Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting

The Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting is designed to develop students’ technical and analytical capabilities as highly valuable accounting and business professionals. The diploma is designed to develop in students the ability to identify and discuss contemporary issues in accounting, auditing and related disciplines as reflected in national and international regulatory pronouncements and the general and business press. Students completing the diploma will enhance their capacity to apply knowledge of relevant commerce-related disciplines to understand and evaluate alternative approaches to contemporary business issues in diverse areas including valuation, performance measurement and control systems, and corporate governance.

1. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be familiar with recent developments and emerging issues relating to research and practice in accounting, auditing and related disciplines.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Identify and discuss contemporary issues in accounting, auditing and related disciplines as reflected in national and international regulatory pronouncements and the general and business press; and
• Apply knowledge of relevant commerce-related disciplines to understand and evaluate alternative approaches to contemporary business issues in diverse areas including valuation, performance measurement and control systems, and corporate governance.

2. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be capable of critical and strategic thinking in relation to accounting and business analysis issues and problems.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Adapt and apply strategic tools developed from the accounting and related disciplines in different organisational and market settings;
• Identify a range of issues which are relevant to the impact of IT on organisational change; and
• Identify the implications of applying accounting and business techniques and approaches in a variety of management decision settings.

3. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be technical and analytical in their use of relevant decision making frameworks and empirical research evidence, in addressing specific accounting and business system problems.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Analyse relevant research and professional literature in accounting and related disciplines and explore the implications for developing future research with the potential to contribute to the existing literature;
• Describe and evaluate common performance measures used in a variety of organisational settings; and
• Explore the diverse roles of accounting in various market settings.

4. Learning Goal

Graduates of this degree will be competent in identifying and critically evaluating accounting and business system issues emerging from strategic developments in practice and regulation.

Learning objectives to achieve this goal

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of budgeting practices in organisations;
• Review regulation in accounting and related fields as well as the general and business press to identify contemporary issues in corporate reporting; and
• Apply knowledge obtained across various commerce-based disciplines to identify and develop approaches for the efficient management of organisational resources.

Students enrolled in the diploma will need to successfully complete 8 x 12.5 point subjects comprising five core and three elective Master of Accounting subjects, over two semesters full-time or four semesters part-time.

Core subjects

All four of the following subjects:

Choose ONE of the following two subjects:

Elective Subjects

Electives may be chosen from the Master of Accounting subject list, or subject to the approval of the Program Director.

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue the course successfully using the following criteria:

• An undergraduate degree in accounting or equivalent;
• The applicant’s submitted statement of intent in seeking entry; and
• Performance on the GMAT or GRE unless the applicant has met one of the approved conditions for GMAT or GRE exemption.

2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and tests and may call for referee reports or employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

3. Students who have successfully completed the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) PY/CA Program or the CPA Australia CPA Program may receive a credit for a maximum of four elective Master of Accounting subjects.

Note:

Students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting may be eligible to progress to the Master of Accounting (200 point program) with 100 points credit. Students who wish to progress to the Master of Accounting (150 point program) with 100 points credit will also need to demonstrate at least one year of documented relevant work and/or professional experience.

The Faculty of Business and Economics welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the Faculty’s programs.

The BCom and Masters degrees of the Faculty of Business and Economics equip graduates with the knowledge and technical skills necessary to understand and participate in the modern business world. The degrees include the following academic requirements for study:

(1) The ability to explain and evaluate concepts, theories, institutional arrangements and operations of modern mixed economies;
(2) The ability to critically evaluate the economy, commerce and business in the broader social and political context;
(3) The ability to explain and apply concepts across a range of commerce and business disciplines in solving business and policy problems; and
(4) The ability to contribute positively to the development of organisations and society in relation to business, government and the commercial professions.

All students of the Faculty’s courses must possess intellectual, ethical, and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the Faculty. Candidates for the BCom degree and for FBE Masters degrees must have abilities and skills in communication; in conceptual, integrative, and quantitative dimensions; and in behavioural and social dimensions.

I. Communication: The student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and/or written form. A student must have the ability to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and application of a discipline, principles or practices during assessment tasks, and in some discipline streams.

II. Intellectual‐Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The student is expected to have the ability to develop problem‐solving skills and demonstrate the ability to establish study plans and priorities. These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities. Students should also have the ability to comprehend complex disciplinary and cross disciplinary information related to the BCom and Masters degrees.

III. Behavioural and Social Attributes: A student must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment and the emotional health required for full utilisation of his/her intellectual abilities. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students. Integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that are deemed necessary for students enrolled in FBE courses.

Students who feel their disability will prevent them from participating in tasks involving the inherent academic requirements of the BCom and FBE Masters courses are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit. Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, but students should participate in the course in an independent manner.

On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting program graduates will be:

• Able to identify and analyse contemporary developments and emerging issues in research and practice in accounting, auditing and related fields;
• Capable of critical and strategic thinking in relation to accounting and business analysis issues and problems;
• Technical and analytical in their use of relevant decision making frameworks and empirical research evidence, in addressing specific accounting and business system problems;
• Competent in identifying and critically evaluating accounting and business system issues emerging from strategic developments in practice and regulation. Demonstrate an ability to think critically about current issues in accounting and related fields;
• Clear in articulating issues and ideas relating to accounting and related fields to a range of audiences in written and oral form;
• Able to synthesise and data and other information relating to accounting and related fields;
• Able to identify and analyse current issues in accounting, auditing and related fields;
• Collaborative in their work practice; and
• Familiar with conducting research, including identifying and formulating relevant research questions, accessing accounting data from a range of sources and applying this data in the pursuit of those research questions.

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Critical thinking particularly in relation to current issues in accounting, auditing and related fields;
• Clarity in articulating issues and ideas in accounting and related fields to a range of audiences in written and oral form;
• Synthesis and evaluation of data in accounting and related fields along with other associated information;
• Problem identification and analysis in accounting relevant commerce-related areas;
• Work collaboratively in teams; and
• Research, including exploring the formulation of relevant research questions, accessing data from a range of sources and applying this data in the pursuit of those research questions.

Students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting may be eligible to progress to the Master of Accounting.

Students who wish to progress to the Master of Accounting 12-subject program will also need to demonstrate at least one year of documented relevant work and/or professional experience.