Deakin University
Master of Professional Accounting
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
- Course Type: Master's
Study online to open new doors in your career by expanding your skills and knowledge in business and finance. You'll graduate ready to practise as an accountant.
Course overview
Whether you want to upgrade your existing qualifications or move into a new professional field, the Master of Professional Accounting opens up new career possibilities.
Catering to students from both accounting and non-accounting backgrounds, this course offers you the opportunity to complete the necessary studies to become an associate member of CPA Australia, to enter the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), to undertake the CA program or to enter the IPA professional program. Now is the perfect time to draw on your prior career experience and add layers of new knowledge to become a sought-after expert in your field.
Deakin's advisory board, made up of members of peak professional bodies and active accounting professionals, influences the course content. This means everything you study is updated and maintained through extensive industry research.
Learn from academics who leverage their expertise and up-to-date research to embed progressive learning throughout your course journey, allowing you to work on contemporary case studies with a real-world application.
As a graduate, you can complement your primary studies in professional accounting with a specialisation in a wide range of business-related fields. Designed to meet industry demand for skilled professionals with a breadth of transferable skills, a specialisation can help deepen your knowledge in a particular business field and benefit your future career.
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 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 work, learn 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.