Master of Business (Professional Accounting)

Overview

• Ideal for graduates who do not have a degree in accountancy and wish to obtain a professional accountancy qualification for a career change.
• Study financial and management accounting requirements, specialised applications in company accounting, audit and assurance, tax and company regulation.
• Meet the academic requirements for membership of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).
• Graduate recognised by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Certified Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
• Prepare yourself for a career in local, national and international firms; government organisations; law firms; and film, television and media.
• Opportunity to attain two masters degrees by completing the international double masters program and using exchange studies.

Details

This course is designed for graduates who do not have an undergraduate degree in accountancy and wish to obtain a professional accountancy qualification.

If you are looking to change your career direction or enhance your career options, accountancy is a dynamic profession that will provide you with a sustainable, challenging and diverse range of career paths. Professional accountants are in demand nationally and internationally by organisations throughout the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors. Accountants can work in commerce and industry, in public or chartered accounting firms, in government organisations or as individual practitioners.

Discipline units focus on financial and management accounting requirements, specialised applications in company accounting, audit and assurance, tax and company regulation. Core concepts and knowledge, problem-solving skills and critical and analytical thinking are developed throughout the entire course.

Career outcomes

Accountancy is a great platform for a dynamic and exciting business career. Accountants work in a diversity of areas—in commerce, local, national and international firms, government organisations, law firms, banks, merchant banks, stockbrokers, charitable organisations, hospitals and churches, film, television and media or they run their own business. A career in accounting can lead to more strategic and leadership roles such as general manager, chief financial officer and chief executive officer. As a QUT Accountancy graduate, you will have a huge range of interesting career options.

Professional recognition

Graduates meet the academic component of requirements for membership of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) as well as enrolment in their respective professional programs. Graduates are also eligible for exemptions in the qualifying program for membership of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Certified Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

You may also meet the academic component of the requirement for enrolment in the Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance at the Chartered Secretaries Australia (CSA). Students wishing to work towards the academic entry requirements for registration as a tax agent with the Tax Practitioners Board can opt to undertake specific units which have received accreditation by the board. 

International double masters program

If you would like to attain two internationally accredited masters in about the same time that it would normally take you to get one, you may consider our international double masters program. In an exchange study, you complete part of your degree at one of two leading institutions in Europe. Through cross-crediting of your course content, you are able to obtain the full degrees from both institutions – and you may be able to complete the double degree in the same time that it would take you to complete your QUT Master of Business program. For more information, visit international double degrees.

Units

Course design

Students are required to complete 144 credit points of units. Students should contact The Graduate School of Business for course progression advice.

Students may exit from the Master of Business (BS16) at the following stages, once those particular course requirements have been met:

• Graduate Diploma of Business (BS79) (Study Area A)
• Graduate Certificate in Business (BS39) (Study Area A)

Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a Business related or other cognate degree directly related to the discipline area within the last five years, may be eligible for exemptions up to a maximum of 48 credit points. For further information on exemptions, please refer to the Master of Business overview.

Some applicants may require unit substitution where they have studied the equivalent of some introductory units in their undergraduate qualification. Choice of unit substitution is subject to approval by the Subject Area Coordinator.

Completion of certain units are required by the Tax Practitioners Board towards the academic entry requirement for registration as a Tax Agent. These are noted in the course structure.

Articulation

Students who have articulated from the Graduate Certificate in Business (Accounting) may receive exemptions for up to 48 credit points. Students may articulate to the Master of Business (Professional Accounting) Advanced program and receive up to 144 credit point of exemptions. Students who have articulated form the Graduate Diploma in Business Professional Accounting may receive exemptions for up to 96 credit points.

Entry requirements

An undergraduate degree in an area other than Accounting with an overall minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 (on a 7 point scale).

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

These scholarships are available for this course:

View all scholarships