Deakin University
Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Study online to embark on the journey to professional accountant accreditation. Develop accounting expertise and specialized skills in business and finance.
Course overview
Study accounting and finance principles and take the first step towards becoming a qualified accountant. Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting allows you to choose the right units.
If you want to add accounting skills to your professional skill set to progress your career, you can study units that match your interests. Or, if you aspire to apply for the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand CA program, you can choose to undertake the units required for this pathway.
As a graduate, you can progress to the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting or Master of Professional Accounting.
Key facts
July, 2026
November, 2026
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting, you must attain four credit points of core units, plus complete the compulsory Academic Integrity Module in your first trimester of study (zero credit point unit).
Core units:
Select a minimum of two units (two credit points) from:
- Accounting for Management
- Financial Accounting
- Advanced Accounting Principles and Practice
- Accounting
- Principles of Finance
Select a maximum of two units (two credit points) from:
- Corporate Auditing
- Accounting Systems and Analytics
- Principles of Income Tax Law
- Business Law
- Economics for Managers
- Analytical Methods
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. You must meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree, you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher.
- At least two years of relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent).
English language requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised English-speaking country.
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent.
- Other evidence of English language proficiency (contact the university for more information).
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning into the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting may be granted to students who have successfully completed appropriate postgraduate studies. There are negotiated Recognition of Prior Learning arrangements in place for CPA members.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate after their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
- Demonstrate conceptual knowledge of basic accounting , auditing and financial management techniques, including simplified applications to real-world problems.
- Draft user-friendly reports that clarify the merits of alternate solutions and make simple recommendations.
- Identify potential alternative solutions and evaluate the financial costs and benefits.
- Determine ways to resolve a firm’s financial constraints by matching the theoretical solutions appropriately.
Career outcomes
As an accounting graduate, you may find employment in major international accounting firms, investment banks and virtually every area of business and government.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $17,100 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of four credit points (normally four units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation;
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.