27 May 2024
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Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting

Build expertise in financial management, taxation, auditing, banking, business consulting, etc.

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An online Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting is a one-year course to enhance all-round accounting skills. Students gain technical skills and financial knowledge that can be applied in any business setting.

The qualification builds upon the shorter graduate certificate course and is a pathway to a Master of Professional Accounting degree. It's ideal for professionals without qualifications in this field and accounting graduates seeking additional units for professional accreditation.

Overview

The online Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting is a one-year course covering accounting methods and principles. It includes both introductory and advanced units, making it useful for professionals from different backgrounds.

Students complete eight units, equivalent to a year of full-time university study. This diploma can serve as a pathway to accounting and finance master's degrees for those without a prior financial degree. Graduate diploma courses are often embedded in master's programs.

With an additional semester of study, students can earn a Master of Professional Accounting (MPA). The MPA qualifies graduates for professional accreditation with accounting associations.

Related: Graduate Certificate in Accounting Online

Online Courses in Australia

Deakin - Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting

Deakin University offers a Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting for university graduates. Students complete six compulsory units and two electives, all of which meet professional accreditation requirements. These units cover both applied accounting techniques and broader business theories. The program is recognised by major professional accounting bodies, facilitating a pathway to credentials such as CPA Australia and CA ANZ.

UNE - Graduate Diploma in Accounting

The University of New England offers a Graduate Diploma in Accounting for university graduates, including holders of a Graduate Certificate in Accounting. The program is normally used to gain top-up units required for professional accreditation. There are four electives, and four compulsory units: management accounting, introductory accounting, economics for management, and issues in business and corporation law.

Why This Course Is Worthwhile

Young male professional writing while looking at computer screen

Graduate diplomas in accounting are popular because they're versatile and leave room for further study. The course is ideal if you:

  • Lack an accounting degree and want to improve your ability to work in and around accounting and finance fields.
  • Lack an accounting degree and are interested in becoming a professional accountant.
  • Are an accounting graduate but need extra units to qualify for professional accreditation.

Note that there are specific education requirements to become a Chartered Accountant, Public Accountant, or Certified Practising Accountant. These may not be fully met by undergraduate accounting programs, particularly if your earlier studies were outside Australia.

A diploma covers much of the MPA course. If studying accountancy for the first time, you can go on to complete an MPA and gain professional accreditation, either immediately after finishing a diploma or at a later point.

Related: Masters in Professional Accounting Online

† Online courses are available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast, Newcastle. Australia-wide.