Postgraduate Coursework
Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice)
2021
The Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice) complements your non-accounting or partial accounting, or accounting but not equivalent to Australian accounting qualifications to meet the entry requirements for membership of CPA Australia and The Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
This course focuses on the knowledge and skills required for practice as a certified practising or chartered accountant along with effective management, accountability and control, and effective decision-making for financial success.
You will develop technical and conceptual skills required to become a competent accountant as well as abilities to analyse, criticise and synthesise various accounting and related principles, methods and techniques.
Career opportunities
Completing a Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice) can lead to a wide range of career opportunities in small, medium and large organisations. As a graduate, you may become a financial accountant, management accountant, financial auditor, tax auditor/preparer, business/financial analyst, or work in a large multinational company or 'Big Four' accounting firm. Or, you could run your own businesses, work in a small local accounting firm, or work in other areas of business management.
Professional recognition
This conversion course enables graduates with non-accounting, partial accounting, or accounting but not equivalent to Australian accounting backgrounds to meet the academic requirements for membership of CPA Australia and The Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
English Language Requirements for International Students
For detail on English Language Entry Requirements please read the entry requirements provided for International students.
How to Apply
International applicants apply directly to CDU and should refer to the information provided for International future students Apply.
-
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
-
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree in any discipline.
Applicants who have fully satisfied the entry requirements of the accounting professional bodies in their first degree are not eligible for entry.
International Pathway
Applicants who have completed the CDU International Masters Qualifying Program (ZMQP01) or the Accelerated International Masters Qualifying Program (ZAMQP1) are eligible for entry.
Essential requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 176, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of C1, valid for three years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU. |
| Navitas Academic English (will not be accepted from 2021 onwards) | A minimum overall pass and 65% in Academic English 3 with a 65% pass in the research essay. (Note: this score will not be accepted from 2021 intakes onwards). |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 79 with a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
Course structure
The professional practice MPA provides you with a unique opportunity to work in an organisation and gain valuable professional experience while also gaining an MPA qualification.
The course will equip you with contemporary knowledge and skills required for professional practice as a public or chartered accountant. The course will provide you the technical and conceptual skills required in a competent accountant, and will develop your ability to explore, analyse and synthesise various accounting and related principles, methods and techniques.
For your professional practise component CDU provides training specific to working effectively in an organisation. You are then provided with a placement opportunity to work in an organisation of approximately 300 hours over a period of eight to ten weeks. If you wish you may also organise your own placement company to work at. The placement occurs in the last semester of study and provides you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge you have gained during your MPA studies.
Where students have prior CPA/CAANZ assessed exemptions and require electives to complete the total of 160 credit points, electives may be selected from the MBA, on approval of the Course Coordinator.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type |
Credit Points |
Specific requirements |
| Core Units (15 units) |
160 cp |
Compulsory Core units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below. ACT501 Accounting Principles (previously PRBA001) Professional Practice Experience Option or |
| Specialist Elective (0 units) |
0 |
There are no Specialist Elective units for this course.
|
| Electives (0 unit) |
0 |
There are no elective units for this course |
|
160 |
Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
The grade of "PC" cannot be counted towards a Masters Degree by Coursework AQF Level 9 course award.
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
COURSE TRANSFER Arrangements 2016
Students who have completed PRBA031, PRBE003, PRBL004 or PRBM022 should NOT transfer to this new course.
Unit Code and Course Requirements from 2016
Following is a summary of unit code changes. ALL students should enrol in the latest unit code from 2016.
| Pre-2016 Unit Code (MACPP requirements) | 2016 Unit Code (SPAPP1 requirements) |
| PRBA001 Accounting Principles | ACT501 Accounting Principles |
| PRBA002 Cost and Management Accounting | ACT502 Management Accounting |
| PRBA003 Corporate Accounting | ACT503 Corporate Accounting |
| PRBA004 Auditing Corporate Entities | ACT504 Auditing |
| PRBA005 Accounting Theory | ACT505 Accounting Theory |
| PRBA006 Computer-based Accounting Systems | ACT506 Accounting Information Systems |
| PRBA031 Business Communications | Does not count towards the SPACC1 #see note below |
| PRBE003 Economics Statistics | Does not count towards the SPACC1 #see note below |
| ECO504 Business Economics (new unit) | |
| STA510 Business Statistics (new unit) | |
| PRBF010 Aspects of Corporate Finance | FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance |
| PRBL004 Commercial and Corporate Law for Managers | Does not count towards the SPACC1 #see note below |
| LAW514 Commercial Law (new unit) | |
| LAW513 Corporate Law (new unit) | |
| PRBL003 Australian Tax Law | LAW511 Australian Tax Law |
| PRBM022 Organisational Behaviour | Does not count towards the SPACC1 #see note below |
| PRB001 Professional Practice Experience #10 | WIB601 Professional Practice Experience #10 |
| PRB002 Professional Practice Experience #10 | WIB602 Professional Practice Experience #10 |
| PRB003 Professional Practice Experience #20 | WIB603 Professional Practice Experience #20 |
| PRB006 Professional Practice Research #10 | WIB604 Professional Business Project #10 (no longer avail from S2 2017) |
| PRB007 Professional Practice Research #20 | WIB605 Professional Business Project #20 (no longer avail from S2 2017) |
Additional Information
- Students who have completed #PRBA031 Business Communications, #PRBE003 Economics Statistics, #PRBL004 Commercial and Corporate Law for Managers and/or #PRBM022 Organisational Behaviour should NOT transfer to this new course (SPAPP1) as these units are not transferrable.
