Master of Professional Accounting (Specialisation) (C7D)

The information on this page is for current students. If you are applying for our next intake, please view our active course offerings here.

Overview  2020

Entry Requirements

See entry requirements

Duration

Minimum 2 Years, up to a maximum of 5 Years

Duration

Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2
Launceston
Semester 1
Distance Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2

Full Fee Paying places available

Entry Requirements

See entry requirements

Duration

Minimum 2 Years
Entry requirements

Location

Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2
Launceston
Semester 1

“I think a career in accounting provides challenging, rewarding, and versatile opportunities in the business environment. I had the most amazing faculty members they were very cooperative and helpful. I would definitely recommend the University of Tasmania.”

Anisha Shrestha – Master of Professional Accounting
The Master of Professional Accounting (Specialisation) (MPAS) is designed to train those who do not have an accounting background or who need to up-skill to meet the professional accounting requirements. Students holding an accredited accounting qualification of an Australian institution are not eligible to seek entry into this course.

This is a 2 year full-time or 4 year part-time course of study offered by the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics. It comprises 16 units of study: 12 core units and 4 units which make up a specialisation.

The course is full fee-paying, which means that you will be charged at the full fee-paying rate listed for each unit.

Please note that if you are awarded advanced standing (credit) for any units in this degree, you should be aware that the accounting accrediting bodies will assess this advanced standing separately and that this advanced standing may not be approved. You should seek advice from the accrediting bodies on any units you wish to seek advanced standing for, as it may affect your membership eligibility if not approved.

For more information contact U.Connect@utas.edu.au.

The MPAS is primarily designed for graduates with an undergraduate degree, from disciplines other than accounting, to develop skills to meet the entry requirements necessary for Associate Membership of the professional accounting bodies whilst also acquiring specialist skills in an area of their choice. You develop skills to question and find solutions by applying your technical knowledge and ability to research authentic situations in the accounting context plus a specialist area. You also learn to interact within diverse groups and communicate your findings to both accountants and non-accountants through the most appropriate method.

The Course Learning Outcomes are:

  • Research, critique and integrate advanced technical, specialist and theoretical knowledge with recent developments in commerce;
  • Clear and concise oral and written communication skills to justify business advice and ideas in diverse collaborative contexts involving both accountants and non-accountants;
  • Anticipate and solve complex problems and through this process demonstrate information literacy, judgement and the ability to apply theoretical and technical knowledge;
  • Apply interpersonal and collaborative skills when making decisions, and working with people from diverse backgrounds;
  • Seek and reflect on feedback to improve personal, professional and ethical conduct and initiate learning opportunities for self and others;
  • Reflect on issues of social responsibility and sustainability in the business context.

Career outcomes

This course offers participants from different academic and experiential backgrounds the opportunity to specialise in accounting for professional recognition purposes. Accounting is often cited as the language of business. People with accounting skills are in high demand in the business and corporate world embracing areas such as finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, banking and information systems, and such skills are increasingly important to groups performing an overview function such as directors.

Professional Recognition

To become members of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), students without an undergraduate or masters degree must complete a professionally accredited 16 unit masters level course. This course is accredited with the professional accounting bodies in Australia. Graduates of the MPAS will satisfy the educational requirements for associate membership of CPA Australia, the entry requirements at the ICAA and membership of the IPA.

Course structure

The Master of Professional Accounting (Specialisation) consists of 12 core units and 4 specialisation units (200 credit points).

Specialisations

Available in Launceston:

  • Advanced Accounting (Semester 1 intake only)
    Take your accounting skills to the next level. This specialisation is ideal for students who intend to take their CPA exams in future after building up some work experience rather than completing them as part of your degree.
  • Business Management (Semester 1 intake only)
    Diversify your skill set with additional business management topics including entrepreneurship, sales, and people management.

Available in Hobart and via Distance:

  • Business Management
    Diversify your skill set with additional business management topics including entrepreneurship, sales, and people management.
  • CPA Extension
    Complete your Master's degree alongside the CPA Program and get a competitive advantage over your peers.
  • Marketing
    Complement your accounting skills with a range of marketing topics including sales, digital marketing, and business-to-business marketing.

