Master of Professional Accounting

2020 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2020 course information
Award granted	Master of Professional Accounting
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2020. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2020. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Burwood (Melbourne) Cloud (online)
Duration	1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	073435B Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course code	M720
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Students who have commenced before T1 2019, please refer to the 2018 handbook, or the handbook archives, for the relevant course structure.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin's Master of Professional Accounting covers engaging areas such as corporate and management accounting, commercial law, corporations law, accounting theory, economics, and finance. Open to graduates from both accounting and non-accounting background, you’ll be given the opportunity to complete the necessary studies to become associate members of CPA Australia, to enter the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand to undertake the CA program or to enter the IPA professional program.

The accounting profession has recently seen a trend of shifting roles from predominantly providing financial information towards wide-ranging advisory services. Graduating with a Master of Professional Accounting from Deakin opens the door to a huge variety of business careers. Today’s accountants are regarded as providers of business management information – a role perfectly suited to graduates of this professional accounting course.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. 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.

Professional recognition

Completion of the appropriate selection of units within the Master of Professional Accounting grants eligibility for entry as an associate member of CPA Australia, and meets the educational requirements for entry into the CA program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), Professional Accounting Program (PEP). Upon completion of appropriate program units, it is also possible to receive exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) towards the ACCA qualification. Completion of this qualification will allow students to enter the Certified Management Accountants (CMA) study 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.

Students who wish to enter the CA, CPA programs or exemptions to the ACCA program 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. Deakin makes no representations that individuals will meet those requirements.

Students should consult with a course adviser to identify any additional requirements for membership for each professional body, and also consult with the professional body.

Career opportunities

Graduates of this course would typically seek employment in areas of accounting such as financial accounting, auditing, taxation, management accounting, public sector accounting, forensic accounting or commercial law. However accountants can choose to work in a range of different environments depending on their own skills and preferences. They can choose to work in large firms, small public practices, industry, government, law firms, management consultancies, banking and financial services, not-for-profit organisations or educational organisations. Many also set up their own businesses.

Given the fundamental shift of accountants towards a wide-ranging advisory role, career opportunities are also becoming available in other vocations including working as investment advisers, market analysts, tax consultants, advisers in mergers and acquisitions, in corporate recovery and insolvency, treasury banking, e-commerce or information technology.

Participation requirements

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

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

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.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Commerce (M516)
Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting (M506)
Graduate Diploma of Commerce (M616)
Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting (M696)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcome	Course Learning Outcome
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of current and emerging accounting concepts and practices in contemporary business.
Communication	Use advanced communication skills to justify and communicate complex accounting concepts and ideas to both accountants and non-accountants
Digital literacy	Select and apply appropriate digital technologies to find, use, manage and disseminate complex accounting and business data, information and ideas.
Critical thinking	Use a specialised set of high order cognitive and critical analysis skills expected of accounting professionals in contemporary business to evaluate, synthesise and justify complex ideas and recommendations.
Problem solving	Develop solutions to real world and ill-defined problems faced by accounting professionals in business.
Self-management	Use acquired skills to undertake own work and learning and conduct independent research.
Teamwork	Collaborate and communicate in teams to interpret decision-relevant information and develop accounting and business advice and ideas.
Global citizenship	Engage ethically, professionally and productively in a professional accounting and business context in light of changing global perspectives.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Professional Accounting, students must attain a total of 12 credit points, consisting of 12 credit points of core units, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point unit, MAI010 Academic Integrity. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.

Students are introduced to research tools and techniques in core units of the course where they learn analytic skills and the practical application of those skills in professional contexts. They must also complete advanced level units and a capstone unit that require them to integrate the skills learnt over their course of study and produce applied pieces of research with reference to prevailing literature.

Course structure

Core units

MAA703

Accounting for Management ^{1, 2, 4}

MAA716

Financial Accounting ^{1, 2}

MAA725

Advanced Accounting Principles and Practice ^{1, 2}

MAA753

Professional Research and Analysis

MAA763

Governance and Fraud

MAA789

Accounting Systems and Analytics

MLC707

Business Law ^{1, 2, 4}

MPA701

Accounting ^{1, 2}

MPF753

Finance ^{1, 2, 4}

MLC703

Principles of Income Tax Law ^2,3,4

MPE781

Economics for Managers ^1,2

MAA705

Corporate Auditing ^2,3,4

Notes:

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

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

³For 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

⁴For candidates who would like to obtain exemptions to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) program.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point unit

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

MAI010

Academic Integrity

Work experience

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

Other course information

Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

This course includes 1cp equivalent research-related study [MAA753 Professional Research and Analysis] in addition to associated learning embedded across a number of units where student achievement is demonstrated in specific assessment tasks.