Master of Taxation Law

Master degrees like those from the University of Melbourne are and excellent way to gain extensive insight into the field. They take two years of full time study or eight years part time to complete. Students can expect to take on many useful units of coursework. Exactly what students take is up to them, but there’s usually a great deal of choice. Topics can include:

• Tax administration
• Corporate tax
• Capital gains tax
• Tax litigation

Employment options

The employment options specified here can be both be great options, provided some conditions are met. Those who’ve also completed an LLB or JD alongside this qualification can find themselves well-suited to becoming tax lawyers, working for the likes of Baker McKenzie or MMLC Group. Those who haven’t needn’t fear, as there are plenty of others employment opportunities available, such as a career in financial advice. Companies like KPMG or PwC or Deloitte make for excellent graduate employers.

Scholarships and funding

There are a number of excellent scholarships available to students in master level taxation law. If you find any of these to be closed, check back on them later; they tend to reopen annually. The following are just a few examples:

• The Ross Waite Parsons Postgraduate Coursework Law Scholarship is valued at $10,000. It’s open to law students in their first year of postgraduate study in which they undergo a master’s degree.
• The Faculty of Law Postgraduate Coursework Academic Excellence Scholarships offered by UNSWare valued at $10,000. The selection committee takes into account professional experience, academic achievement and cover letter.
• The Sydney Law School Exchange Scholarship provides law students going on exchange with $2,000 to help cover costs. Exchange programs are great opportunities, but normally require students to take out a HELP loan, so this is certainly worth applying for if you’re currently attending or planning to attend the University of Sydney.

Scholarships not specific to any particular discipline are also available. Although highly competitive, they can prove lucrative. The following are some great examples:

• Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships are worth $69,500 pa, with no subject discipline requirements. This makes them exceptionally competitive.

• General Sir John Monash Scholarships offer $65,000 pa to students planning to commence postgraduate study overseas. Students must make their case for why their chosen host institution and course is worthy of their time, which master level taxation law students shouldn’t have any trouble arguing.

• The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship provides $120,000 to students directing their studies toward one of three areas:

  • Technology and innovation
  • Strengthening Australia-Asia ties
  • Enabling positive social change

Master level taxation law students can definitely make a case for benefitting the third area, as a sound use of tax and the taxation system can make for a more peaceful society. If the populace is taxed fairly and while simultaneously meeting the financial needs of the government, this is a wonderful facilitator of positive social change. Even if choosing to go into a different career entirely, knowledge of tax law can be invaluable for social good all over the world, however obscure this may seem from the onset.

Prerequisites and selection process

There are typically multiple methods of entry for these courses. Applicants ought to have one of the following:

• A Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor taken to honours level,
• A Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor, combined with two years of professional experience,
• A bachelor level degree in any discipline with two years of relevant experience, or

A bachelor level degree in any discipline combined with a postgraduate certificate or diploma in taxation law. You can learn about these here.