Special note for students studying on-campus

As not all units will be available on-campus at your location, you may need to take some of your units via distance (or at another campus if this option is convenient to you). However, if you are an international student studying in Australia on a student visa you will be able to do this and still meet your visa requirements by planning ahead to ensure that:

  • You are enrolled in at least one on-campus unit in each semester (This must be at the campus location specified in your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
  • You do not enrol in more than 1/3 of the units for your degree via distance

More information about this – including a recommended enrolment pattern for each specialisation – will be available as part of your Orientation.

You will complete 12 core units (150 credit points).

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

 

You must select BFA502 CPA Ethics and Governance if you are doing the CPA Extension specialisation.

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

You must select BFA731 CPA Contemporary Business Issues if you are doing the CPA Extension specialisation.

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

You will complete one specialisation consisting of 4 units (50 credit points).

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

and choose ONE (1) of the following units:

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

This unit is currently unavailable.

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

You are eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting upon completion of 4 units / 50 credit points of core units from the course schedule above.

You are eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting upon completion of 8 units / 100 credit points of core units from the course schedule above.

You are eligible to exit with the Master Professional Accounting upon completion of the 12 units / 150 credit points appearing in that course schedule. See C7B Master of Professional Accounting.

Entry requirements

For entry to this course, you need to have:

  • an undergraduate or Masters degree in a non-accounting discipline, or equivalent, from an approved tertiary institution; or
  • a Graduate Certificate in Business Studies, or equivalent, from an approved tertiary institution; or
  • qualifications, relevant work experience or other special circumstances, as approved by the Executive Dean or delegated authority.

International students must provide one of the following:

  • UTASAccess Level 7 with a minimum overall score of 60% and no individual skill below 60%; or
  • IELTS with an overall Band of 6 and no Band less than 6; or
  • TOEFL (iBT) overall score of 72 (no individual skill must be lower than Reading 16; Listening 16; Speaking 18; and, Writing 22); or
  • PTE Academic overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50; or
  • provide evidence that you have studied for 2 years full-time with English as the sole medium of instruction and examination.

These tests must not be more than 24 months old.

Students who graduate with any of the approved exit awards of the Master of Professional Accounting (Specialisation) may return to or continue to the higher level award with full credit for units completed provided that the credit is consistent with the requirements of higher level award in terms of the course structure and the units were not completed more than 10 years prior to the expected date of graduation in the higher level award.

Fees & scholarships

Domestic students

2020 Annual Course Fee (domestic students): $21,616 AUD*.

* Please note that this is an indicative annual fee only and is provided as a guide based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved credit for prior learning. For more information about Domestic Student Fees, including how your fees are calculated, refer to Domestic Fees | What to Pay.

Student Services and Amenities fee

Domestic students enrolled in a full fee paying place are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the fees you pay for each unit you enrol in. Full fee paying domestic students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.

Detailed tuition fee information for domestic students is available at the Domestic Student Fees website, including additional information in relation to a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Domestic students enrolled in certain postgraduate coursework programs may not be eligible for student payments through Youth Allowance and Austudy. Visit the Department of Social Services website to find out more about eligibility for Centrelink support and the list of eligible courses

International students

2020 Total Course Fee (international students): $ 73,158 AUD *.

Course cost based on a rate of $35,950 AUD per standard, full-time year of study (100 credit points).

* Please note that this is an indicative fee only.

International students

International students are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the annual rate. International students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.

Scholarships

For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.

Additional costs

Special note for students doing the CPA Extension specialisation

Please also note that, in completing the CPA Program™ units in the Master of Professional Accounting (CPA Extension) with the University of Tasmania, students do not receive the CPA Australia qualification until they have met all the requirements of the CPA Program as set by CPA Australia (which includes practical experience).

You should be aware that you must hold a concurrent enrolment with the CPA Australia in order to enrol in the corresponding UTAS CPA units and there are additional costs associated with UTAS CPA units, CPA membership and enrolment fee (includes exam fee) that are not included in the UTAS tuition fee. For information about the CPA Program, visit www.cpaaustralia.com.au.

This applies to enrolment in the alternate core units BFA502 CPA Ethics and Governance and BFA731 CPA Contemporary Business Issues as well as the CPA Extension specialisation units themselves.

How can we help?

Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.

Domestic
1300 363 864
International
+61 3 6226 6200
Email
Course.Info@utas.edu.au
Online
Online enquiries

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