Upgrade your accounting skills and profit.
The beauty of this program at USC is that you earn three prized professional memberships:
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
The beauty of this program at USC is that you earn three prized professional memberships:
- Associate member of CPA Australia
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants
- The Institute of Public Accountants
The MPA opens many doors for you to work in senior management roles and build yourself a top notch career. You will qualify to work in roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Senior Business Strategist, a Chartered Accountant, or as a key professional in the fast growing wealth management sector.
This program covers the latest business and accounting issues. It’s a comprehensive program that delivers accounting fundamentals, informatics, managerial finance, financial reporting, corporate reporting, issues in auditing practice, tax law and practice, the principles of economics and commercial law, and a research project.
Professional recognition
Graduates of the Master of Professional Accounting program will meet the educational requirements for admission as an associate member of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, and the Institute of Public Accountants. To gain full membership, graduates must complete the requirements of the chosen professional body’s qualification program. It is the responsibility of the student to confirm with the three Australian accounting bodies (CPA, ICAA and IPA) whether any credit granted will impact on their eligibility for professional association membership.
Admission requirements
Entry to the Master of Professional Accounting program will normally require:
- An AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree (or equivalent).
- Students admitted to the program with a completed AQF level 7 Bachelor degree or equivalent in Business are eligible to have the volume of learning in this program reduced by 48 units.
Program structure
Program Structure
Required courses (14)
ACC506 Physiotherapy Practicum C #
ACC508 Physiotherapy Practicum D #
ACC510 Planning and Environmental Law
ACC511 Environmental Impact Assessment
ACC520 Environmental Economics
ACC521 Environmental Health Risk Management
ACC610 Accounting Fundamentals
ACC611 Informatics and Financial Applications
ACC620 Financial Reporting
ACC621 Managerial Finance
BUS501 Legal Regulation of Business Structures
BUS502 Corporate Reporting
BUS503 Strategic Management Accounting
PLUS select 1 course from:
MGT723 Taxation Law and Practice
MGT726 Contemporary Accounting Issues
Electives (2)
Select 2 electives from:
ACC701 Issues in Auditing Practice
BUS702 Business Analytics and Statistics
BUS703 Principles of Economics for Accountants
BUS704 Principles of Commercial Law
BUS705 Research Project
BUS706 Managerial Project
BUS707 Accounting for Managers
BUS708 Economics for Managers
BUS710 Managing Research
INF701 Corporate Finance
MGT701 Innovation and Management Decision Making
MGT702 International Business Law and Ethics
MGT703 Managing Across Global Cultures
MGT704 International Trade and Finance
MGT711 Marketing in an International Environment
MGT712 Management Informatics
MKG701 Managing Organisations
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 192
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs / SouthBank) Study Plan - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs / SouthBank) Study Plan - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- Study Plan - Semester 1 commencement (with reduced volume of learning by 48 units)
- Study Plan - Semester 2 (mid-year) commencement (with reduced volume of learning by 48 units)
- Study Plan - Semester 1 commencement (South Bank)
- Study Plan - Semester 2 (mid-year) commencement (South Bank)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Successfully complete 2 postgraduate level (700 coded) elective courses from the list of elective courses outlined in the Program Strucutre or from any postgraduate level (700 coded) elective courses offered by the School of Business
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Online study mode not available to international students on a Student Visa
- When enrolling, please refer to the Plan your study tab