Master of Taxation
Postgraduate
CUR-TAX-MAS 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
For commerce graduates seeking continuing professional development
An in-depth study of core subjects including tax law, superannuation, retirement planning, trusts, estate planning and the fundamentals of business and corporations law. Graduates can apply for industry recognition after graduation.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Applications close
- 19 Feb 2025,
- 21 May 2025,
- 20 Aug 2025,
- 19 Nov 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Taxation
About this degree
On completion of the degree students will be able to:
- apply principles of taxation law to practical situations and case studies at an applied, professional practice level; complete original research work to extend discipline knowledge
- read legislation, cases and related taxation materials and critically reflect upon them at an applied, professional practice level
- access and evaluate relevant taxation materials and critically analyse content at an applied, professional practice level
- communicate effectively in ways appropriate to a trans disciplinary and varied audience, for a range of purposes and to a professional standard
- use appropriate technologies, recognising their capabilities and limitations, for professional practice
- take responsibility for the development of ongoing professional, self directed and reflective education relating to developments and changes in the taxation industry
- utilise a practical and evaluative approach to the impact of international taxation industry issues and apply a global perspective to the resolution of these issues
- recognise the importance of cultural diversity and how it impacts upon the taxation industry administratively and practically
- exhibit an ethical approach to analysing taxation issues; solve problems independently or collaboratively; at a professional practice level.
This specialised degree is aimed primarily at commerce graduates who are seeking further qualifications and/or continuing professional development and who are:
- Practitioners in public or private practice
- Taxation officers in the Australian Taxation Office or related Departments (e.g. Treasury)
- Corporate accountants, financial planners and advisers requiring specialist taxation qualifications
- Members of the legal profession who are seeking specialist taxation qualifications.
Specifically applicants require a bachelor degree in a business, commerce or related field from a recognised Australian tertiary institution, or equivalent qualification. Applicants would normally be expected to have a minimum of two years' relevant employment experience
Recommended study pattern
Complete 6 core subjects and 2 optional units from a list.
Award requirements
To qualify for the Master of Taxation students must complete 6 core subjects and 2 optional units from a list.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2021 Changes
The course duration has been reduced from 1.5 years to 1 year. All existing students will remain in the old structure.
For further enquiries, please contact OpenCurtin@curtin.edu.au or their course coordinator.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $33,544
The amount shown here is 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.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 14
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 15
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
1). A bachelor degree in Taxation
- OR A bachelor degree in business/commerce with an Accounting or Finance related major
- OR An equivalent qualification from a recognised tertiary institution
- AND meet Curtin’s English competency requirements AND relevant work experience requirements.
2). The course aims, characteristics of students entering the program and professional accreditation requirements will be considered in determining what level of relevant work experience requirements may be required. These accreditation requirements include completion of any of the following programs:
- CPA program,
- Chartered Accountants (CA) program,
- Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law (GDATL) program offered by the Tax Institute.
3). This is in the context of the review revealing the need to consider the requirement and length for relevant work experience as an entry requirement for students from a cognate background as this seems to be out-of-kilter with competitor offerings and our experience is that it adds nothing to the student learning experience.
Applicants without a cognate Bachelor's degree will need to complete the Graduate Certificate in Taxation Practice to proceed to be considered for the Master of Taxation degree program. This will provide a better pathway into the MTax and student learning experience especially for international students rather than insistence on a relevant work experience requirement which they invariably can never satisfy as they would typically lack any Australian tax work experience.
4). Entry to the Master of Taxation is competitive and a strong academic achievement is required.
Applicants need to meet Curtin’s English Language requirement as all degrees are taught in English.
If your education degrees were not solely in English, as per the International Handbook of Universities or the World Higher Education database, please attach a scanned original copy of English Proficiency Test results.
Admission requires an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) (or equivalent test) score of at least 6.5 and competence in all test components (IELTS score of 6.0).
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Entry Requirements' document at English Language Requirements.
Applicants for a Master Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at English Proficiency Tests.
Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes.
Credit for Recognised Learning may be granted upon application to students who have successfully completed studies that are considered by Curtin University to be equivalent to the units forming part of the program. Credits may be given for students who have successfully completed recognised professional body examinations, including the CA Programs which is offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the CPA program, which is offered by CPA Australia. Normally four units of credit are available for candidates who have completed either CA program or the CPA program. Credits may also be available for courses completed with the Tax Institute. All credits are subject to consideration and verification of original documentation, including results transcripts and other supporting information.
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: Credit for Recognised Learning (Advanced Standing)
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning Policy (PDF).
Career opportunities
Professional recognition
Graduation candidates may be eligible for membership to CPA Australia, the Tax Institute and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Candidates who complete selected units may be able to use this toward meeting the educational requirements for registration with the Tax Practitioners Board.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Accountants | $75K to $93K | Up 8% |
Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers | $93K to $120K | Up 37.6% |
Finance Managers | Over $120K | Up 24.7% |
Financial Investment Advisers and Managers | Over $120K | Up 25.4% |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
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Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.