FAQs - Academic Evidence

1. In what fields of study should evidence be supplied? Answer
2. I am a member of a non-Australian professional accounting body. Does that help my chances of a successful assessment? Answer
3. Can the IPA provide a list of recognised universities and qualifications? Answer
4. Who can certify my documents? Answer
5. What is an Academic Transcript? Answer
6. Do I have to include syllabus details (subject outlines / unit descriptions)? Answer
7. I do not have a copy of my syllabus, what can I do? Answer
8. I have contacted my education institution, however they cannot provide me any syllabus detail for my studies - what can I do? Answer
9. I graduated many years ago and cannot recall what I studied - what can I do? Answer
10. How much information should the syllabus contain? Answer
11. I have completed a qualification that is comparable to an Australian university degree and I have received credit (advanced standing or exemptions) into the course, can this affect my assessment? Answer
12. If I am still completing my Bachelor degree from an Australian university, can I submit my application now? Answer
13. Is a qualification from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) UK suitable for migration purposes? Answer
14. How many PC (Pass Conceded) grades are acceptable for assessment? Answer
15. If my overseas qualification is not comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree, or I do not have a bachelor degree at all, will I still be eligible to apply? Answer
16. I have a bachelor degree from China. Do I need to have my qualification(s) verified by Vetassess? Answer
17. I have completed additional studies such as non-award units from an Australian university. Can I have these studies assessed? Answer

1. In what fields of study should evidence be supplied?

To receive a successful assessment of your qualification, you must have:

1. A qualification (with a sequence in accounting or relevant field) from an accredited educational institution which is assessed by the AEI-NOOSR as comparable to an Australian Bachelors degree; and
2. The curriculum of your qualification/s must be comparable to the curriculum of an Australian Bachelors degree in 9 of the following 12 areas:

• Basic Accounting
• Cost and Management Accounting
• Financial and Corporate Accounting
• Auditing and Assurance
• Contemporary Accounting Issues (standards and theory)
• Business Finance
• Introductory/Commercial Law (including contract law)
• Economics
• Statistics
• Computer Information Systems
• Taxation Law
• Company Law

2. I am a member of a non-Australian professional accounting body. Does that help my chances of a successful assessment?

If you have a qualification (with a sequence in accounting or relevant field) that is comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree and you have successfully completed any of the following professional qualifications by examinations:

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK (ACCA)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK (CIMA)
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, UK (CIPFA)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) Only Associate membership obtained through a program of study and examinations and practical training will be considered.
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants*
• Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants*
• Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants*
• Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP) Only Associate membership obtained through a program of study and examinations and practical training will be considered.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland*
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka Only Associate membership obtained through a program of study and examinations and practical training will be considered.
• Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland*
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants*
• Le Conseil Superieur de l'Ordre des Experts-Comptables, France*

If you are a member (by examination) of a professional body without an asterisk, it is likely that your professional qualification is comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree.

3. Can the IPA provide me with a list of recognised universities and degree qualifications?

No. There are large numbers of institutions worldwide, and many qualifications are limited by the Division, Class or Aggregate Grade awarded. In determining the status of your educational institution and qualification, the Institute of Public Accountants uses the guidelines published in the relevant AEI-NOOSR Country Educational Profiles.

4. Who can certify my documents?

Certified true copies of original academic awards and academic transcripts are required. Please note that documents submitted for assessment will not be returned. You should only submit certified true copies of original documents. You may also like to make extra copies for your own record.

We will accept documents endorsed by any of the following in Australia:

• Commissioner for Oaths
• Justice of the Peace
• Notary Public
• Lawyer
• Medical Practitioner
• Member of the Police Force
• Registered Migration Agents

For countries other than Australia, the following parties are acceptable as endorsees of documents and legal declarations, or as witnesses to sworn affidavits:

• A Notary Public
• Commissioner for Oaths
• An Australian Consulate/High Commission/Embassy official. The endorsement must clearly state the officer's name, signature, title or role of capacity, registration number and date, and state that the copies are true and unaltered reproductions of the original documents.

The documents you submit for assessment must have the original endorsement.

5. What is an Academic Transcript?

An academic transcript is the official record of your results produced by your education institution. Nothing apart from the official transcript of the education institution(s) will be accepted. If the official transcript is not in English, a certified English translation is also to be provided. Academic transcripts often contain information of the grading system or subject legend. This must be included.

If your academic transcript indicates that you were given credit (exemption) towards your qualification from previous studies, you must also include documents relevant and in support of this study.

6. Do I have to include syllabus details (subject outlines)?

Yes. You must provide adequate syllabus details which demonstrate that your studies fully cover the core curriculum areas. Failure to provide these details may adversely affect your assessment or delay its completion.

7. I do not have a copy of my syllabus, what can I do?

Most institutions retain historic course information. You should contact the institution first to determine whether they have archived the information. If the institution cannot provide the information, you should attempt to obtain information that is as close as possible to the course studied and indicate the differences between this information and the course studied.

If providing the course handbook, please mark the relevant pages.

8. I have contacted my education institution, however they cannot provide me any syllabus detail for my study - what can I do?

You must prepare your own summary of the topics covered in each subject and submit this with a Statutory Declaration that the information given is true and correct. The Statutory Declaration must include the reason for providing your own summary, and that all attempts have been made by you to obtain relevant syllabus details. 

Please note that a Statutory Declaration is a legal document and must be witnessed and signed by an authorised attester such as Justice of Peace or Notary Public.

9. I graduated many years ago and cannot recall what I studied - what can I do?

If your institution cannot provide syllabus details, you should prepare your own summary of topics and submit this with a Statutory Declaration stating that the summary information is true and correct. The Statutory Declaration must include the reasons for providing your own summary, and that you have made all attempts to obtain relevant syllabus details. 

Please note that a Statutory Declaration is a legal document and must be witnessed and signed by an authorised attester such as a Justice of Peace or Notary Public.

10. How much information should the syllabus contain?

Each subject outline should contain enough detail to demonstrate that your studies adequately cover each of the core knowledge areas. The greater the detail, the easier the assessment will be.

11. I have completed a qualification that is comparable to an Australian university degree and I have received credit (advanced standing or exemptions) into the course, can this affect my assessment?

Yes. You must provide full curriculum detail of all studies relevant to your assessment including studies for which you have received credit. The award (if any), transcripts and relevant subject outlines are required to support the exemptions.

12. If I am still completing my Bachelor degree from an Australian university can I submit my application now?

No. You must wait until you have finished your studies. You will need to provide the letter of completion and full official academic transcript with your application as evidence of completion.

13. Is a qualification from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) UK suitable for migration purposes?

No. An AAT qualification is assessed as comparable to an Australian Diploma only.

14. How many PC (Pass Conceded) grades are acceptable for assessment?

A maximum of two PCs will be considered for assessment against core requirements.

15. If my overseas qualification is not comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree, or I do not have a bachelor degree at all, will I still be eligible to apply?

No. Please note that only a full 12 and 16 unit Masters of Professional Accounting program without exemptions from an accredited Australian University is acceptable as equivalent to a relevant first degree.

16. I have a bachelor degree from China. Do I need to have my qualification(s) verified by Vetassess?

With effect from 1 January 2007, all Chinese qualifications must be verified by Vetassess in Melbourne, Australia. You must firstly submit an application to the Institute of Public Accountants and receive a reference number to be quoted when you seek verification from Vetassess.

Your Bachelor Degree Certificate and Academic Transcript in both Chinese and English translation must be submitted for verification. Vetassess must send the verification report directly to the Institute of Public Accountants quoting your reference number. We will complete the assessment upon receipt of the verification report.

Please note that this verification report will also be required by DIAC as part of the skilled migration application process.

For details of cost etc, please refer to Vetassess.

17. I have completed additional studies such as non-award units from an Australian university. Can I have these studies assessed?

Yes. You can request that these additional studies be taken into consideration. To do so you will need to complete a reassessment application form and forward it, together with a certified true copy of the official academic transcript/results and a completion letter from the university (if applicable). The fee for this reassessment is AUD160.