking for trends and guiding businesses in making decisions.
And that's where the accounting data becomes relevant, and that's the future of accounting.
Study experience
- Authentic Learning Experiences
- Experienced Teaching Team
- Industry Accredited
- Seamless Pathways
“I found the flexibility of studying really a plus, so I can choose either one or two subjects each semester, depending on what's happening in the rest of my life. It's flexible to fit in with your lifestyle, rather than you fit in with the uni's lifestyle.
Emily Keehn
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, Masters of Professional Accounting
Career Opportunities
If you are seeking a career change and are interested in a career in accounting, this course is for you. It is ideal if you are interested in employment opportunities in accounting and financial management sectors. Potential fields of employment include financial accounting, management accounting, taxation auditing, teaching finance, banking management, administration, consulting or business advisory services.
Structure & Availability
The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.
Available locations
Your course
You must complete 16 units (96 credits):
- 1The core structure (14 units)
- 2Two elective units
Unit details
The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.
Course planner
To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and when you will study each unit, check out our course planners.
Additional information
Professional Practice - Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia
Core
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:
Business Internship - BUSN20020
Choose an internship stream to gain real-world experience and contextualise your learning, while expanding your professional networks and enhancing your employability. Students will complete work placement for 10 consecutive weeks, working standard office hours for four days per week – completing approximately 320 hours in total. Students need to meet prerequisite requirements to undertake BUSN20020 Business Internship. Check the Handbook for more information.
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.
Requirements
To be eligible
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
During your study
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.
Fees & Scholarships
Indicative first-year fee
The Indicative First-Year Fee for a Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (this is usually eight units studied over two terms) and should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you study and your study load. Check the cost-per-unit spreadsheet available on our fees webpage for the approved unit fees. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.
You may be eligible for FEE-HELP, an Australian Government loan scheme that helps eligible students pay their tuition fees. Provided you meet the FEE-HELP eligibility criteria, you can choose to use FEE-HELP to cover all or part of your tuition fees.
Learn more about paying for university or view the FEE-HELP information booklet on the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.
Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.
How to apply
How to apply
Check what you need to do to apply to study this course.
Your application options
Follow these steps
Extra admission information
Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.
