Open the door to senior management.
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:
- Completion of a recognised Bachelor degree or equivalent
- Students who have completed a Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or equivalent in the same discipline may be eligible to receive credit of up to 48 units (4 courses)
Program structure
Program Structure
Required courses (14) 168 units
ACC506 Criminal Law: An Introduction
ACC508 Social Research
ACC510 Criminal Profiling
ACC511 International Justice and Human Rights
ACC520 Family Law: Legal Frameworks and Issues
ACC521 Homicide
ACC610 Youth Justice
ACC611 Restorative Justice and Mediation
ACC620 Professional Placement
ACC621 Research Project
BUS501 Green Justice: Environment and Social Issues
BUS502 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
BUS503 Gender and Culture
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
MGT723 Accounting Fundamentals
MGT726 Informatics and Financial Applications
Electives (2) 24 units
Select 2 electives (24 units) from:
ACC701 Financial Reporting
BUS702 Managerial Finance
BUS703 Legal Regulation of Business Structures
BUS704 Corporate Reporting
BUS705 Strategic Management Accounting
BUS706 Taxation Law and Practice
BUS707 Contemporary Accounting Issues
BUS708 Issues in Auditing Practice
BUS710 Business Analytics and Statistics
INF701 Principles of Economics for Accountants
MGT701 Principles of Commercial Law
MGT702 Research Project
MGT703 Managerial Project
MGT704 Accounting for Managers
MGT711 Economics for Managers
MGT712 Managing Research
MKG701 Corporate Finance
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 192
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) 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)
- (SouthBank) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (SouthBank) Semester 2 commencement (July)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- 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
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.