Overview

Study the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting to develop the technical, analytical, and creative skills needed for a successful career. Gain skills that help individuals and organisations understand how to use money and resources to the best of their advantage. This qualification builds on the Graduate Certificate, with a deeper dive into company reporting, managerial and financial accounting, and financial management.

View the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting course handbook

Upgrade your skills

  • Accounting systems and reporting
  • Digital Literacy
  • Contract law and legal interpretation
  • Problem solving

Stretch your career further

Students can enhance their career opportunities by gaining additional leadership and management skills – an important asset in a today’s complex and changing business environment. The below examples demonstrate the types of roles graduates can attain.

  • Accounting
  • Auditing
  • Banking
  • Finance

Key codes

CRICOS course code
067213M
International student visa

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.

Professional accreditations

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).

Why Swinburne?

Top 5% of the world’s higher education business schools

91.1% of graduates found employment within 4 months of finishing.

The median income for PG graduates one year out is $79.5K

Business graduate employers include Telstra, NAB, ANZ and IBM

Qualifications

Applicants are required to have one of the following:
  • A bachelor degree (or higher award) in a related discipline from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent; OR
  • A recognised bachelor degree (or higher award) in any discipline PLUS a minimum of two (2) years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience

Applicants who have:

  • Completed a graduate certificate in a related discipline; can enter the program with Advanced Standing and may be able complete the program in 6 months of full-time study or equivalent part-time study.

* Relevant professional/managerial experience and evidence of academic capability will be determined by the Head of Academic Unit with reference to 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.

  • 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
  • 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.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

How credit points work

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).

Your units

Graduate Certificate

Completing 4 core units entitles you to the graduate certificate.

4
Core units
=
Graduate certificate
Units of study Unit code
Core units
Accounting Systems and Reporting
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ACC60008
Economics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ECO80001
Business Modelling and Analysis
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
FIN60003
Corporations and Contract Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW60003
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting

Graduate Diploma

Completing an additional 4 core units entitles you to the graduate diploma.

4
Core units
+
4
Core units
=
Graduate diploma
Units of study Unit code
Core units
Company Auditing
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ACC80003
Managerial Accounting
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ACC80008
Financial Accounting and Theory
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ACC80019
Corporate Financial Management
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
FIN80005

Nested programs

The Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting forms the second stage in a nested suite of programs. Continue studying with the:

Want to learn more about this course?

Learn more about the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting in the course handbook.

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$33,800

Total fee* ($AUD)

$33,800

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$44,340.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2024 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.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown 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. International tuition fees are generally inclusive of Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

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.

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Finances
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
  • are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
  • have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
     

The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2024 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
GD-PACC
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! 

Course code
GD-PACC
Apply directly
Course code
GD-PACC
CRICOS code
067213M
Apply directly
Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
30-July-2025
Start dates
04-August-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
04-August-2025
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