Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting | Courses | Swinburne University

Study at Swinburne > Courses > Find a course > Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting

GD-PACC Postgraduate Hawthorn Send me a link to this course

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).

Duration

1 year full-time or equivalent part-time

Intakes

Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates

Study modes

Full-time,
Part-time (day)

2023 Start Dates

Semester 2 - 31 July 2023

2024 Start Dates

Semester 1 - 26 February 2024

Semester 2 - 29 July 2024

Course information in detail

- Course detail, course structure and units of study.

Course description

The Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting enables students to complete an accounting qualification to continue their professional education. Accounting is the language of business, and skills are relevant to many areas of professional interest: marketing, economic forecasting, finance, engineering and many others. A knowledge of accounting and finance can help individuals and business organisations understand how to use money and resources to the best advantage. Gaining and maintaining wealth are important elements in a market economy.

The course builds on the skills and knowledge acquired in the Graduate Certificate. It further develops the analytical and creative skills necessary when dealing with accounting and finance issues within planning and decision making.

Course structure

The Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting (GD-PACC) incorporates the:

Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting and forms the second stage of the
Master of Professional Accounting

To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting, students must complete 100 credit points comprising of:

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

Stage 1 Graduate Certificate units

Students complete the following four units (12.5 credit points each):

ACC60008 Accounting Systems and Reporting
ECO80001 Economics *
FIN60003 Business Modelling and Analysis

LAW60003 Corporations and Contract Law *

Stage 2 Graduate Diploma units

Student complete the following four units (12.5 credit points each):
ACC80003 Company Auditing

ACC80008 Managerial Accounting *

ACC80019 Financial Accounting and Theory *

FIN80005 Corporate Financial Management *

* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

Careers and graduate outcomes

- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and professional recognition.

Career opportunities

The suite of accounting courses provides an avenue for graduates to achieve professional recognition and help fill the shortage of professionally recognised accountants. As many candidates may already be established in a business career, the key vocational outcomes may arise from better current job performance together with new opportunities opening in the accounting and finance areas.

Aims and objectives

The Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting course is designed for students who wish to obtain advanced knowledge and research skills in accounting and related areas of business. Students will learn to apply advanced conceptual and practical accounting knowledge as the course develops the various technical, practical, analytical and creative skills necessary to support professional and highly skilled work in the areas of accounting and finance. Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting allows articulation into the Master of Professional Accounting.

At completion of the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting, graduates should be able to:

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.

Scholarships

At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. Find out more about scholarships.

Course fees and requirements

- Entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.

Course fees

2023 rate*	Estimated total cost of the course	Estimated cost of the course per year if studying full-time*	Annual Amenities fee if studying full-time*
Full fee	$32,200	$32,200	See how your SSAF is calculated

Fees are estimates for students commencing in 2023 only: Tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

How do I pay my fees?

FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.

Entry requirements

A recognised bachelor degree in a related discipline or
A recognised bachelor degree in any discipline PLUS a minimum of two years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience* or
A Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting** or

Masters Qualifying Program is available to International applicants

*Relevant managerial experience and evidence of academic capability will be determined by the Faculty PVC (or delegate) with reference to Faculty determined guiding principles. Applicants will be required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) with their application. Documents substantiating relevant experience are required, clearly detailing roles and duration, as well as evidence of formal and non-formal learning. Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.
**Students entering under this admission requirement will be given full credit for the units completed.

How to apply

Find out more about how to apply.

Find out more

Submit an online enquiry

Tel: 1300 SWINBURNE

Email: postgrad@swinburne.edu.au