Master of Professional Accounting

This degree 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.

Our graduates have exceptional career outcomes. 90% of our postgraduate business and management students find full-time employment within 4 months of graduating (Source: 2017 Graduate Outcomes Survey).

Professional recognition

Students with a recognised undergraduate or masters degree or approved graduate certificate who complete this degree are eligible for membership of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). This degree is accredited with the professional accounting bodies in Australia.

Higher education

To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:

• A completed undergraduate or postgraduate course in a non-accounting discipline at Bachelor level or higher (or equivalent#).

Work and Life

To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:

Qualifications, relevant work experience or other special circumstances, as approved by the College Executive Dean or delegated authority.

You must provide evidence to support your application on the basis of work experience, in particular a copy of your CV demonstrating your work experience, and letters of reference from line managers or similar to confirm your work experience. In the case of applicants who have worked as a sole trader or consultant, additional evidence to support the level of experience must be provided.

English Proficiency Requirements

For students who are not native English speakers, an IELTS score with an overall Band of 6 and no band less than 6; or a TOEFL (iBT) overall score of 72 (no individual skill must be lower than: Reading 16; Listening 16; Speaking 18; and, Writing 22) or a 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. 

If you are a national of, and are currently residing in a country where English is the official language, and have completed your highest level of studies (senior secondary or tertiary) in that country, you are exempt from the above two year validity period. The University of Tasmania will recognise your previous studies as meeting the English language entry requirement.

Advanced Standing is the recognition of prior studies, from either another institution or another degree at this University, that may count towards the requirements for the degree you are applying for at the University of Tasmania. For more information visit the UTAS website.

The Master of Professional Accounting is designed primarily for graduates with an undergraduate degree, from disciplines other than an accounting, to develop skills to meet the entry requirements necessary for Associate Membership of the professional accounting bodies.

Recommended Study Pattern

The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) includes the following options:

• 2-year MPA - this is the default course option for students who have not completed prior study in a related (cognate) area.
• 1.5-year MPA - this is the default course option for students who have completed prior study in a related (cognate) area.
• 2-year MPA with specialisation - this option is available to students who have completed prior study in a related (cognate) area but who wish to complete further study in an area of specialisation.

2-year MPA

Core Subjects

• TAS-BFA526 Accounting for Managers
• TAS-BFA527 Corporate Sustainability
• TAS-BMA501 Fundamentals of Management
• TAS-BMA506 Foundations of Marketing
• TAS-BEA603 Economics and Statistical Analysis
• TAS-BFA503 Introduction to Financial Management
• TAS-BFA504 Accounting Systems and Processes
• TAS-BFA507 The Accounting Framework
• TAS-BFA601 Business and Corporate Law
• TAS-BFA605 Financial and Corporate Accounting
• TAS-BFA612 Management Decision Making and Strategy
• TAS-BFA713 Assurance and Audit Services
• TAS-BFA714 Australian Tax Law
• TAS-BFA715 Accounting Perspectives and Research
• TAS-BMA735 Management Ethics
• Select one of the following subjects:
  • TAS-BFA739 Tax Clinic Internship
  • TAS-BFA746 Pathway to Accounting and Finance Careers

1.5-year MPA

Core Subjects

• TAS-BEA603 Economics and Statistical Analysis
• TAS-BFA503 Introduction to Financial Management
• TAS-BFA504 Accounting Systems and Processes
• TAS-BFA507 The Accounting Framework
• TAS-BFA601 Business and Corporate Law
• TAS-BFA605 Financial and Corporate Accounting
• TAS-BFA612 Management Decision Making and Strategy
• TAS-BFA713 Assurance and Audit Services
• TAS-BFA714 Australian Tax Law
• TAS-BFA715 Accounting Perspectives and Research
• TAS-BMA735 Management Ethics
• Select one of the following subjects:
  • TAS-BFA739 Tax Clinic Internship
  • TAS-BFA746 Pathway to Accounting and Finance Careers

Advanced Standing: 0.5 credit points of Advanced Standing

2-year MPA with Specialisation

Core Subjects

• TAS-BEA603 Economics and Statistical Analysis
• TAS-BFA503 Introduction to Financial Management
• TAS-BFA504 Accounting Systems and Processes
• TAS-BFA507 The Accounting Framework
• TAS-BFA601 Business and Corporate Law
• TAS-BFA605 Financial and Corporate Accounting
• TAS-BFA612 Management Decision Making and Strategy
• TAS-BFA713 Assurance and Audit Services
• TAS-BFA714 Australian Tax Law
• TAS-BFA715 Accounting Perspectives and Research
• TAS-BMA735 Management Ethics
• Select one of the following subjects:
  • TAS-BFA739 Tax Clinic Internship
  • TAS-BFA746 Pathway to Accounting and Finance Careers

Choice of Specialisation (Please note, you may only complete BFA739 once in your degree. If you have completed BFA739 in your core (non-specialisation) subjects you must select a different subject here.)

• Advanced Accounting
  • TAS-BAA708 Corporate Internship
  • TAS-BFA747 Data Analytics for Accounting
  • Choose 1 subject from the following
    • TAS-BFA739 Tax Clinic Internship
    • TAS-BFA743 Strategic Management Accounting
  • Choose 1 subject from the following
    • TAS-BFA745 Global Strategy and Leadership
    • TAS-BMA701 Leadership and Change Management
• Business Management
  • TAS-BAA539 Fundamentals of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • TAS-BMA583 People, Work and Wellbeing
  • TAS-BMA701 Leadership and Change Management
  • Choose 1 subject from the following
    • TAS-BFA739 Tax Clinic Internship
    • TAS-BFA747 Data Analytics for Accounting
• Marketing
  • TAS-BMA604 Consumer Decision-Making
  • TAS-BMA610 Digital and Social Media Marketing
  • TAS-BMA738 Business to Business Marketing
  • Choose 1 subject from the following
    • TAS-BFA739 Tax Clinic Internship
    • TAS-BFA747 Data Analytics for Accounting

Award Requirements

To complete the requirements of this degree, students must complete a total of 12 core subjects.