Dhiraj Kandel
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Quick answer
The essentials at a glance
You can study accounting in Australia from Nepal at diploma, bachelor's or master's level. After +2 you can start a bachelor's degree. After any bachelor's degree, even outside accounting, you can take a Master of Professional Accounting in about 1.5 to 2 years. This page explains each route, how CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants ANZ work, entry needs and cost.
Key takeaways
Main points from this page
- After +2 you can start with a diploma at a TAFE or a three-year bachelor's degree at a university.
- After a bachelor's degree in any subject, a Master of Professional Accounting is built for people with little or no accounting study.
- Many universities design their accounting degrees to meet CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants ANZ study requirements, but you must check each course.
- The CPA Program needs a recognised degree, four compulsory subjects, two electives and 36 months of experience.
- A degree does not give permanent residence automatically, and the course you choose should suit your own plan.
Can You Study Accounting in Australia from Nepal After +2?
Yes, you can start accounting in Australia right after +2, with a diploma or a bachelor’s degree.
Accounting is about recording money, checking it and reporting it. Companies, banks, government offices and small businesses all need people who can do this. This guide is part of our study in Australia from Nepal series, and the other subject guides are listed in our courses in Australia section.
Amounts in this guide are in Australian dollars. Use our AUD to Rs forex converter to check what they mean in rupees on the day you read.
- Diploma: a shorter college route that prepares you for bookkeeping and tax work.
- Bachelor’s degree: usually three years, with an accounting major.
- Master of Professional Accounting: for graduates from any subject, about 1.5 to 2 years.
- Professional bodies: CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
Which Accounting Courses Can You Take in Australia?
You can choose a diploma, a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, depending on where you are now.
Diploma of Accounting
A diploma is a college course, often at a TAFE. TAFE NSW lists 11 units, and its page says some units meet Tax Practitioners Board education needs. It asks for earlier accounting study, so many students first do a certificate. See our TAFE NSW profile and the Diploma of Accounting page.
Bachelor of Commerce, accounting major
This is the usual degree route after +2. The University of Queensland teaches it over three years, and its accounting major is designed to prepare you for CA ANZ and CPA Australia membership. See our University of Queensland profile.
Master of Professional Accounting
This is a postgraduate degree for graduates, including those with no accounting study. Adelaide University and UNSW both teach it. See our Adelaide University and UNSW profiles.
What Is a Master of Professional Accounting in Australia?
It is a postgraduate degree that trains graduates from any subject to work as accountants, and it is built to meet CPA Australia and CA ANZ study needs.
Adelaide University teaches it over 1.5 years full-time, with February and July starts for international students. UNSW lists it at 1.7 years, with three starts a year. The usual length across universities is about 1.5 to 2 years.
UNSW says the degree is designed for graduates with no or limited accounting study. It also advises people who already have an accounting major not to apply. If you studied BBS, BBA, BIM or science in Nepal, this route can be a good fit.
UNSW states that graduates cover the core knowledge needs for the CA ANZ program. For CPA Australia, it says graduates may be eligible for associate membership. Check this on the exact course page, because each university varies.
What Do You Study in a Master of Professional Accounting?
You study accounting, tax, audit and business law, along with some finance and statistics.
UNSW lists financial accounting, company reporting, accounting systems, and the law that covers companies and tax. Adelaide’s core list has four subjects. They are accounting concepts, finance, business statistics and economics.
You also learn Australian reporting standards and tax rules. Professional bodies look for these subjects when they assess your degree. Some universities add electives such as audit or business analytics.
If you did not study accounting before, the first subjects start from the basics. You do not need an accounting background, but you should be comfortable with numbers. Practise basic maths and spreadsheets before you arrive.
How Do CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants ANZ Work?
They are the two main professional bodies, and each has its own program after your degree.
The CPA Program has four compulsory subjects, two electives and 36 months of relevant experience, as shown on the CPA Program page. The experience can be done before, during or after the subjects.
CPA Australia needs a degree that it recognises as comparable to an Australian bachelor’s degree. You can read the rule on its degree page. It also says a Nepali or other overseas degree must meet its standards, so ask CPA Australia to confirm yours.
Chartered Accountants ANZ runs the CA Program, which includes a graduate diploma. Its exact entry steps are on its own website, so read them there before you decide.
- A degree is only the first step. The professional bodies add their own subjects and years of experience.
- Check that your course is on the accredited list of the body you want to join.
- CPA Australia says you can finish your degree while you study the CPA Program.
- An accounting licence is separate from the degree. Tax agent work needs registration with the Tax Practitioners Board.
How Do You Get Into an Accounting Course in Australia?
