Master of Taxation

What you will study

To earn the Master of Taxation, you must successfully complete units totalling 48 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.

Taxation law

Students who did not complete a university level course of study in taxation as part of their bachelor's degree, are required to complete this course before undertaking any other courses in the program:

• Taxation Law OR Australian Taxation Law

Compulsory Core units

• Taxation of Commercial Transactions
• Taxation of Commercial Structures
• International Business Taxation

Capstone unit

• Tax Policy

Prescribed elective units

Select 18–24 credit points from the following units. Students required to complete Taxation Law or Australian Taxation Law as part of the program take three prescribed electives (18 credit points). All other students take four prescribed electives (24 credit points).

• Advanced Corporate Tax
• Advanced Taxation of Trusts
• Tax Administration
• Tax Controversy
• Taxation and Regulation of Superannuation
• GST and Indirect Taxes
• Taxation Strategies in Financial Planning
• Tax Treaties and Multilateral Obligations
• Comparative Tax Systems
• Transfer Pricing and International Tax Controversy
• Contemporary Issues in Taxation

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Category A

A recognised bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in taxation, law, accounting, business or commerce (or equivalent qualifications) as determined by UNSW Business School; with an average of 65 per cent or more in these subjects, as determined by UNSW Business School; and a minimum of two years of relevant full-time professional experience in professional services firms or in government departments.

Category B

A graduate certificate or graduate diploma in a related discipline; and a minimum of two years of relevant full-time professional experience in professional services firms or in government departments.

Progression from the Graduate Certificate in Taxation

Students who successfully complete the Graduate of Certificate in Taxation, opens in a new window with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65 or above can apply for articulation to the Master of Taxation via Internal Program Transfer (IPT) in their final term of study.

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• English language tests and university English courses.
• Prior study in the medium of English.
• Other qualifications.

Contact the university or visit its website for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning may be granted for up to 12 credit points based on eligible prior study. Students who successfully articulate from the Graduate Certificate in Taxation may receive credit for completed Graduate Certificate courses that align with the Master of Taxation and may be eligible for up to an additional 12 credit points of RPL for electives, subject to course alignment. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Business knowledge: Graduates will make informed and effective selection and application of knowledge in a discipline or profession, in the contexts of local and global business.
• Problem solving: Graduates will define and address business problems, and propose effective evidence-based solutions, through the application of rigorous analysis and critical thinking.
• Business communication: Graduates will harness, manage and communicate business information effectively using multiple forms of communication across different channels.
• Teamwork: Graduates will interact and collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose or fulfil a common business project, and reflect critically on the process and the outcomes.
• Responsible business practice: Graduates will be committed to responsible business thinking and approaches, which are underpinned by ethical professional practice and sustainability considerations.
• Global and cultural competence: Graduates will be aware of business systems in the wider world and actively committed to recognise and respect the cultural norms, beliefs and values of others, and will apply this knowledge to interact, communicate and work effectively in diverse environments.
• Leadership development: Graduates will develop the capacity to take initiative, encourage forward thinking and bring about innovation, while effectively influencing others to achieve desired results.

Career outcomes

The Master of Taxation equips you for a career in major and mid-tier accounting or legal firms, or with government departments such as the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Treasury. 

Potential careers:

• Taxation specialist in the private or public sector
• Tax advisor
• International taxation advisor
• Financial planner
• Personal wealth advisor

Accreditation

Graduates of the Master of Taxation receive accreditation with The Tax Institute. Members of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and qualified lawyers may earn recognition towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Continuing Professional Education (CPE) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements respectively.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $42,000 (Full-fee paying place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• The number of units studied.
• Choice of units.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university program.