Deakin University
Master of Professional Accounting
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
- Course Type: Master's
Enhance your skills and knowledge in business and finance to graduate prepared for a career as an accountant.
Course overview
Learn from expert academics who bring practical insight and current research into the classroom. Our course content is shaped by an industry advisory board made up of representatives from peak professional bodies and active accounting professionals. This ensures your learning is aligned with evolving industry needs and backed by the latest research from Deakin’s IPA-Deakin SME Research Centre and Deakin Sustainable Business Centre.
You will develop expertise across core areas including accounting and systems analytics, audit, economics, finance, financial accounting, law and management accounting.
As a graduate, you will also have the opportunity to complement your primary studies in professional accounting with a specialisation in a business-related field. Designed to meet industry demand for professionals with both deep expertise and transferable skills, a specialisation allows you to tailor your studies to your career goals.
Whether you want to deepen your knowledge of finance, expand into IT, or explore areas such as real estate, the arts, or supply chains, there’s a specialisation to match your ambitions. You can choose from areas including artificial intelligence for business, arts and cultural industries, cyberlaw, finance, financial planning, human resource management, international trade and business, management consulting, marketing, project management, property and real estate and supply chain management.
You don’t need to choose a specialisation before you begin, you will have the flexibility to explore your options once you have started the course.
Key facts
July, 2026
November, 2026
What you will study
The Master of Professional Accounting is typically eight, 12 or 16 credit points. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications –which can save you time and money.
To complete the Master of Professional Accounting, students must attain a total of 16 credit points, consisting of 12 credit points of core units and four credit points of open electives (which may include an optional Faculty wide specialisation) plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin.
- Accounting
- Principles of Finance
- Economics for Managers
- Business Law
- Accounting for Management
- Accounting Systems and Analytics
- Principles of Income Tax Law
- Analytical Methods
- Corporate Auditing
- Financial Accounting
- Advanced Accounting Principles and Practice
- Professional Research and Analysis (Capstone)
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 will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Depending on your professional experience and previous qualifications, you may commence this course with admission credit and complete your course in one year full-time (or part-time equivalent).
One year full-time (or part-time equivalent) - eight credit points.
To be considered for admission to this degree (with eight credit points of admission credit applied^*) you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree (honours) (AQF 8) or higher in a related discipline.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in a related discipline and at least two years of relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent).
- Completion of a graduate certificate or graduate diploma or higher in a related discipline.
1.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) - 12 credit points.
To be considered for admission to this degree (with four credit points of admission credit applied^*) you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher in a related discipline.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher in any discipline and at least two years of relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent).
Two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) - 16 credit points.
To be considered for admission to this degree (without admission credit applied*) you will need to meet the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher in any discipline.
^Related discipline degree: A 'related discipline' award for this course is a bachelor's degree in commerce, management or business with a major sequence in accounting or financial planning.
^Relevant work experience: Relevant work experience refers to roles in accounting/finance, financial planning, management and business.
Please note: Examples of academic capability include CPA Australia or other professional qualifications gained in accounting/finance, financial planning, management and business disciplines.
*Credit for Recognition of Prior Learning will still be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Deakin University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning.
You can refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Visit their website or contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Integrate advanced theoretical and technical knowledge of current and emerging accounting concepts and practices in contemporary business contexts.
- Use advanced communication skills to justify and communicate complex accounting concepts and ideas to both accountants and non-accountants.
- Select and apply appropriate digital technologies to find, use, manage and disseminate complex accounting and business data, information and ideas.
- Use a specialised set of high order cognitive and critical analysis skills expected of accounting professionals in contemporary business to evaluate, synthesise and justify complex ideas and recommendations.
- Develop solutions to real-world and ill-defined problems faced by accounting professionals in business.
- Use acquired skills to undertake own work and learning and conduct independent research.
- Collaborate and communicate in teams to interpret decision-relevant information and develop accounting and business advice and ideas.
- Engage ethically, professionally and productively in a professional accounting and business context in light of changing global perspectives.
Career outcomes
As a graduate of this course, you can seek employment in areas of accounting such as:
- Financial Accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Management Accounting
- Public Sector Accounting
- Forensic Accounting
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $34,200 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of eight credit points (normally eight 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.