Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Brisbane: February, May, September
Fees
$29,600.00^
^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
2 years full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in non-accounting discipline; or equivalent
Course Code
109504
Course detail
Focus on essential areas of accounting including management, corporate finance, auditing, business and taxation law, data analysis, and economics for sustainability. Explore introductory and advanced issues in accounting and demonstrate your understanding through an applied research project.
Understand both historical and contemporary perspectives and evaluate social and environmental practices. Make recommendations and give informed advice with confidence. Develop your professional judgement to work independently and with integrity.
Master of Professional Accounting graduates are highly-skilled professionals who lead successful careers in finance.
Consult the handbook for further information.
Additional information
Study the Master of Professional Accounting at JCU
Is accounting the career for you? Whether you chose a different discipline for your undergraduate degree or you want to expand on a previous accounting degree, choosing the Professional Accounting master’s degree at JCU is the perfect path to becoming a skilled, certified and fully qualified accountant by the time you graduate. This degree is one of the best of its kind in Queensland and sets you up for success with high-quality teaching and excellent learning resources. Studying at JCU provides you with all the skills that employers in your field look for, and you can expect to learn everything you need to succeed as an accountant. With flexible study options available, there’s no better way to become a Master of Professional Accounting in Queensland.
Why Become an Accountant?
Considering accounting? You’d be making an excellent choice for your future. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be great at mathematics to be an accountant these days, so it’s a profession that’s more accessible than you might have thought. There are plenty of reasons you should choose accounting.
- All industries need accountants, which means you can work in any industry you feel passionate about, whether that’s fashion, entertainment, charity or something else entirely
- You can also choose to work in almost any country and travel, because there’s demand for accountants everywhere
- Because accountancy is most busy during tax season, it’s a relatively seasonal role where you can expect to take it easier during the rest of the year
- You get to work with people and provide valuable advice and assistance
- Accountants are in high demand, which means you’re almost guaranteed to find employment
- It’s a future-proof career that isn’t going anywhere
- A background in accountancy can also serve as a good basis for entrepreneurs if you ever want to start your own business in the future
What You Will Learn
When you study the Master of Professional Accounting at JCU, you will learn all the skills that accountancy employers look for and gain a thorough understanding of the field of accounting. You will learn about management, corporate finance, auditing, business and taxation law, economics for sustainability, data analysis and more. You’ll learn about different issues in accounting and how to evaluate various practices. You will graduate with an understanding of historical and contemporary perspectives and with the professional judgement you need to succeed in your career. The degree is accredited by Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and graduates go on to enjoy rewarding careers in the public and private sectors.
Why You Should Choose JCU to Study a Master of Professional Accounting in QLD
JCU is the obvious option for those looking to study for a Master of Professional Accounting in Queensland or an MBA in Accounting. JCU offers flexible part-time study options for the accounting degree at the Brisbane campus. This degree has been rated #1 in Queensland for full-time employment outcomes and median graduate salaries, with 82% of graduates being satisfied with their skills development during the course. JCU graduates are skilled and highly employable as accountants. If you want to become one of them, apply through the online portal to be part of the next intake.
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Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Master of Professional Accounting.
JCU Accounting graduates have an in-depth knowledge of accounting and highly-developed professional judgement and reasoning skills.
Graduates pursue job opportunities in the public and private sector.
You could find employment as an accountant with this degree accredited by Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2023 |
Course code | 109504 |
Course type | Masters Degree (Coursework) (AQF Level 9) |
Professional accreditation status | This course is jointly accredited by CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Students who complete the accredited award may join either or both of the professional accounting bodies (CPA Australia, and/or Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)). They must then complete the professional programs of whichever body they join plus their required number of years of professional experience in order to become full members of the accounting profession and practice as an accountant. |
Owner | Academy |
College | Business, Law and Governance |
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a non-accounting discipline, from this or another university; or Other qualifications or practical experience recognised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Environments and Societies as equivalent to the above. |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy or have successfully completed an AQF 8 qualification from James Cook University within the previous two (2) years. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 48 credit points |
Course learning outcomes | JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics. On successful completion of the Master of Professional Accounting, JCU graduates will be able to:
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Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Master of Professional Accounting. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
BUSINESS SUBJECTS
LB5202:03 Marketing Essentials or LB5200:03 Career Planning
LB5205:03 People in Organisations
LB5231:03 Corporate Responsibility and Governance
LB5236:03 International Political Economy
CORE SUBJECTS
CO5103:03 Management Accounting
CO5109:03 Corporate Finance
CO5117:03 Introduction to Accounting
CO5118:03 Auditing and Assurance Services
CO5119:03 Business Law
CO5120:03 Taxation Law
CO5121:03 Law of Business Organisations
CO5122:03 Accounting for Corporations
CO5123:03 Advanced Issues in Accounting
CO5140:03 Information Analysis and Systems
LB5229:03 Economics for a Sustainable World
LB5235:03 Applied Research Project
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Brisbane | |
JCU Townsville | Not offered from mid-year 2021 - end Trimester 2 2023 |
External | Not offered from mid-year 2021 - end Trimester 2 2023 |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 8 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Special assessment requirements | Nil |
Professional accreditation requirements | Successful completion of all accredited subjects fulfils the academic entry requirements for the professional accounting bodies Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). |
Supplementary exam for final subject | A student who has failed a single subject towards the award in their final teaching period and who gained 40% or more of the marks for that subject may be granted a supplementary examination in that subject. However if that subject is required for accreditation, then the criteria specified by that accreditation will apply. |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure. In particular the following general credit will be granted;
NB Where practical experience without qualifications, as set out above, is used to meet entry requirements that experience will not be used to give credit. *Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Management, Commerce, HRM, Economics, Tourism and Hospitality or other disciplines where Students will have completed study relating to accounting and finance, organizational behaviour, business, strategy, marketing, economics, communication and people management. **Applicants must have a minimum of 4 years full-time equivalent professional work experience in a management, leadership or supervisory level in a business environment or be eligible for a member grade status of a relevant professional organisation. Students will have demonstrable effective management experience relating to accounting and finance, organizational behaviour, business, strategy, marketing, economics, communication and people management. |
Maximum allowed | 24 credit points, unless part of an approved articulation process. |
Currency | Credit for core subjects will be granted only for studies completed in the 4 years prior to the commencement of this course. |
Expiry | Credit gained for any core subject shall be cancelled 12 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree. |
Other restrictions | No credit will be granted for work experience. |
Award Details
Award title | MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING |
Approved abbreviation | MPA |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | Not applicable – this course does not have majors |
Exit with lesser award | Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed the appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of either the Graduate Certificate or the Graduate Diploma of Accounting. |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD29,600.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
Real stories
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Alumni
Vilton Crasto
Master of Professional Accounting
There were lot of good things about the course. I was lucky and had a class with a group of people from all different nationalities. We had some good guest lecturers who had real life experience in the subjects they taught us, and of course the late evening classes just helped balance study and work life perfectly.
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Lecturer
Dr Dale Wadeson
Accounting and Finance
One of the best feelings as an academic is to see your former students succeed. The vast majority of students have gained employment by the last year of their degree; in this case the competition is between accounting firms for students, not the other way around!