Graduate Certificate in Taxation

The Graduate Certificate in Taxation will help you keep up with the complexity of Australian tax legislation, policy and practice.

Faculty

UNSW Business School

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended), Online

Award

Graduate Certificate in Taxation

Commencing Terms

Term 1, Term 2, Term 3

Duration (Full Time)

0.7 Year(s)

Overview

The UNSW Graduate Certificate in Taxation is a qualification from UNSW Business School, a leader in the Asia-Pacific region with our subjects consistently ranking in the top 50 worldwide. This certificate provides professional development in the areas of your choice in less than a year.  

The combination of online and face-to-face classes can adapt to your work/life balance. Tax practitioners and financial planners can upskill in career-boosting tax system knowledge according to Australian taxation law, such as Capital Gains Tax and Australian international taxation principles.

Graduates progress toward senior positions in specialist taxation practice or further study. The certificate is a pathway into the Master of Taxation, which offers professional recognition from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Why study at UNSW?

UNSW Business School is ranked the #1 business school in Australia by AFR BOSS*. That means our business education leads the way in career impact, quality and reputation.

Meet your career goals with a choice of four industry-relevant courses. Build knowledge and expertise in tax planning for corporations, trusts, superannuation, capital gains and employee remuneration (income tax). You can also become knowledgeable on the principles of Australian international taxation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law. 

We’re rated “Well above world standard” for Accounting and Auditing by the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) government assessment. If you haven’t studied taxation at university level before, there’s a qualifying course (TABL5901) you’ll have to complete before starting this graduate certificate.

^{*AFR BOSS 2022 Best Business School Rankings}

Program Code

7321

CRICOS Code

0100908

Campus

Kensington

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

Indicative Enrolments

Entry requirements

Category A

A recognised bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in Taxation, Law, Accounting, Business or Commerce, as determined by UNSW Business School; and a minimum of two years relevant full-time professional experience in professional services firms or in government departments.

Category B

A recognised bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline, for example in Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Engineering, etc, as determined by UNSW Business School; and a minimum of two years relevant full-time professional experience in professional services firms or in government departments. Applicants must provide a detailed resume (outlining relevant competencies and achievements) and provide evidence of other professional qualifications or studies if applying under the 'equivalent qualification' criteria.

Progression to Master of Taxation

Students who successfully complete the Graduate of Certificate in Taxation with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65 or above can apply to progress into the Master of Taxation via Internal Program Transfer (IPT) in their final term of study. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be granted for courses completed in the Graduate Certificate, subject to course alignment with the Master's program. Upon progression into the Master of Taxation, students may be eligible for up to an additional 12 Units Of Credit (UOC) of RPL for electives (which is usually the equivalent of two courses), subject to course alignment with the Master's.

RPL

A maximum of 6 UOC RPL can be granted for the Graduate Certificate in Taxation (7321). For further details on RPL Credit, please refer to the handbook.

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

Program structure

Regardless of the courses you choose, you’ll build skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, business knowledge and communication. You’ll develop a new depth of knowledge in Australian taxation law areas of your choice. This comprehensive understanding of complex legislation, policy and practice means you’ll be well informed to provide a more effective level of support to your clients.

Graduates are eligible to apply to the Master of Taxation, and courses completed in the Graduate Certificate are credited to the Master’s degree.  For detailed course information, visit the Taxation Handbook.

Go to the handbook

Future careers

The skills and insights gained from your Graduate Certificate in Taxation can have an immediate positive effect on your career. You’ll be able to serve clients who have a wide range of taxation needs. Our postgraduate graduates have exceptional employability rates, performing well above the national average. In the 2018 QILT survey, 93% of our postgraduate students were employed full-time within four months of graduating and were earning a median wage of $120k.

During this postgraduate degree, you’ll have access to a suite of professional development opportunities offered by Career Accelerator, which are exclusive to UNSW’s Business School students. Career Accelerator helps build industry connections through networking, mentoring, internships and global business practicum opportunities.

UNSW supports startups, with more founders than any other Australian university and 300+ student clubs to find co-founders (and friends). We’re one of Asia-Pacific’s best business schools, with more than 90,000 alumni worldwide who could be connections to your future career.   

Potential careers

Senior Tax Manager
Senior Tax Accountant
Accountant
Tax Accountant
Tax Consultant
Accounting Supervisor
Chartered Accountant

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$17,880*

2023 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree

$17,880*

There is a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places available for this degree. The indicative tuition fee for domestic postgraduate students shown is for fee-paying students, not students in Commonwealth Supported Places. To find out more about the student contribution amounts for Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year). Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed below.

2023 Indicative First Year Fee

$24,600*

2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$24,600*

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

Scholarships

At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.