Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$24,000 AUD
CRICOS code	073433D Burwood (Melbourne)
Level	Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
Deakin course code	M506
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Students who have commenced prior to T1 2019, please refer to the 2018 handbook, or the handbook archives, for the relevant course structure. This course is available for part-time study only in Trimester 3

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study the principles of accounting and finance and take the first step towards becoming a qualified accountant. Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting gives you the flexibility to choose units that are right for you.

Ready to take a step towards your accounting career?

If you are looking to add accounting skills to your professional skill set to progress your career, you have the option to study units that match your interest. Or, if you aspire to apply for the CA program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, you can choose to undertake the units required for this pathway.

As a graduate you can progress to the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting or Master of Professional Accounting.

Online studies

Deakin offers many courses which can be studied by distance education overseas.

However, international students living in Australia on a student visa, in each compulsory trimester (that is, Trimesters 1 and 2), must enrol in at least one unit that is offered as a Campus located unit and can, in addition enrol in units offered online. International students may undertake a maximum of up to one third (or equivalent) of their study as online study. Please note enrolment in one face to face unit in compulsory study periods is only allowed if the student is completing their final unit of study and will not exceed maximum one third (or equivalent) online requirement.

Professional recognition

Students who wish to enter the:

CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)

Associate Membership for the CPA Program, CPA Australia

IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) and

Exemptions may apply for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

are advised that it is their responsibility to ensure that they take the appropriate units required for entry.

Students who have completed prior undergraduate or graduate units in accounting or other core knowledge areas are advised to have their qualifications assessed by their preferred professional organisation to ensure they complete the correct units.

Please note: The eligibility of students for membership of any of the accounting accrediting bodies is subject to meeting the requirements of that body and that Deakin makes no representations that individuals will meet those requirements.

Fees and charges

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course within the same year in which they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents a typical enrolment load for a Graduate Certificate.

Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.

Learn more about tuition fees.

Career opportunities

The Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting introduces fundamental accounting and reporting skills, offering a flexible entry into the profession or a stepping stone for further study. It is also ideal for those in admin or operations roles looking to build financial literacy.

Career opportunities include:

bookkeeper
accounts payable/receivable clerk
assistant accountant
payroll and finance administrator
small business financial officer
tax assistant
business support officer
budget and reporting assistant
office manager with finance responsibilities
accounting systems operator
compliance and records assistant

Graduates often work in small-to-medium enterprises, government departments, and accounting support roles. Many also progress to the Graduate Diploma or Master of Professional Accounting to pursue more advanced roles.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate conceptual knowledge on basic accounting, and techniques in auditing and financial management including simplified applications to real world problems
Communication	Draft user-friendly reports that clarifies the merits of alternate solutions and makes simple recommendations
Digital literacy	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Critical thinking	Identify potential alternative solutions and evaluate the financial costs and benefits of such solutions
Problem solving	Determine ways to resolve a firm’s financial constraints through appropriate match with the theoretical solutions
Self-management	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Teamwork	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Global citizenship	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting, you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
4 credit points of core units

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Units

Select a minimum of 2 credit points of units from:

MAA703

Accounting for Management ^{1, 2, 4}

MAA716

Financial Accounting ^{1, 2}

MAA725

Advanced Accounting Principles and Practice ^{1, 2, 4}

MAA701

Accounting ^{1, 2}

MAF752

Principles of Finance ^{1, 2, 4}

Select a maximum of 2 credit points of units from:

MAA705

Corporate Auditing ^{2, 3, 4}

MAA789

Accounting Systems and Analytics ^{1, 2}

MLC703

Principles of Income Tax Law ^{2, 3, 4}

MLC707

Business Law ^{1, 2}

MPE781

Economics for Managers ^1,^{2^}

MAF717

Analytical Methods ^{1, 2}

Or any unit(s) not previously studied as listed in the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting.

Or other postgraduate units with prior written approval of the Course Director.

Notes:
¹ Required by CPA Australia for Associate (foundation level) Membership.

² Required by the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) for entry to the CA Program.

³ For candidates who have completed an accredited degree in Australia, this unit may be taken as part of the CPA program. Other students must complete the unit before becoming an Associate Member of CPA Australia.

⁴ For candidates who would like to obtain exemptions to the ACCA program.

Students should carefully note the trimesters when units are offered to ensure that all required units can be completed in the appropriate time frame.

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

completion of a bachelor degree or higher
at least two years’ relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent)

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting (M696)
Master of Professional Accounting (M742)

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of prior learning.
Your Recognition of prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Further study

M696 Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting
M742 Master of Professional Accounting

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning into the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting may be granted to students who have successfully completed appropriate postgraduate studies. There are negotiated Recognition of prior learning arrangements in place for CPA members.

Workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Work experience

This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning, collaborative online international learning arrangements or collaborative research training arrangements.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.