| Duration | 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time |
| Location | Brisbane and |
| Next start term | Term 1, 2025 |
| Internship | Yes |
| Study mode | On Campus, Online |
| Course code | CC57 |
| CRICOS | 084507M |
| First-year fee | A$36,720 (Indicative) |
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 from your home country or on-campus study options. Take advantage of CQU’s three terms across the year to study the Master of Professional Accounting, when and how it suits you.
If you have an undergraduate degree 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
- Internships
- Seamless Pathways
“I chose this course because I wanted to further my accounting qualification in an overseas environment. CQU offers many support services to help international students socially and academically.
Vorleak Ban
Master of Professional Accounting I Cambodia
“I undertook an internship and CQU helped me to land my current job. The business internship helped me to build up my soft skills, boost my confidence and adapt to the Australian working environment. I felt very comfortable with my host organisation.
Thilini Wasana Dissanayaka
Master of Professional Accounting I Sri Lanka
“My study definitely impacted my career. I acquired knowledge, skills and experiences required to enter corporate life. Additionally, interacting with people from different countries, being involved in different types of jobs, receiving advice from my professors and peers helped boost my confidence.
Karuna Shiwakoti
Master of Professional Accounting I Nepal
“The Master of Project Management sharpened my knowledge, and specifically the fundamentals of civil engineering. I did an internship in the last semester and it was a good experience. After graduating, I received a job as a trainee civil engineer.
Abhishek Rameshbhai Sutariya
Master of Project Management | India
“I chose CQU because I believe it gave me the knowledge and skills to prepare me to meet the demands of our changing world. CQU provides a unique learning style that encourages me to be innovative.
Cindy Wisco
Master of Professional Accounting I Philippines
“It’s all about getting out of your comfort zone and exploring what else is there. One thing I learned during my journey is that what seems to be all bad and ugly can turn into something good and beautiful.
Annie Grace Reyes
Master of Professional Accounting | Philippines
“The course is excellent and designed to a high standard. The units relate to international accounting and banking systems, and made me confident. When I return home there will be lots of opportunities to use my knowledge and experience.
Abdullah Al Helal
Master of Professional Accounting I Bangladesh
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 the 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.
Additional information
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.
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:
If you have already completed a study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.
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
Course fees
This is an approximate cost of enrolling in this course, shown in Australian dollars (A$), for one academic year and is based on a full-time study load (8 units over 2 terms).
Your actual fees may vary, depending on the units that you select to study and your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change.
A scholarship can help with the costs involved with living on campus, laptops and technology, childcare, study and living expenses, travel, and more.
You may be eligible for up to 25% international scholarship funded by the University.
We also offer other scholarships to support international students and encourage you to apply for the one that's right for you.
In addition to your international course tuition fees, you must have sufficient funds to cover other study and living expenses.
This will include costs such as textbooks, accommodation, visa applications, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), general living, etc.
How to apply
Our easy to use online application system for international students will guide you through the process of applying for a course at CQUniversity Australia.
