Master of Professional Accounting
PostgraduateCSU-PAC-MAS2025
Course information for 2025 intake
A professionally accredited accounting masters degree
Prepare for a varied business career and work in almost any sector. You’ll build skills in auditing, taxation, advisory, and more. Get strategic with budgeting, policies, and cost-benefits. Meet the academic requirements of CPA Australia and CA ANZ.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 12
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Professional Accounting
About this degree
Upon completion of this course, graduates will be able to:
- Become successful, ethical and professional accountants able to think and act independently, tolerate ambiguity and think creatively.
- Understand and be able to apply principles and analytical techniques from economics, commercial law, business communications and quantitative methods, in the accounting context, for the recognition and solution of accounting and other business problems and the identification of sustainable opportunities in the business environment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the technical skills essential for the professional accountant in the global environment.
- Listen and communicate effectively, to collaborate with colleagues and to demonstrate interpersonal skills of negotiation and co-operation.
- Recognise and analyse the impact of the business environment on accounting theory and its application, including the regulatory requirements controlling the accounting process in order to anticipate, deal with and initiate change in the accounting and business environment.
The Master of Professional Accounting (12 subjects) is designed to build on non-accounting undergraduate studies or an overseas undergraduate accounting degree that is not recognised by Australian professional accounting bodies.
Valuable skill set
You'll start your accounting course by studying the concepts and principles of accounting practice, as well as the impact of the business environment on accounting theory and its application, and the regulatory requirements that control the accounting process. You'll also learn to understand and apply principles and analytical techniques from economics, commercial law, business communications and quantitative methods in the accounting context.
Study flexibility
You can study this postgraduate accounting course online. You'll learn through online study materials, video-captured lectures, online meetings and subject forums. You can also fast-track your degree by completing up to four subjects a session. If you choose to undertake the Master of Professional Accounting at our Melbourne or Sydney speciality campuses, the course can only be studied on campus. No online classes are offered for this course.
A committed team
Our academic staff are industry experts who bridge the gap between the theories of your studies and their application in the workplace. They are committed to providing quality teaching in a supportive learning environment where your lecturers know your name.
Professional Accreditation
This course is professionally accredited by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA Australia.
Recommended study pattern
The recommended enrolment pattern is 1 or 2 subjects per compulsory session for a part-time student (course duration 3 to 4 years).
30 session intake
ACG511 Interpreting and Communicating Accounting
ACG516 Professional Practice
60 session
ACG512 Data Analysis for Financial Decision-making
ACG508 Accounting Standards Application and Disclosures
30 session
ECO130 Business Economics
ACG513 Contemporary Cost Accounting for Management Decision-making
60 session
FIN516 Corporate Finance
LAW504 Business and Corporations Law
30 session
LAW533 Taxation Principles and Application
ACG509 Global perspectives of Accounting
60 session
ACG514 Ethics, Governance and Developments in Accounting Thought
ACG510 Risk Based Auditing
60 session intake
ACG511 Interpreting and Communicating Accounting
LAW504 Business and Corporations Law
30 session
ECO511 Economics for Business
FIN516 Corporate Finance
60 session
ACG508 Accounting Standards Application and Disclosures
ACG512 Data Analysis for Financial Decision-making
30 session
ACG509 Global perspectives of Accounting
ACG513 Contemporary Cost Accounting for Management Decision-making
60 session
ACG510 Risk Based Auditing
ACG514 Ethics, Governance and Developments in Accounting Thought
30 session
ACG516 Professional Practice
LAW533 Taxation Principles and Application
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$32,400
Indicative total fee $48,600
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Charles Sturt University is Australia’s most experienced online uni, and has the country’s highest graduate employment rate. From agriculture, arts, healthcare and IT, to business, law, social work and teaching—you’ll get the latest skills in your field, and learn from academics who are connected to industry. Add in 24/7 IT support, scholarships and a vibrant student community, and you can take your next, or first, career step with confidence.
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- 37
How to apply
Charles Sturt University manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to Charles Sturt University who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
Master of Professional Accounting Applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree from a recognised Australian tertiary institution (or equivalent). The undergraduate degree must be in a field other than Accounting, or not recognised by the Australian Accounting professional bodies for associate membership. Applicants without a tertiary qualification may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting or Graduate Diploma of Accounting on the basis of professional attainment and/or work experience. Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting/Graduate Diploma of Accounting, students will then be eligible for admission to the Master of Professional Accounting and receive credit for applicable subjects.
Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements apply.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit for current competencies will be granted to eligible applicants.
Career opportunities
As a graduate of the Master of Professional Accounting (12 subjects), you could provide auditing, advisory, taxation, insolvency and recovery services to clients, or put your budget planning, management accounting, internal auditing, strategic planning and policy formation skills to work in any sized organisation. You could also make a difference by applying your financial accountability, budgeting and performance measurement, policy formulation and cost-benefit analysis skills for the public good. Whatever industry you'd like to work in and wherever you'd like to live, Charles Sturt University's accounting courses can take you there.
Professional recognition
This course is professionally accredited by:
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
- Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia.