Accounting and Finance

COURSES OFFERED

1. Doctor of Philosophy
   
2. Master of Accountancy - Research
3. Master of Finance - Research
   
4. Master of Accountancy
5. Master of Finance
   
6. Master of Applied Finance (Banking)
7. Master of Professional Accounting
8. Master of Forensic Accounting
   
9. Graduate Diploma in Commerce
   
10. Graduate Certificate in Banking and Finance
11. Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting
    

CURRENT RESEARCH AREAS

The following areas of research are available to candidates undertaking the Masters by Research degrees and the Doctor of Philosophy degree:

Accounting and information systems
Accounting and EDI
Auditing
Controllership
Critical accounting theory
External financial reporting
Finance
Government and not-for-profit accounting
History of accounting thought
International accounting & finance
Management accounting
Small business management

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Candidates with good Masters or Honours degrees, Class 2 Division II or the equivalent can apply to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy. Full time study of a minimum of three years is normally required or the equivalent in part-time study. Candidates would be expected to work under supervision on problems related to the School's research areas and may be required to attend coursework classes in order to develop skills necessary for their doctoral research.

MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY - RESEARCH

The Master of Accountancy - Research is a 72 credit point degree, comprising 24 credit points of coursework and a 48 credit point thesis.

This degree is primarily a research degree for those who have completed a bachelors honours at a standard of Class II, Division 2 or higher in accounting, economics, finance or management.

The degree is 72 credit points and may be studied full-time over one and one half years or may be studied part-time.

Candidates who have completed a coursework masters degree at an appropriate standard may be admitted to the program.

Advanced Standing of up to 24 credit points may be awarded for the coursework component of this degree to students who have completed research related subjects at an appropriate standard as assessed by the Head of School.

A candidate may not undertake subjects for this degree which are similar in content to subjects included in their honours or masters course.

MASTER OF FINANCE - RESEARCH

The Master of Finance - Research is a 72 credit point degree, comprising 24 credit points of coursework and a 48 credit point thesis.

This degree is primarily a research degree for those who have completed a bachelors honours at a standard of Class II, Division 2 or higher in accountancy, economics, finance or management. Students who do not have an undergraduate honours degree at this standard or equivalent may be permitted to study for the program.

The degree is 72 credit points and may be studied full-time over one and one half years or may be studied part-time.

Candidates who have completed a coursework masters degree at an appropriate standard may be admitted to the program.

Advanced Standing of up to 24 credit points may be awarded for the coursework component of this degree to students who have completed research related subjects at an appropriate standard as assessed by the Head of School.

A candidate may not undertake subjects for this degree that are similar in content to subjects included in their honours or masters course.

MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY

With permission of the Head of Accounting Discipline, it is possible for students to substitute for the subjects listed above ACCY985 Special Topic in Accounting A or ACCY986 Special Topic in Accounting B and up to three subjects offered in the Master of Finance degree.

MASTER OF FINANCE

With the permission of the Head of the Finance discipline, it is possible for students to substitute for the subjects listed above up to three of the subjects offered in the Master of Accountancy degree.

Note: ACCY901 and FIN921 must be taken in the first semester of commencement in degree.

*FIN921 is available only to students who have no previous finance studies. Students who are not permitted to enrol in FIN921 can select FIN987 Special Topic in Finance or ECON 934 Advanced Financial Economics. Students who have completed a finance major in their undergraduate degree are recommended to not include FIN922 Investment Analysis in their program.

MASTER OF APPLIED FINANCE (BANKING)

This degree has been developed to meet a demand in the banking and finance sector for graduates as well as the need for a professional development program. The program is accredited by the Australian Institute of Banking and Finance (ABIF) and is therefore attractive to professionals working in the banking and finance sectors. The program is also designed to meet the needs of international students.
Candidates who have completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Commerce degree in accountancy or finance will be permitted to enrol in the degree. The degree of 48 credit points may be studied full-time over one year, or may be studied part-time.

