Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
The Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting provides a sound introduction to procedures in accounting and finance. It can also provide a pathway towards a Master of Professional Accounting.
Designed to develop the technical, analytical and creative skills you’ll need to support a successful career in accounting and finance. It also builds on the Graduate Certificate with a deeper dive into company reporting, managerial and financial accounting, and financial management.
Our strong industry links mean your experiential learning is relevant and practised with real-world cases and robust discussions with practising professionals.
Graduates may choose to continue into a Swinburne Master of Professional Accounting with full credit for completed units.
Graduates who hold an accounting qualification from a recognised overseas university or equivalent, upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting, may be eligible to apply for Associate membership of CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
Every international student application is considered for a scholarship
Whether you’re living in Australia or overseas, you’re automatically considered for a scholarship of up to 20% off your course fees. Please check our updated entry requirements.
Duration
1 Year/s
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates
CRICOS code
067213M
Fees
A$44340 (annual for 2024)*
The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Course structure
- Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting and forms the second stage of the
- Master of Professional Accounting
- Eight core units of study (100 credit points)
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting is 50 credit points (normally four units)
Units of study
Students complete the following four units (12.5 credit points each):
ECO80001 Economics *
FIN60003 Business Modelling and Analysis
Student complete the following four units (12.5 credit points each):
ACC80003 Company Auditing
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and professional recognition.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
- apply coherent and advanced knowledge of accounting and business concepts in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking
- apply problem solving, design and decision making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
- communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a team
- demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, respect and a broad awareness of professional practices and cultural norms in a global and sustainable contex
- apply accounting and business fundamentals to the analysis, design and operation of a business model using appropriate accounting and business methods and tools
- reflect on and take responsibility for their own learning and self-management processes, and develop skills to review, reflect on and plan to improve their professional performance.

Professional recognition
Pathways and scholarships
- Scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and English language requirements.
Course fees
Entry requirements
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.
**Students entering under this admission requirement will be given full credit for the units completed.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65%
- minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT (internet-based) minimum score of 79 with a reading band no less than 18 and writing band no less than 20
- Pearson (PTE) minimum score of 58 (no communicative skills less than 50)
- any other equivalent assessment of English language proficiency.
How to apply
Find out more
Tel: +61 3 9214 8444 (outside Australia)