For a master’s you need a recognised bachelor’s degree and IELTS 6.5; for a bachelor’s you need +2 results and English scores.
Adelaide asks for a bachelor’s degree with a GPA equal to 4.5 on its 7-point scale, and IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6. UNSW asks for a bachelor’s degree with a credit average. You can see both on the Adelaide course page and the UNSW course page.
For the bachelor’s, the University of Queensland asks for Year 12 or an equal result, with English and mathematics at a set level. It lists an entry score of ATAR 82 or IB 31 from last year’s lowest offers, and IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6. These are on its Bachelor of Commerce page.
Universities convert your NEB result in their own way. Our NEB GPA calculator helps you see where you stand. For test scores, read the minimum IELTS and PTE for Australia page. For the visa, see our Australia student visa requirements.
How Much Does an Accounting Course Cost in Australia?
Universities list fees from about AUD 54,000 a year for a master’s, and the bachelor’s at Queensland is about AUD 56,800 a year.
Fees below are indicative figures from each official page, and they change each year. The rupee amounts are rounded.
| Course | University | Fee | About in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Professional Accounting | Adelaide University | AUD 54,300 a year | about Rs 49 lakh |
| Master of Professional Accounting | UNSW Sydney | AUD 62,000 first year | about Rs 56 lakh |
| Bachelor of Commerce | University of Queensland | AUD 56,800 a year | about Rs 51 lakh |
UNSW lists about AUD 96,000 for the full degree, which is about Rs 86 lakh. Living costs, health cover and the visa fee are extra. Our cost to study in Australia page explains them.
A diploma at a TAFE costs less than a degree, but we could not confirm one current international fee, so ask the college for its latest figure.
Can You Work and Stay in Australia After an Accounting Degree?
You can work part-time while you study and may apply for a Temporary Graduate visa after your degree.
While your course is running you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight. Our working hours page explains this. The Temporary Graduate visa for degree graduates usually runs 2 to 3 years, and the stream for diploma graduates is shorter. See our 485 visa page.
Permanent residence is not automatic after any course. Read our PR courses in Australia page before you choose a degree for that reason.
Which Accounting Route Is Right for You?
Choose a bachelor’s degree if you have just finished +2, and a Master of Professional Accounting if you already have a degree.
A bachelor’s degree takes about three years and gives you time to learn the subject slowly. A master’s takes less time, but it assumes you can already study at degree level. Students with a BBS or BBA from Nepal often prefer the master’s route because it saves time.
A diploma suits you if you want to begin work sooner, or if your marks are below a university’s entry line. Ask the college how its diploma credits count towards a degree. Our Australia intakes page shows when courses start, and the MBA in Australia guide compares another popular master’s choice.
Which Jobs Can You Do With an Accounting Degree?
You can work as an accountant, tax accountant, auditor, management accountant or financial analyst.
Many graduates start in accounting firms, company finance teams, banks or government departments. Others work in tax, audit or business advice. Some join the Big Four firms, which are Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG, and apply there through graduate programs.
A diploma leads more often to bookkeeping, payroll and accounts roles. You can move to a degree later if you want to go further.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a good choice if you have a bachelor’s degree in any subject and want to become an accountant. UNSW says the degree is designed for graduates with no or limited accounting study. If you already have an accounting major, a different master’s may suit you better.
Adelaide University teaches it over 1.5 years full-time, and UNSW lists 1.7 years. Across universities the usual length is about 1.5 to 2 years.
CPA Australia lists distance learning among its study modes, and it says you can finish your degree while you study the CPA Program. Ask CPA Australia whether subjects are available where you live, and whether your Nepali degree meets its standard.
First finish a recognised degree, ideally one on the accredited list. Then join CPA Australia and take four compulsory subjects, two electives and 36 months of experience. Start with a course that the body accredits.
Adelaide University and the University of Queensland both ask for IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6 in the courses above. The student visa has its own lower minimum, but it is the university score that usually applies.
Yes, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session. You can work more in official breaks. Always check your visa conditions.
Yes. A TAFE offers the Diploma of Accounting, which leads to bookkeeping and payroll roles. A diploma is shorter than a degree, and it is not the same as the degree that professional bodies expect, so ask the college about pathways into a bachelor’s degree.
How Can Goreto Help You Apply for Accounting in Australia?
Goreto counselors help you choose a course, check entry, prepare documents and plan your visa.
You can meet us at our Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara branches. Our diploma vs bachelor’s guide can help if you are choosing a level, and the visa fee page covers current costs.
Sources
Reference links
Disclaimer
Important guidance note
Fees, entry scores and accreditation change, so confirm each detail on the official course page before you apply.
