The accounting profession has recently seen a fundamental shift from a role that was seen as providing financial information and number crunching towards a multi-disciplinary advisory role. Similarly, many law firms increasingly favour graduates who display accounting and financial acumen.
Deakin's Master of Accounting and Law (MAL) course provides an advanced, integrated, and coherent set of multidisciplinary studies in a range of business and law disciplines, encompassing areas such as accounting, finance, commercial law and business taxation. Graduates will possess a skill-set covering accounting and related business law subjects, including superannuation, business taxation and financial services regulation.
The course offers graduates a pathway to gain entry to professional accounting bodies such as the CPA Australia, the Institute of Public Accountants, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Graduates with a Master of Accounting and Law will have multi-disciplinary skills with the ability to solve complex business issues in multiple markets.
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 Accounting and Law 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 (CAANZ), the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) and exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) towards the ACCA qualification.
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 and IPA 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, law or other core knowledge areas are advised to have their qualifications assessed by their preferred professional organization 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.
Course Learning Outcomes
Graduate Learning Outcome
Course Learning Outcome
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities
Demonstrate an integrated understanding of current and emerging accounting and related legal concepts and practices
Communication
Demonstrate skills to justify and analyse complex accounting and legal problems and present to both accountants and lawyers
Digital literacy
Apply appropriate software and internet technologies to analyse financial and regulatory information
Critical thinking
Apply in-depth analytical skills to evaluate financial and regulatory information expected of business professionals within a legal framework
Problem solving
Develop solutions to real world problems faced by accounting and legal professionals in business environment
Self-management
Use acquired skills to organise own learning including the conduct of independent research and justification of decision choices
Teamwork
Collaborate and communicate in groups to interpret decision-relevant information and develop suitable business recommendations
Global citizenship
Engage ethically, professionally and productively in a professional accounting and business context in light of changing global perspectives.
Approved by Faculty Board October 2014
Course rules
To complete the Master of Accounting and Law, students must complete the three day Law Orientation Program and attain a total of 16 credit points. The 16 credit points consists of 15 credit points of core units and a 1 credit point elective unit chosen from a list. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.
Course structure
Elective units
Select a 1 credit point unit from the Accounting or Law elective list:
# Orientation program is compulsory for all students
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. 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.