- COM510 Advanced Business Communication (previously PRBA031), ECO503 Economic Statistics (previously PRBE003), LAW512 Commercial and Corporate Law (previously PRBL004) and MAN506 Organisational Behaviour (previously PRBM022) DO NOT count towards this award and should not be completed by students enrolled in this course.
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | R = Research Core |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles (previously PRBA001) | CO | ACT502 Management Accounting (previously PRBA002) | CO |
| ECO504 Business Economics | CO | ACT503 Corporate Accounting (previously PRBA003) | CO |
| STA510 Business Statistics | CO | ACT504 Auditing (previously PRBA004) | CO |
| LAW514 Commercial Law | CO | LAW513 Corporate Law | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| ACT505 Accounting Theory (previously PRBA005) | CO | ACT506 Accounting Information Systems (previously PRBA006) | CO |
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance (previously PRBF010) | CO | WIB602 Professional Practice Experience 1 (previously PRB002) (new title 2018) or WIB608 Professional Business Market Research Project |
CO |
| LAW511 Australian Tax Law (previously PRBL003) | CO | WIB603 Professional Practice Experience 2 (20cp) (previously PRB003) (new title 2018) or WIB609 Professional Business Market research Project (20cp) |
CO |
| WIB601 Preparation for Professional Practice (new title 2018) (previously PRB001) | CO | ||
Students commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard load.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | R = Research Core |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles (previously PRBA001) | CO | ||
| ECO504 Business Economics | CO | ||
| STA510 Business Statistics | CO | ||
| LAW514 Commercial Law | CO | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| ACT502 Management Accounting (previously PRBA002) | CO | ACT504 Auditing (previously PRBA004) | CO |
| ACT503 Corporate Accounting (previously PRBA003) | CO | ACT506 Accounting Information Systems (previously PRBA006) | CO |
| ACT505 Accounting Theory (previously PRBA005) | CO | LAW513 Corporate Law | CO |
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance (previously PRBF010) | CO | WIB601 Preparation for Professional Practice (new title 2018) (previously PRB001) | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| LAW511 Australian Tax Law (previously PRBL003) | CO | ||
| WIB602 Professional Practice Experience 1 (previously PRB002) (new title 2018) or WIB608 Professional Business Market Research Project |
CO | ||
| WIB603 Professional Practice Experience 2 (20cp) (previously PRB003) (new title 2018) or WIB609 Professional Business Market research Project (20cp) |
CO | ||
Students commencing in Summer Semester (from 2021 Summer Semester is no longer available for entry)
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in summer semester and enrolling in a standard load.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | R = Research Core |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester | |||
| Year 1 | |||||
| ACT501 Accounting Principles (previously PRBA001) | CO | ||||
| ECO504 Business Economics | CO | ||||
| STA510 Business Statistics | CO | ||||
| LAW514 Commercial Law | CO | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| ACT502 Management Accounting (previously PRBA002) | CO | ACT504 Auditing (previously PRBA004) | CO | ||
| ACT503 Corporate Accounting (previously PRBA003) | CO | ACT506 Accounting Information Systems (previously PRBA006) | CO | ||
| ACT505 Accounting Theory (previously PRBA005) | CO | LAW513 Corporate Law | CO | ||
| FIN510 Aspects of Corporate Finance (previously PRBF010) | CO | WIB601 Preparation for Professional Practice (new title 2018) (previously PRB001) | CO | ||
| Year 3 | |||||
| LAW511 Australian Tax Law (previously PRBL003) | CO | ||||
| WIB602 Professional Practice Experience 1 (previously PRB002) (new title 2018) or WIB608 Professional Business Market Research Project |
CO | ||||
| WIB603 Professional Practice Experience 2 (20cp) (previously PRB003) (new title 2018) or WIB609 Professional Business Market research Project (20cp) |
CO | ||||
Course fees
Non-Commonwealth supported places
Full fee paying places are available in this course.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points (1.0 EFTSL) for commencing students in 2021 is AUD $32,760.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.