Program of Study
Candidates may qualify for the Master of Applied Finance (Banking) by completing the following:

MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING

The Master of Professional Accounting degree offers graduates in other disciplines the opportunity to meet the admission requirements of the accounting professional bodies, providing them with the necessary skills to undertake the work of an accountant.

To gain entry to the program, candidates are required to have a degree from a university recognised by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR).

The course is designed to be taken over three semesters on a full-time basis or six semesters on a part-time basis. The program consists of twelve subjects totaling 72 credit points.

Program of Study

MASTER OF FORENSIC ACCOUNTING

Given the spate of corporate failures in Australia and the USA in recent times, there is a growing public awareness of the need for accounting and finance professionals (and those in oversight positions) to acquire skills to identify and act upon indicators of poor corporate governance, mismanagement, fraud and other unethical behaviour. Traditional business-related education focused on management styles and techniques, financial management, and how internal and external transactions were recorded and interpreted. It is now necessary to analyse the underlying characteristics of corporate activities, and identifying corporate governance issues including potentially unethical or fraudulent behaviour at all level of the organisation.

Candidates must have an undergraduate degree in accounting from a recognised university and have achieved a 60% average mark. Other academic or professional qualifications plus a minimum of five years full-time work experience may be approved by the Program Director, Forensic Studies.

Program of Study

GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COMMERCE (FINANCE or ACCOUNTANCY)

In accordance with the general regulations governing graduate diplomas, candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Commerce must have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor in the University or other approved institution. In special circumstances a professional person holding a tertiary qualification (for example, an experienced accountant with the Commerce (Accounting Procedures) Certificate) may be permitted to enrol. The main requirement is that subjects aggregating not less than 30 credit points of the 48 necessary for the Graduate Diploma are to be obtained from 200-level and/or 300-level subjects offered by the Accounting and Finance Department. The Graduate Diploma requires one year full-time study or part-time equivalent.
The Graduate Diploma serves a wide variety of interests. On the one hand Science or Engineering graduates may study first the second year accounting or take, say, Management Accounting to third year, and on the other hand, Accountancy students may specialise further for professional purposes.

Specific requirements for the Graduate Diploma are:
1. not less than 30 credit points (of the minimum required of 48) are to be obtained from 200-level and/or 300-level subjects offered by the School of Accounting and Finance;

2. with the approval of the Head of the Disipline, subjects may be selected from 900-level subjects offered by the School of Accounting and Finance. (Any subjects selected under this clause may be included in the 30 credit points required under 1.); and

3. the whole course for the diploma is to be approved by the Head of the Discipline as providing a coherent course of study.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN BANKING AND FINANCE

This course is designed to meet the needs in the banking and finance sector for professional and career development. The program has been accredited by the Australian Institute of Banking and Finance (AIBF). The 24 credit point course is offered part time. It may also be offered as a block by flexible delivery, please check with the School.

For admission to the Graduate Certificate candidates are required to have completed a degree from a recognised tertiary institution. In special circumstances, applicants, who do not have an undergraduate qualification but can clearly demonstrate several years of senior management experience in the banking industry, can apply to the Head of School for consideration.

Program of Study

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN FORENSIC ACCOUNTING

Given the spate of corporate failures in Australia and the USA in recent times, there is a growing public awareness of the need for accounting and finance professionals (and those in oversight positions) to acquire skills to identify and act upon indicators of poor corporate governance, mismanagement, fraud and other unethical behaviour. Traditional business-related education focused on management styles and techniques, financial management, and how internal and external transactions were recorded and interpreted. It is now necessary to analyse the underlying characteristics of corporate activities, and identifying corporate governance issues including potentially unethical or fraudulent behaviour at all level of the organisation.

Candidates must have an undergraduate degree in accounting from a recognised university and have achieved a 60% average mark. Other academic or professional qualifications plus a minimum of five years full-time work experience may be approved by the Program Director, Forensic Studies.

Program of Study