Postgraduate handbook 2005 - Business and Economics

Master of Taxation

Course code: 1473 + Course abbreviation: MTax + Total credit points required: 48 + 3 to 4 semesters full-time, 6 to 8 semesters part-time + On-campus (Caulfield)
Course director: Dr Bill Orow

Course description

This course provides students with a detailed analysis and understanding of the concepts and practical application of Australian taxation law with particular emphasis upon the development of research and writing skills appropriate for specialist taxation practitioners.

Entry requirements

The Faculty of Business and Economics may admit to candidature for the MTax an applicant who has any one of the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws or equivalent legal qualification at a credit standard. A student who is not so qualified, however, may be admitted to candidature if he or she has qualifications and experience which together are considered equivalent to a Bachelor of Laws qualification.
• An undergraduate degree with honours year (four years) with either two years relevant work experience or significant taxation studies in undergraduate, honours, professional year (CA or CPA Program) or postgraduate studies prior to admission.
• A relevant undergraduate degree from a recognised institution and a graduate diploma in taxation from Monash University.
• A relevant undergraduate degree (eg accounting, commerce, or finance) with a credit average or equivalent from a recognised tertiary institution, with two years relevant work experience.
• A graduate diploma or graduate certificate or executive certificate in taxation from Monash University with a credit average.
• Postgraduate qualifications or equivalent in a relevant discipline from a recognised tertiary institution.

Applicants also need to satisfy the following admission requirement:

• All students who enrol in the program will be required to complete BTF5651 (Taxation law) or its equivalent (normally offered in both semesters and over summer) prior to beginning the MTax program. The course director is authorised to waive this requirement in the case of a student who already has sufficient knowledge or experience in taxation. The requirement that all students who enrol in the program must complete BTF5651 (Taxation law) or equivalent is subject to the course director's discretion. The course director may waive the requirement in cases where the student has undertaken relevant studies or has relevant work experience

Advanced standing

Candidates may be eligible for advanced standing for a maximum of two units (12 credit points) considered equivalent to particular requirements in the course of study. The units in respect of which advanced standing is sought must be considered by the course director to be equivalent in content and assessment to units within this degree. Advanced standing is restricted to study completed in the last five years and will be given at the discretion of the course director. Credit towards the MTax of one unit (six credit points) will be given for students who have completed the following qualifications: CPA, ICA, Articles of Clerkship or equivalent at the time of admission. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit points in order to be awarded the MTax degree.

Course structure

Students must complete 48 credit points as follows:
(a) Eight units (48 credit points) from the following list:

• BTF5200 Income and deductions
• BTF5210 Taxation of trusts and partnerships
• BTF5220 Taxation of companies and shareholders
• BTF5230 Taxation of capital gains
• BTF5240 Taxation of employees and contractors
• BTF5250 Anti avoidance rules and financial transactions
• BTF5260 Tax administration and policy
• BTF5270 Superannuation and retirement benefits
• BTF5280 Taxation of international transactions
• BTF5290 GST and other indirect taxes
• BTF5300 Contemporary issues in taxation
• BTF5310 Research project (6 points)
• BTF5320 Minor thesis (24 points)

(b) Students are permitted to take up to two of the units listed in (a) as double-weighted (12 credit point) units, subject to the discretion of the course director. All single-weighted units must normally be completed prior to a student being permitted to undertake any double-weighted units. The double-weighted units are more research based and are designed to enable students to further accelerate the progress of their graduate studies.
(c) Students are permitted to undertake up to two single-weighted units from either:
(i) other business law and taxation offerings; or
(ii) relevant units from other departments within the Faculty of Business and Economics, or other faculties within the university. This ensures that international students will be able to undertake a full-time load of 24 credit points per semester.
The list of units listed in (a) above will be offered over two years (five each year) and all may be undertaken as either double or single-weighted units.

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