Study Professional Accounting

A career in accounting provides challenging, rewarding and versatile opportunities in the current business environment. Increasingly, businesses are looking for people with superior analytical skills that accounting can provide.

A Master of Professional Accounting is a qualification that equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to succeed in accounting and aid career progression to senior management level.

Why study with us?

  • Study in Sydney and Newcastle - our state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of the Sydney and Newcastle CBD provide the optimum environment for you to excel in your studies.
  • Flexible study options - you can choose to study full-time or part-time to suit your professional and personal needs.
  • Combine your degree with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and you can graduate with two degrees in less time than it would take to complete them separately.
  • Industry Accreditation - our Master of Professional Accounting is designed to provide accreditation with the major professional bodies in accounting, including CPA Australia, CA Australia and New Zealand and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Take the first step with a Grad Cert in Professional Accounting

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AACSB & EQUIS ? accredited business school
World top 175 ? for business and economics
Ranked equal 173 ? in the world

What you will study

The Masters of Professional Accounting is designed for students who have qualifications in an area other than accounting. You will gain knowledge of accounting concepts that are transferrable to organisations of all sizes, whether they are in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.

You will study topics in:

  • management accounting
  • financial accounting
  • taxation
  • auditing
  • finance
  • law
  • economics
  • business decision making (statistics)

Achieving the requirements of the Master of Professional Accounting means you meet the eligibility requirement for entry into CPA AustraliaCA Australia and New Zealand and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Combined options

The combined Masters program in Professional Accounting and Business Administration (MBA) will set you apart in the increasingly competitive global labour market. The qualification will equip you with the technical expertise to work in the rigorous world of accounting as well as an extended understanding in the whole of business practice, providing the knowledge required to excel in senior management.

View the program handbook

Entry options and duration

Do you have qualifications or experience beyond the minimum entry requirements for a Masters Degree? If so, you may be able to complete your degree in reduced time and at reduced cost. Select from the options below to have your professional qualifications and/or work experience considered.

Units required to complete Master degreeCredit
80 units

20 units specified credit for PACC6000 and PACC6001. 20 units specified credit (if mapped to specific courses).

Units required to complete Master degreeCredit
120 units

Normal credit procedure, that is, RPL may be sought for individual courses.

Units required to complete Master degreeCredit
100 units

20 units specified credit for PACC6000 & PACC6001.

Units required to complete Master degreeCredit
120 units

Normal credit procedure, that is, RPL may be sought for individual courses.

Units required to complete Master degreeCredit
120 units

Normal credit procedure, that is, RPL may be sought for individual courses.

Number of years relevant organisational experienceUnits required to complete Master degreeCredit
Seven years (including at least two years in a management position)120 units

Normal credit procedure, that is, RPL may be sought for individual courses.

Units required to complete Master degreeCredit
80 20 units specified credit for PACC6000 and PACC6001 plus 20 units specified credit (if mapped to specific courses)
2024 Program Handbook

Refer to the program handbook for details of the complete program structure, course requirements and availability.

View program handbook

My Degree Planner

Use our degree planner to see what your study journey through the Master of Professional Accounting might look like.

Prospective student planner Current student planner

Career

Career opportunities

The Masters of Professional Accounting (Advanced) is the gateway to membership with CPA AustraliaCA Australia and New Zealand and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), three internationally recognised professional qualifications. A thorough understanding of accounting principles and membership of internationally recognised professional accounting bodies make for a versatile and highly employable graduate.

Knowledge, skills and confidence in accounting are important attributes of senior managers. Accounting skills are transferrable across all industries and are required for sound financial decision making. The insights you will gain as a graduate of the Master of Professional Accounting (Advanced) will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to seek employment in careers such as:

  • Forensic Accountant
  • Internal Auditor
  • Ratings Analyst
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Financial Advisor

The theory and accounting principles you have acquired through the Master of Professional Accounting will equip you for diverse real-world business situations. This knowledge will increase your value and see you fast-track to leadership and career advancement.

Professional recognition

The Master of Professional Accounting is designed to provide accreditation with the major professional bodies in accounting, including CPA AustraliaCA Australia and New Zealand, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Association of International Accountants (AIA).

The University of Newcastle’s Newcastle Business School is in the top 3 business schools in NSW, accredited by both EQUIS and AACSB.

Application info

Applying for Master of Professional Accounting

Ok, great, let's go!

Applications to study are now open. Submit your application now.

Important: If you are applying for recognition of prior learning for this program, you will need to provide a statement detailing how your professional experience prepares you to undertake postgraduate study.

Apply to study in Australia

Applications to study are now open. Submit your application now.

Important: If you are applying for recognition of prior learning for this program, you will need to provide a statement detailing how your professional experience prepares you to undertake postgraduate study.

Before you get started

To ensure that the process goes smoothly for you, you should complete the following steps before applying:

  1. Review the program that you wish to apply for. Note the admission criteria, admission instructions, requirements & structure and any additional information listed.
  2. Review the program fees and costs.
  3. Check whether your postgraduate program has a Semester or a Trimester closing date. Please view the application closing date.
  4. If you are from a non-English-speaking background, you need to satisfy the University's English language requirements and ensure that you can provide evidence of your English proficiency if required.

You will be considered for entry based on criteria such as your undergraduate studies and/or equivalent prior learning and/or relevant work experience.

Postgraduate application process

Other things to consider

Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:

Entry into the Master of Professional Accounting will be available for applicants who have:

  • Bachelor Degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, in the discipline; or
  • Bachelor Degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, not in the discipline and 1 year relevant organisational experience; or
  • At least 7 years' relevant organisational experience, including 2 years in a management position; or
  • Successful completion of 75% (30 units) of one of the following University of Newcastle programs:
    • Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
    • Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance
    • Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management
    • Graduate Certificate in Marketing
    • Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting

You can look at Uni prep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.

View University key dates

Assocation to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

The Newcastle Business School is accredited with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), earned by fewer than 5% of the world's business programs. AACSB is the premier, and longest-standing, international accrediting body for business programs and is the international benchmark for excellence in business education.

EQUIS accredited

The Newcastle Business School is EQUIS accredited. The EQUIS accreditation measures our performance against rigorous international standards which validates the high quality and professional relevance of our education programs and research.