
Receive a world-leading education at a top-ranking school when you study a Master of Professional Accounting (Extension) at UNSW Business School.
Benefit from the best an MPA has to offer in foundational Accounting knowledge alongside the option to fast-track your CPA career through our CPA accreditation specialisation.
The Master of Professional Accounting (Extension) follows the core structure of the Master of Professional Accounting as well as the option to take additional electives or our co-delivered CPA Australia specialisation. This provides you with the opportunity to complete additional electives to align with your interest or undertake CPA study and exams, meaning you can graduate with the full educational requirements to become an accredited CPA.
You'll gain a strong foundation in business with a clear accounting focus. In this postgraduate degree, you'll learn accounting principles, their applications and other relevant knowledge in economics, finance, information systems and law
Within our new CPA specialisation, you’ll receive additional support to undertake your CPA education meaning you graduate with all the educational requirements of a CPA that employers are looking for. With our close ties to industry, our fingers are on the pulse of graduate knowledge and skill requirements when it comes to getting a job.
The freedom of choice
You'll have the freedom to choose either a CPA specialisation or degree electives that are relevant to your interests and career aspirations. If you choose to study degree electives we offer over 20 electives including Business Risk Management, Managing Agile Organisations and Reporting for Climate Change and Sustainability.
Here to help
Benefit from extra support when completing the educational requirements of the CPA as students will be studying under the guidance of a UNSW academic or tutor. UNSW supports you to excel in your CPA exams by teaching the material in our new CPA Pathway specialisation, instead of self-learning.
Core knowledge is a cornerstone of this degree
Build your specialist knowledge to work as a professional accountant by studying core courses including Strategic Management Accounting, Advanced Financial Reporting and Corporate Finance.
Combine Business and Sustainability
UNSW is always updating our degrees to ensure our education is up to the minute and relevant. You can now study a new course, Sustainable Management Accounting with a sustainability and analytics focus embedded into the degree. Take part in the UNSW Tax clinic - a clinic that provides a free taxation advice to disadvantaged members of the community.
We deliver excellence in student outcomes and teaching. We’re ranked 1st in Australia and 21st Worldwide for Accounting and Finance studies*. You’ll be studying at a Group of Eight institutions, known for outstanding educational experiences. We also have extremely high student satisfaction scores, ranking 2nd at UNSW on MyExperience, a platform that solely aggregates student satisfaction scores.
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. In this degree, you can translate learning into workplace experiences to gain on-the-job experience and industry connections while you’re still studying.
Our strong industry connections ensure the knowledge, skills, and experience you gain will be relevant and in-demand. Alongside a rigorous education, you'll grow professionally and socially through Career Accelerator networking, mentoring and internship opportunities and diverse student-led societies.
You’ll have access to world-class researchers and academics, including sessional academics who work in industry and also teach. This degree is academically rigorous, you’ll be learning the best from the best. You’ll join a bright but welcoming community with Master of Professional Accounting students making up a large part of the student body at UNSW Business School.
The most up-to-date accounting technology will be used in your degree so you’ll be ready to work anywhere in the world after completing your degree with a CPA being a globally recognised accounting accreditation.
Fast-track your education and accreditation to leap into professional accounting. The shortened total study time (degree plus CPA requirements) will allow you to become fully accredited earlier and start working sooner.
*AFR BOSS 2022 Best Business School Rankings
*QS Rankings by Subject 2023
Graduates with minimal prior exposure to accounting who are seeking an enhanced career as an accountant choose this degree.
Recognised bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) with a credit average as determined by the UNSW Postgraduate Coursework Entry Score Calculator.
Note: This degree is designed for graduates with no or limited accounting studies. If you have studied a Bachelor of Accounting or completed an Accounting major, you are not advised to apply and enrol into this degree.
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.
If you are applying for a Masters’ degree, up to four courses, or 24 Units of Credit (UOC) may be awarded based on your previous business studies (bachelor or higher). You’ll be notified of the credits in your official letter of offer.
Recognised bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) with a credit average as determined by the UNSW Postgraduate Coursework Entry Score Calculator.
Note: This degree is designed for graduates with no or limited accounting studies. If you have studied a Bachelor of Accounting or completed an Accounting major, you are not advised to apply and enrol into this degree.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. 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 English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do 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.
If you are applying for a Masters’ degree, up to four courses, or 24 Units of Credit (UOC) may be awarded based on your previous business studies (bachelor or higher). You’ll be notified of the credits in your official letter of offer.
This degree extends the structure of the Master of Professional Accounting by allowing you to complete a more comprehensive program beyond the core professional knowledge areas required for foundational accreditation with CPA Australia. You can choose to study advanced resource management or the expanding role of the accountant in a dynamic global environment.
You’ll learn Business thinking on a global scale as well as problem-solving, business communication and responsible business practice keeping up to date with the expectations of accounting professionals in today’s professional landscape.
The degree is made up of compulsory courses including:
Students have the choice to undertake our CPA Pathway specialisation or additional electives including:
In this specialisation you’ll benefit from UNSW academics teaching content in addition to CPA run exams which leads to you graduating as a fully accredited CPA. The specialisation will allow you to complete foundational and professional module requirements for CPA professional membership in the one program. Please note, additional fees payable to CPA Australia are required for CPA Australia exams.
UNSW Business School's Career Accelerator portfolio offers students exclusive access to a suite of for-credit, co-curricular and business experience opportunities to kick start your career.
Meets the educational requirements of accounting bodies including CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), ACCA (Accounting) and Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).
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 and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
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.
*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 here.
CPA Specialisation Fees
Students planning on undertaking the CPA Australia integrated specialisation will be liable for CPA Australia membership fees and CPA Australia subject enrolment fees to cover exams and course materials. For more information, visit CPA Australia fees.
*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 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.
CPA Specialisation Fees
Students planning on undertaking the CPA Australia integrated specialisation will be liable for CPA Australia membership fees and CPA Australia subject enrolment fees to cover exams and course materials. For more information, visit CPA Australia fees.
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