Masters (Coursework)
With our practical internships and work experience opportunities, you will engage with Tasmanian industry during your studies, providing real world experience and building connections to help forge your future career.
If you don't have a formal accounting qualification and want to break into this thriving field, our Master of Professional Accounting is the perfect place to start. You will have various opportunities to gain practical experience through internships via our Work Ready Program (available to students studying at our Launceston campus) and Tax Clinic (available to students studying at our Hobart and Launceston campuses), and our highly qualified industry experts will prepare you for accounting roles all over the world. This course is also ideal for anyone in the industry who wants to upskill and meet the academic requirement of professional accounting qualifications.
A career in accounting is about providing expert consultation and helping businesses with sound judgement and decision making. You could find yourself providing financial advice for an exciting new start up business or advising innovative, sustainable solutions as a climate change accountant.
As future accounting professionals, you also have the power to make a difference to the world in which we live. Accountants are being called upon to 'be the global voice on climate action'^. From quantifying the financial impact of climate issues, through to ensuring climate reporting meets compliance requirements, accountants are helping to support a worldwide effort to enhance and improve climate change reporting.
^ 'Climate Action', International Federation of Accountants, 2021.
Please note: Which specialisation you can choose is dependent on when (and where) you start your study in the MPA. A summary of the supported options for each course intake is listed below. It may be possible to undertake other combinations but we recommend that you seek enrolment advice via UConnect prior to selecting this option as it may require you to enrol part-time and/or in a combination of on and off-campus modes due to unit availabilities and this may have an impact on your overall course duration / end date.
Applicants with higher education study
To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:
Please note that although the Master of Professional Accounting is available to students with an existing undergraduate qualification in Accounting, we would recommend seeking further advice about the best course options for your background and goals as you may have already met the requirements of the CPA and the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand through your previous study and the amount of credit that can be granted towards the Master of Professional Accounting is limited. For example, a number of the specialisations can be taken as standalone Graduate Certificates and this may be the better choice for students primarily looking to enhance their existing undergraduate accounting qualification.
Applicants with work experience
To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:
You must provide evidence to support your application based on work experience. This includes submitting a copy of your CV and two letters of reference from your line managers or equivalent positions. If your work experience is as a sole trader or consultant, you must provide a copy of your CV and two testimonials or references from clients that provide evidence of capability consistent with the entry requirements.
Applicants with higher education study
To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:
Please note that although the Master of Professional Accounting is available to students with an existing undergraduate qualification in Accounting, we would recommend seeking further advice about the best course options for your background and goals as you may have already met the requirements of the CPA and the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand through your previous study and the amount of credit that can be granted towards the Master of Professional Accounting is limited. For example, a number of the specialisations can be taken as standalone Graduate Certificates and this may be the better choice for students primarily looking to enhance their existing undergraduate accounting qualification.
Applicants with work experience
To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:
You must provide evidence to support your application based on work experience. This includes submitting a copy of your CV and two letters of reference from your line managers or equivalent positions. If your work experience is as a sole trader or consultant, you must provide a copy of your CV and two testimonials or references from clients that provide evidence of capability consistent with the entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
Please refer to the University's English Language Requirements as summarised here: https://www.utas.edu.au/international/applying/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements
Accountants are needed in every industry. They provide sound advice on all financial aspects of a business, including financial reporting, taxation, auditing, cost management, and planning and decision making for organisations. The skill level rating for accountants in Australia is consider very high and the number of accountant jobs is estimated to grow by 17,000 by 2025*.
As a graduate of the Masters of Professional Accounting, you may choose to apply to become a member of a recognised accounting institution, such as Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). Other exciting career paths to consider with your Masters Degree could include senior management, business analyst, software development, or consultancy.
*Job Outlook, Australian Government.
The Master of Professional Accounting is an externally accredited degree.
This course is accredited by
- CPA Australia; and
- CAANZ
There may be additional requirements for CPA Australia or CAANZ beyond the completion of the course.
For further CPA Australia or CAANZ requirements, please visit www.cpaaustralia.com.au/; and www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/.
If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.
The Master of Professional Accounting is an externally accredited degree.
This course is accredited by
- CPA Australia; and
- CAANZ
There may be additional requirements for CPA Australia or CAANZ beyond the completion of the course.
For further CPA Australia or CAANZ requirements, please visit www.cpaaustralia.com.au/; and www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/.
If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.
To graduate from the Master of Professional Accounting course, a student must satisfactorily complete 200 credit points of study comprising:
50 credit points of research/project work has been embedded across multiple core units
The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) welcomes students with a background in accounting, in addition to those without that background but with an interest in a postgraduate accounting qualification.
The MPA is a 2 year full time course for those without prior study in a related area. If you have completed prior study in accounting or a related area, you may be eligible for four units' worth of credit which will allow you to complete the course in 1.5 years. Alternatively, if you have completed prior study in a related area you may wish to forego that credit and instead study a 2 year course.
If you want to complete the course in Launceston using 4 units' worth of credit, you must commence the course in Semester 2.
Students who have completed a cognate Bachelor award at AQF7 can be given recognition for prior learning of the entire transition study block and complete the remaining 150 credit points to be awarded the Masters.
A Cognate discipline for the MPA means related study in another business area such as: Management, Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, Industrial/Public Relations, Public and Health Care Administration, Tourism, Business and Commercial Law, Information and Communication Technology, Banking, Finance, Insurance, Investment and Securities, Economics, or other areas of Commerce and Trade.
Please note that if you are awarded credit for any units in this degree, the accounting accrediting bodies will assess this credit separately when you apply with them for registration / membership and the credit may not be approved. You should seek advice from the accrediting bodies on any units you wish to seek credit for, as it may affect your membership eligibility if not approved.