The Master of Taxation is a specialist program designed to meet the growing needs of taxation professionals and practitioners to deal with complex taxation issues involved in business decisions and business transactions. Taught by leading tax academics, the program provides exposure to complex aspects of the discipline and a critical understanding of the Australian taxation system. The program also emphasises developing skills in research, analysis and sustained self-directed writing, including relevant skills in collecting and organising material.

The program offers five specialisations:
Taxation; International Taxation; Revenue Administration; Applied Taxation; and Taxation and Financial Planning.

Taxation
Develops an advanced taxation knowledge base and advanced professional skills in taxation.

International Taxation
Develops a basic and advanced international taxation knowledge base and advanced professional skills in the practical application of international tax knowledge.

Revenue Administration
Suitable if you are currently working in revenue authorities or related agencies, particularly in developing and transitional economies (including those located in the Pacific, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe). This specialisation will equip you for work in the revenue administration and treasury areas of the public service, or for work in consultancies, and agencies related to these areas.

Applied Tax
Provides the essentials needed to understand what tax advice is needed as part of accounting, business management and advising work. The curriculum is restricted so as to meet professional expectations relevant to Australian tax practitioners.

Taxation and Financial Planning
Provides multi-disciplinary (Taxation, Law and Business) specialised education in financial planning and personal wealth accumulation. Suitable if you are seeking a career in this area or if you are looking to transit into this sector, whether in private professional practice, in commerce, or in government service.

Assessment for the Master of Taxation courses emphasises analysis and sustained writing in current problem areas and constructive contributions to the professional debate on key problems. This requires you to engage in sustained application of analytical skills and writing in your primary areas of advanced work and encourages you to add to the body of knowledge and critical understanding in such areas.

The Master of Taxation can be studied on a full-time basis (four courses in one semester) or part-time basis (one or two courses per semester). Elective courses in the program are offered in online distance learning mode as well as classroom mode.

The Master of Taxation program consists of eight courses (48 UOC), with a choice of five specialisations:

• Taxation
Compulsory Core course
TABL5575 Tax Policy (6 UOC) *
Choose seven courses from the electives list. Click here for the list.

• International Taxation
Compulsory Core course
TABL5575 Tax Policy (6 UOC) *
Choose four courses from List A and three courses from List B. Click here for the lists.

• Revenue Administration
Compulsory Core courses
TABL5575 Tax Policy (6 UOC) *
TABL5531 Principles of Revenue Administ (6 UOC)
TABL5538 Tax Planning and Anti Avoidance Avoidanc (6 UOC)
Choose five courses from the electives list. Click here for the list.

• Applied Tax
Compulsory Core course
TABL5538 Tax Planning and Anti Avoidanc (6 UOC)
Choose seven courses from the electives list. Click here for the list.

• Taxation and Financial Planning
Four Compulsory Core courses
FINS5510 Per. Fin. Plan. & Mgmt (6 UOC)
TABL5510 Taxation of Superannuation (6 UOC)
TABL5527 Tax Strategies in Fin Planning (6 UOC)
TABL5540 SMSF Law (6 UOC)
Choose four courses from the electives list. Click here for the list.

*Recommended to be taken in final semester.

Up to 12 UOC may be awarded based on recognition of prior learning.

If you are a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), or a qualified lawyer you may have both Award and Non-Award study at UNSW Business School recognised towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Continuing Professional Education (CPE) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) membership requirements respectively.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

A recognised bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in Taxation, Law, Accounting or Business with a credit average, as determined by UNSW Business School

If you do not have prior studies in Taxation you may be required to complete a pre-entry course TABL5901 or TABL5551 to meet the selection criteria into the Master of Taxation.

Courses in the taxation programs are offered in three ‘modes’: distance, face-to-face and intensive modes (summer session only).

All courses in semesters 1 and 2 are offered in distance mode. This means that apart from your assessment responsibilities, you can work through the course content at your own pace within the semester. You are provided with:

There are also course offerings in Semester 1 and 2 that are offered in face-to-face mode during the evening in the UNSW CBD campus. During these weekly classes you are provided with the same resources as above, however, weekly lectures/tutorials in the UNSW CBD campus replace the fortnightly conferences. Attendance at CBD classes is compulsory and frequent failure to attend will result in exclusion from the examination.
During the UNSW Summer Session (Nov – Feb) courses are offered in intensive mode. This requires you to attend 3-4 full consecutive days of lectures at the UNSW Kensington campus. You are provided with the same resources as above however, the intensive lectures replace the fortnightly conferences. You have access to the materials at the beginning of the summer session, allowing you to work through them to meet your assessment requirements whilst attending the intensive lectures.

Throughout your program you will have access to highly qualified teaching and professional staff who are dedicated to these distance programs.

Current Students:
Contact the UNSW Business School Student Centre for advice.
Telephone: + 61 2 9385 3189
Location: Level 1, Room 1028, Quadrangle Building
Forms, policies and procedures
Frequently asked questions

Prospective Students:
Contact Student Recruitment
Email: studybusiness@unsw.edu.au
Telephone: +61 2 9385 3507