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Business School

Postgraduate professional recognition of programs

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For postgraduate students

The degree programs offered by the UNSW Business School are recognised by the following Professional Organisations in accordance with the details set out below:

As professional accreditation requirements do change from time to time, you are advised to contact the individual organisation concerned for current requirements.

Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI)

The following qualifications in Human Resource Management have been accredited by the National Accreditation Committee (NAC) of the Australian Human Resources Institute for its membership program.

Accreditation is granted for a period of three years. Further information on membership and membership benefits can be found on the .

The Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA)

FINSIA members have access to industry-leading content, insights and influential networks that will help you build your capabilities and advance your career. Finance graduates wanting to become professionally qualified may enrol in FINSIA Programs covering different areas of financial services such as banking, ethics and integrity and corporate finance.

Students are encouraged to seek further information from the .

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

The Master of Professional Accounting and Master of Professional Accounting (Extension) programs at UNSW are accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Graduates who complete these programs may be eligible to apply for exemptions from the fundamental level courses (F1-F9) of the ACCA qualification and proceed with the Professional Level papers required for Affiliate membership status. To find out your eligibility for exemptions, please go to: .

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)

Various postgraduate courses at UNSW are accredited by the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).

Graduates who complete the Master of Professional Accounting or the Master of Professional Accounting (Extension) are eligible to register for the Chartered Accountants Program and become Provisional Members. For further information see

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) recognises the Accounting specialisation in the Master of Commerce (8404). Students who complete the specialisation may be exempted from the Operational and Management levels of CIMA’s syllabus by completing ten accounting specialisation and elective courses.

Students who choose to study the Accounting specialisation in the Master of Commerce (Extension) program (8417) may extend their knowledge of Management Accounting by completing four additional courses. This will help students prepare for the CIMA Strategic Level Accreditation exams. For further information see: - https://www.cimaglobal.com/Contact-us/.

CPA Australia

CPA Australia has accepted both complete the Master of Professional Accounting and the Master of Professional Accounting (Extension) for the purpose of its membership qualifications. Students may confirm academic entry requirements for the CPA Program with CPA Australia at .

Graduates who complete either program may apply for associate membership of CPA Australia. For further information on membership see .

Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)

The Accounting programs of UNSW are accredited by the IPA. Graduates who complete the Master of Professional Accounting or Master of Professional Accounting (Extension) will meet the body’s core knowledge requirements. For further information see .

The Institute of Actuaries of Australia

The UNSW actuarial program is fully accredited by the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and relevant courses are approved for VEE by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) in the US. To qualify as an actuary in Australia requires the completion of, or exemption from, subjects in the professional syllabus of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Qualification as an Associate of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (AIAA) is attained on completion of the courses in the Foundation Program and the Actuary Program along with a 1-year working experience. Qualification as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA) requires the completion of subjects in the Foundation Program, the Actuary Program, and Fellowship Program.

The Foundation Program is covered by the relevant subjects in the Master of Actuarial Studies.

For the Actuary Program, there are two university accreditation components:

  • Actuarial Control Cycle, and
  • Data Science Principles.

The two parts of Actuary Program are covered at UNSW in three courses which cover actuarial principles and practice along with data analytics.

Entry requirements

Foundation Program

Students can complete the Foundation Program courses as part of their university program. Success at gaining the exemptions requires above average grades (65% and above). Those aiming to enter the actuarial profession should normally expect to gain most of the exemptions and should be aiming to obtain at least an average 70% mark in their University studies.

Actuary Program

The requirements are:

  • completed all Foundation Program courses with exemptions or
  • have a minimum average mark in the ACTL courses of 65% and only 1 or 2 Foundation Program courses to complete.

Other professional recognition

Fellows of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia can obtain Fellowship of the IFoA if they wish to practice in the UK or Europe.

Students who have completed actuarial studies major and obtained exemptions from the Foundation Program subjects of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia can apply for waivers of some of the examinations and VEE credit of the SOA in the US. Fellows of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia can apply for admission as an Associate of the SOA if they wish to practise in North America.

Fellowship of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA) is recognised by local actuarial societies in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and Japan. The actuarial societies in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia do not conduct their own examinations. For more information, please go to the Institute's website .

SAS Certification

Those students who complete the following four courses will be eligible for a SAS Certificate in Business Analytics (awarded jointly by UNSW and SAS).

credentials are globally recognised as the premier means to validate SAS knowledge. With a SAS Certification credential, students will set themselves apart from others and prove that they have the SAS knowledge to make a difference within an organisation.