This postgraduate major is designed for graduates who have decided to move to accounting from another discipline and are seeking to progress their professional accounting career in Australia and internationally. 

You’ll enhance your knowledge and skills in accounting, financial management and business law. The course comprises 16 units which must be completed in two stages. On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate (4 units) and Graduate Diploma (additional 4 units), you can specialise in one of the following streams, each of which is accredited by CPA Australia, ACCA (Global) and CAANZ: 

• The CPA Australia Extension Stream. 
• The Accounting Foundation Stream.

Note: This major differs from the Master of Accounting and Master of Commerce (Advanced Accounting), which are both tailored towards graduates with substantial experience in accounting. If you have substantial experience, please apply for one of these courses instead.

Why study

• Attend employer presentations. Past participating companies have included Coca-Cola Amatil, Grant Thornton and Nexia.
• Expand your understanding and skills through theoretical study and real-life cases.
• Lifelong learning is key to a successful career in accounting. Qualified accountants who possess professional knowledge and expertise experience upward mobility towards management roles in many organisations.
• The Curtin Accounting Association can help grow your network and connect you with industry. The association is run by Curtin accounting students and is sponsored by Chartered Accountants, EY, KPMG, CPA Australia and the Curtin Student Guild.

How this course will make you industry ready

While enrolled in the master degree, you can receive tuition from experienced academics for the CPA Program professional level, to prepare you for your external CPA Program examinations. The main areas of study in this course include corporation and taxation law, financial accounting, and management accounting. With this advanced skill-set, you will be ready to move into an accounting career with a postgraduate qualification and will be well on your way to becoming a CPA.

Note: If you wish to do the CPA Program, you must be enrolled in the CPA Program administered by CPA Australia. You must also register for and sit the CPA Australia exams. You are responsible for all CPA Program fees including CPA Program segment exam fees. 

In order to enrol in the CPA Program, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are qualified and able to meet the requirements for associate membership for CPA Australia.

Professional recognition

On successful completion of the course, you may be eligible for associate membership of CPA Australia, ACCA (Global) and entry into the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) graduate program.

You may gain positions in public practice accounting and business.