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Program

Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law

Anticipating the needs of tomorrow’s tax professionals

Download your information pack today

Whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced tax professional, this postgraduate qualification equips you with the expertise to provide superior professional tax advice, and undertake highly skilled tax work across a range of contexts.

In today's rapidly evolving tax landscape, the Australian tax system faces unprecedented challenges. From disruptive technologies to global trade and a more informed client base, tax professionals need to adapt and stay up–to–date with the latest developments.

This award program will give you applied tax skills. It will develop your tax technical expertise by the use of real–world scenarios to build and meet the skills applicable to your workplace whether you are a lawyer, accountant or a tax manager working in the tax profession within the accounting, finance, government and law industries.

This program is accredited by TEQSA (Provider Registration Number: PRV1349 Course ID: CRS1400909) and is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

You'll learn

How to provide clear and well-reasoned tax advice
How to translate complex tax and legal concepts, and their implications
How to apply analytical skills and in-depth knowledge of tax law

Subjects included

Core subjects - deep dive into foundational knowledge:

Elective subjects - choose three of the six speciality subjects to drive your career forward:

ATL002 CommLaw1 Australian Legal Systems
ATL005 CommLaw2 Entities and Business Structures
ATL006 CommLaw3 Property Law
ATL007 Advanced Superannuation
ATL008 Tax for Trusts: from an SME perspective
ATL009 Corporate Tax

Pathways

Completion of the CTA3 Advisory subject may be credited as an elective within the Graduate Diploma. You will then have satisfied the educational requirements to become a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA).

Select CommLaw1 Australian Legal Systems, CommLaw2 Entities and Business Structures and CommLaw3 Property Law as your electives in the Graduate Diploma and meet the qualifications requirements of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to register as a tax agent. Read more about our Tax Agent Program here.

In turn, you may be eligible for 6 units of credit as recognition of prior learning towards a Master of Taxation from UNSW if you wish to continue your studies in taxation.

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Study Timetable

Subjects6
Credit Points36
LevelPostgraduate
Cost$1,995 per subject
CPD120 hours per subject
DeliveryOnline
Study Length1-2 years part-time
Education LevelPostgraduate
Study Periods3 per year

Hear from subject convenors and candidates

Don’t take it from us – hear what the experts have to say! Our convenors are tax professionals who excel in their chosen specialty and our candidates are stellar tax professionals growing in their careers.

Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law Graduate

'I wanted to solidify and formalise my tax knowledge with a postgraduate qualification. I chose the Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law for the course content, self paced study mode, the mix of theory and practical application of tax law and the fact that subject convenors work in Tax. The program has expanded my knowledge of tax and commercial law and improved my research skills.

'Deanne Whelan,
Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law Graduate

Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law Graduate

'With so much responsibility outside of study, I've enjoyed the format of the core subjects. There is a weekly email from the subject coordinators outlining what reading or activities need to be completed to ensure you do not fall behind in the course work. There are also weekly workshops that discuss case studies for the topics in the subject. I found this an excellent motivator to keep on top of the course work.'

Natalie Metcalf,
Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law Graduate

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We welcome people working in the Australian tax industry with non-student visa status.

A Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law candidate will:

hold an Australian degree or diploma in financial services, finance, business, commerce, accounting or law
meet the minimum English language requirements
require at least 12 months of Australian tax and/or Australian tax law experience to progress in the course

Candidates must provide the following documents to confirm their enrolment:

Testamur and Transcript of their Australian degree or diploma listing all subjects completed
If the language of instruction from the highest qualification completed was not in English, an English proficiency score showing an equivalent to an overall Academic IELTS of 7 with a minimum of 6.5 in the speaking and listening bands and a minimum of 7 in the reading and writing) or equivalent that was completed within 2 years of your commencement date
Current CV demonstrating Australian tax and/or Australian tax law experience
Completion of the mandatory higher education data collection which is sent to you after application

Core Subjects

The core subjects that make up the compulsory program are:

ATL001 CTA1 Foundations
ATL003 CTA2A Advanced
ATL004 CTA2B Advanced
Elective Subjects

Three of the six elective* subjects are required to complete the program:

ATL002 CommLaw1 Australian Legal Systems
ATL005 CommLaw2 Entities and Business Structures
ATL006 CommLaw3 Property Law
ATL007 Advanced Superannuation
ATL008 Tax for Trusts: from an SME perspective
ATL009 Corporate Tax

*Completion of the CTA3 Advisory subject may be credited as an elective for the Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law.

If you successfully complete CTA3 Advisory as one of your electives, you will have satisfied the educational requirements to be eligible to obtain the globally recognised “CTA” designation. In turn, you may be eligible for 6 units of credit as recognition of prior learning towards a Master of Taxation from UNSW if you wish to continue your studies in Taxation.

Example program structure - 2 years duration

First study period (12 weeks) CTA1
Second study period (12 weeks) CTA2A
Third study period (12 weeks) CTA2B
Fourth study period (12 weeks) Elective 1
Fifth study period (12 weeks) Elective 2
Sixth study period (12 weeks) Elective 3

Certain combinations of subject enrolments, up to two subjects per study period, are permitted.

Recognition for prior learning (for up to two) and Advanced standing may be available for up to three subjects in total. It is therefore possible to complete the program in a shorter time-frame.

Distance learning

A flexible learning approach using an online learning platform supported by recorded webinars and email support with a subject matter expert.

Please refer to the Candidate Care Guide where you'll find our Candidate Handbook and comprehensive information on our relevant policies.

Please refer to our Privacy, Copyright & Disclaimer for information on the way we handle personal information.

Fees are set on a subject by subject basis

Standard ATL subject enrolment fee $1,995.

Standard ATL subject enrolment fee is GST exempt.

Standard CTA3 Advisory subject enrolment fee $2,495.

Standard CTA3 Advisory subject enrolment fee is inclusive of GST.

Assessment only subject enrolment fee $1,250.

Standard prices are valid until 11 August 2025.

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Pathway to the prestigious Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) designation

Recognised by both CA and CPA Programs

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