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Specialist Certificate in Tax (SC-TAX)
Specialist CertificateYear: 2022 Delivered: Mixed Attendance Mode (Parkville) or Online
About this course
- Overview
- Entry and participation requirements
- Attributes, outcomes and skills
- Course structure
- Further study
Coordinator
Miranda Stewart
Overview
Award title | Specialist Certificate in Tax |
---|---|
Year & campus | 2022 — Parkville |
Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
AQF level | Non-AQF |
Credit points | 25 credit points |
Duration | 6 months part-time or 6 months part-time |
The Specialist Certificate in Tax provides a high quality, accessible and flexible entry point to a postgraduate tax law specialisation. Students will complete 25 credit points, achievable through study part time in one semester, choosing from a suite of introductory and advanced tax subjects from the Melbourne Law Masters Tax program.
The Specialist Certificate in Tax is ideal for lawyers, accountants and other professionals who are looking to take the next step in their careers. Experienced Tax graduates or professionals can upskill in a specialist or advanced field, for example international tax law or tax of superannuation, while non-specialist professionals seeking to develop knowledge in the field can obtain an excellent foundation in the field of tax law and policy, which can be a pathway to graduate Tax study.
Links to further information
Entry requirements
1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- A degree in law leading to admission to legal practice (LLB, JD or equivalent), at honours standard or equivalent; or
- A degree in law leading to admission to legal practice (LLB, JD or equivalent), and at least one year of documented relevant professional experience; or
- An undergraduate degree (non-law) in a cognate discipline such as cognate areas including business, commerce, accounting, taxation, legal studies (or similar) or finance and at least one year of documented relevant professional work experience.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- Prior academic performance; and
- Relevant professional experience.
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.
NOTE: International students are welcome to study this course. However, please note that this course is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in Australia as it does not meet the onshore study requirements and is not registered with CRICOS.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:
- The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
- The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
- The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
- The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
- The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
- The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.
Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support website: https://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this course, graduates should be able to:
- Interpret and analyse taxation legislation, cases and administrative guidance that is immediately relevant to practice
- Identify, critically evaluate and respond to tax law and policy issues and risks that affect clients, or government administration
- Demonstrate an understanding of foundational or specialist topics in taxation law through assessed legal analysis in oral presentations and written advice
- Apply new skills and knowledge in developing solutions to case studies and problems in practice and law.
Generic skills
- Well-developed competencies in legal analysis
- Problem solving abilities, including through the collection and evaluation of information
- Capacity to communicate, orally and in writing
- Ability to evaluate, research and synthesise existing knowledge
- Capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection
- Capacity for self-directed learning, organisation and time management.
Graduate attributes
Advanced understanding of specialist topics in the relevant area of law
- The focus provided by the Specialist Certificate draws on the broad Melbourne Law Masters, including the constant review and renewal of subjects and courses, the range and expertise of instructors from Australia and around the world, and regular advice from our advisory boards which combine to ensure that the Specialist Certificate reflects emerging knowledge and ideas.
Ability to evaluate, research and synthesise existing knowledge in the area
- Small classes, a discussion-based environment and the emphasis on quality teaching and learning create an environment in which knowledge is exchanged, critically examined and adapted to current circumstances.
Well-developed problem solving abilities, characterised by flexibility of approach
- Most subjects approach knowledge by reference to various issues or problems. Students are encouraged to critically analyse problems and identify and develop a range of appropriate solutions through class discussion, individual study and assessment tasks.
Capacity to communicate, orally and in writing
- Classroom discussion and formal presentations provide an opportunity to hone oral communication skills, and written assessment tasks are graded in part on written communication skills.
Profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, including the ethics of scholarship
- Some subjects have a substantive ethical component. All instructors have a respect for intellectual integrity and are skilled scholars or practitioners in their own right.
Appreciation of the way in which knowledge provides a foundation for leadership
- Instructors in the Melbourne Law Masters are leaders in their fields, and many subjects involve visiting academics, exposing students to a wider array of leaders in a range of legal fields. The Law School is committed to the significance of knowledge, which informs all regular programs and a wide range of additional activities.
Capacity to engage with issues in contemporary society
- Our programs focus on the most up-to-date legal knowledge, analysing current issues and problems through the curriculum design, classroom discussion and assessment tasks. International students are also invited to participate in extracurricular activities to aid understanding of Australian law and legal institutions.
Advanced working skills in the use of new technology
- The most advanced IT infrastructure is available to Melbourne Law Masters students in the Law Library, the Moot Court Room, classroom settings and for private study.
Course structure
The Specialist Certificate in Tax requires the successful completion of 25 credit points from a list of electives.
Students must complete 25 credit points from the following lists of electives.
6.25 credit point subjects
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS90231 | Chinese Tax Law and Policy | June (Online) |
6.25 |
LAWS90232 | Global Digital Tax | October (Online) |
6.25 |
LAWS90234 | International Tax in the United States | July (Online) |
6.25 |
LAWS90233 | Tax in Practice | May (Online) |
6.25 |
LAWS90236 | Tax of Innovation | September (Online) |
6.25 |
LAWS90235 | Tax of Superannuation A | March (Online) |
6.25 |
12.5 credit point subjects
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70081 | Capital Gains Tax: Problems in Practice |
March (Online)
August (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS70009 | Comparative Corporate Tax | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70323 | Foundations of Tax Law | March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS70031 | Goods and Services Tax | May (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS70006 | International Tax: Principles, Structure | April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS70130 | State Taxes and Duties | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS90239 | Superannuation Law and Regulation | August (Online) |
12.5 |
LAWS70319 | Tax Policy | May (Online) |
12.5 |
LAWS70162 | Tax Reform and Development | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70146 | Tax Treaties | November (Online) |
12.5 |
LAWS70002 | Tax of Business and Investment Income |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
October (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS70049 | Taxation of Small and Medium Enterprises | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70267 | Taxation of Superannuation | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
Further study
On successful completion of the Specialist Certificate in Tax students may consider further study in any of the following courses:
Master of Tax
Master of International Tax
Master of Laws
Graduate Diploma in Tax
Graduate Diploma in International Tax
Graduate Diploma in Laws
Notes
Additional entry requirements may apply.
Please enquire about advanced standing on application.
Last updated: 12 November 2022