Master of Taxation

On completion of the degree students will be able to:

• apply principles of taxation law to practical situations and case studies at an applied, professional practice level; complete original research work to extend discipline knowledge
• read legislation, cases and related taxation materials and critically reflect upon them at an applied, professional practice level
• access and evaluate relevant taxation materials and critically analyse content at an applied, professional practice level
• communicate effectively in ways appropriate to a trans disciplinary and varied audience, for a range of purposes and to a professional standard
• use appropriate technologies, recognising their capabilities and limitations, for professional practice
• take responsibility for the development of ongoing professional, self directed and reflective education relating to developments and changes in the taxation industry
• utilise a practical and evaluative approach to the impact of international taxation industry issues and apply a global perspective to the resolution of these issues
• recognise the importance of cultural diversity and how it impacts upon the taxation industry administratively and practically
• exhibit an ethical approach to analysing taxation issues; solve problems independently or collaboratively; at a professional practice level.

Professional recognition

Graduation candidates may be eligible for membership to CPA Australia, the Tax Institute and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Candidates who complete selected units may be able to use this toward meeting the educational requirements for registration with the Tax Practitioners Board.

Higher education

1). A bachelor degree in Taxation

• OR A bachelor degree in business/commerce with an Accounting or Finance related major
• OR An equivalent qualification from a recognised tertiary institution
• AND meet Curtin’s English competency requirements AND relevant work experience requirements.

2). The course aims, characteristics of students entering the program and professional accreditation requirements will be considered in determining what level of relevant work experience requirements may be required. These accreditation requirements include completion of any of the following programs:

• CPA program,
• Chartered Accountants (CA) program,
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law (GDATL) program offered by the Tax Institute.

3). This is in the context of the review revealing the need to consider the requirement and length for relevant work experience as an entry requirement for students from a cognate background as this seems to be out-of-kilter with competitor offerings and our experience is that it adds nothing to the student learning experience.

Applicants without a cognate Bachelor's degree will need to complete the Graduate Certificate in Taxation Practice to proceed to be considered for the Master of Taxation degree program. This will provide a better pathway into the MTax and student learning experience especially for international students rather than insistence on a relevant work experience requirement which they invariably can never satisfy as they would typically lack any Australian tax work experience.

4). Entry to the Master of Taxation is competitive and a strong academic achievement is required.

English Proficiency Requirements

Applicants need to meet Curtin’s English Language requirement as all degrees are taught in English.

If your education degrees were not solely in English, as per the International Handbook of Universities or the World Higher Education database, please attach a scanned original copy of English Proficiency Test results.

Admission requires an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) (or equivalent test) score of at least 6.5 and competence in all test components (IELTS score of 6.0).

Please refer to the 'Minimum English Entry Requirements' document at https://study.curtin.edu.au/applying/english-language-requirements/.

Applicants for a Master Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at https://study.curtin.edu.au/applying/english-language-requirements/accepted-english-proficiency-tests/

Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes.

Credit for Recognised Learning may be granted upon application to students who have successfully completed studies that are considered by Curtin University to be equivalent to the units forming part of the program. Credits may be given for students who have successfully completed recognised professional body examinations, including the CA Programs which is offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the CPA program, which is offered by CPA Australia. Normally four units of credit are available for candidates who have completed either CA program or the CPA program. Credits may also be available for courses completed with the Tax Institute. All credits are subject to consideration and verification of original documentation, including results transcripts and other supporting information.

Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.

Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.

To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: https://study.curtin.edu.au/credit/

It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.

More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning manual (PDF).

This specialised degree is aimed primarily at commerce graduates who are seeking further qualifications and/or continuing professional development and who are:

• Practitioners in public or private practice
• Taxation officers in the Australian Taxation Office or related Departments (e.g. Treasury)
• Corporate accountants, financial planners and advisers requiring specialist taxation qualifications
• Members of the legal profession who are seeking specialist taxation qualifications.

Specifically applicants require a bachelor degree in a business, commerce or related field from a recognised Australian tertiary institution, or equivalent qualification. Applicants would normally be expected to have a minimum of two years' relevant employment experience

Recommended Study Pattern

Complete 6 core subjects and 2 optional units from a list.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the Master of Taxation students must complete 6 core subjects and 2 optional units from a list.

This degree has undergone a major change in 2021.

The course duration has been reduced from 1.5 years to 1 year. All existing students will remain in the old structure.

For further enquiries, please contact OpenCurtin@curtin.edu.au or their course coordinator."