POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES IN INTERNATIONAL TAX

Start Date

October 2025

Apply By

10 October 2025

Duration

7–24 months, part-time:
Cert: 7 Months
Dip: 12 Months
MSc: 24 Months

Effort

6–10 hrs/week average*
*Student dependent

Format

Online – Recorded lectures, Prescribed Reading, Live Q&A Tutorials

Award

Programme Overview

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International tax is the study and practice that centres on the application of taxes and tax law in the international community as it relates to individuals, businesses and government agencies conducting cross-border commerce. The myriad of tax treaties, territorial tax laws and their effect on extraterritorial income requires the interpretive expertise of scholars and practitioners who specialise in International Taxation.

The complexities of International Taxation dominate the landscape for multinational organisations trying to conduct business in multiple jurisdictions. This often results in international tax playing a major role in the conducting of cross-border transactions.

This programme, developed by leading International Taxation specialists, at both advisory and in-house level, will provide a firm grounding on all the “must-know” areas of International Taxation.

Choose Your Award/ Exit Point

Stage 1: PG-Certificate

The Postgraduate Certificate in International Taxation is specifically designed for candidates who require an overview of International Taxation, all the while obtaining a postgraduate University qualification for their efforts.

The course is delivered over 23 weeks by a select faculty of international tax experts.

The PG-Certificate requires the completion of just stage 1 of this programme.

Credits: 60 credits (over 2 Modules)
Duration: 7 Months

The PG-Certificate flows seamlessly into the PG-Diploma.

Stage 1+2: PG-Diploma

The Postgraduate Diploma in International Taxation extends the knowledge gained through the PG-C.

It deals with all the major areas of international taxation in detail and is concluded over 48 weeks.

Upon completion, the candidate will be fully equipped to pursue a career in international taxation confidently.

The Postgraduate Diploma requires the completion of the first 2 stages of the programme.

Credits: 120 credits (over 4 Modules)
Duration: 11 months

Stage 1+2+3: MSc

The Masters (MSc) in International Taxation is designed to apply the candidate’s knowledge of International Taxation through research, to explore the unknown and unlock new possibilities within the practice area of International Taxation. It is supervised by Dr Daniel N Erasmus.

To enrol for the MSc, students must hold a PG-Diploma in Transfer Pricing (or an equivalent award).

Full Programme:
- Credits: 180 credits (Over 3 Stages)
- Duration: 24 months
PG-Diploma Holders:
- Credits: 60 credits
- Duration: 12 months

How You Will Learn

This is a distance learning course and all notes and lecture material will be made available via the internet through the Informa Connect virtual learning platform.

Pre-recorded lectures will be conducted on the internet via our online classroom every week, followed a week later by a live online tutorial in a fully interactive classroom to allow students to ask questions.

There are three books which you will need as part of the course, and electronic versions of these books will be available for you through the Informa Connect Virtual Learning Platform:

International Tax Primer (3rd Ed) – Brian Arnold
OECD Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital
UN Model Double Taxation Convention

You will also be given access to selected online resources and you will also have access to a database of tax research material.

The course has its own secure website where the content can be viewed entirely online. This site offers you the option of viewing and accessing your course online and downloading and printing the materials at any location that has internet access.

Students rate this programme 97.2%

“How do I rate if there are no improvements needed :)”

“This is an excellent course - I have learnt so much!”

“It’s a demanding course with a substantial workload, but it’s well structured and supported by excellent resources. An outstanding programme overall.”

Download the full Course Brochure

PG-Cert | PG-Dip | MSc

Course Brochure PG-InTax

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Compare Programmes

Choose the track that fits your practice focus. All programmes are practitioner-taught, cohort-based, and validated by Middlesex University.

Dimension	Transfer Pricing	International Taxation	South African Tax Law
Jurisdictional audience	Global audience, covers all jurisdictions	Global audience, covers all jurisdictions	South Africa specific, relevant to SADC region
Ideal for	TP managers, advisors, in-house tax teams, analysts moving into TP	Advisors and managers dealing with cross-border rules, treaties, planning	Practitioners working with the SA Income Tax Act, cases, compliance
Core focus	Methods, comparables, DEMPE, documentation, audits, dispute defence	Treaties, source vs residence, anti-avoidance, PE, relief from double tax	Statutory interpretation, case law, assessments, objections, local practice
Primary tools	OECD TP Guidelines, UN Manual, BEPS Actions 8–10, 13, case law	OECD and UN Models, MLI, BEPS 1.0 and 2.0, domestic rules, cases	Income Tax Act, SARS practice notes, Tax Administration Act, SA cases
Assessment style	Case-based assignments, file reviews, short written defences	Problem questions, treaty interpretation, position papers	Problem questions, statutory analysis, case commentary
Typical outcomes	Build defensible TP files and strategies, improve audit readiness	Design cross-border structures within rules, mitigate double tax	Apply SA tax law accurately, manage reviews and disputes
Entry point	Start with PG Certificate, progress to PG Diploma, then MSc, or enter later with suitable experience or credits.

Awards Ladder

Award	Best for	What you achieve	Assessment highlights
PG Certificate	Foundation to intermediate upskilling	Core concepts, frameworks, and applied techniques	Short case write ups, timed responses, applied tasks
PG Diploma	Expanding technical depth and application	Advanced analysis, risk management, documentation quality	Integrated case assignments, policy memos, oral defence
MSc	Leaders and specialists building authority	Capstone project and research backed practice outcomes	Research project, viva or presentation, publishable summary

IFF Certificate Courses

Practical, practitioner-led certificates designed for immediate on-the-job application. Each course can stand alone or act as a pathway into our postgraduate tracks.

Dimension	Conducting a Transfer Pricing Trial	Effectively Managing Tax Teams	Indirect Taxation	Tax Risk Management
Jurisdictional audience	Global audience	Global audience	Global audience, with local adaptation	Global audience
Ideal for	In-house tax, TP managers, litigators, advisors preparing for audits, ADR, trial	Heads of tax, managers, team leads, controllers, emerging leaders	VAT, GST, customs, finance managers, AP, AR, compliance specialists	Tax managers, risk officers, controllers, advisors building governance
Core focus	Case theory, evidence files, expert reports, witness prep, courtroom strategy	Operating models, KPIs, workflows, stakeholder management, coaching	VAT design, place of supply, input credits, exemptions, WHT interactions	Risk identification, controls, documentation, audit readiness, dispute playbooks
Delivery mode	Online, live sessions plus guided self-study	Online, live sessions plus guided self-study	Online, live sessions plus guided self-study	Online, live sessions plus guided self-study
Duration	16 weeks, part-time	16 weeks, part-time	16 weeks, part-time	16 weeks, part-time
Outcomes	Confident litigation preparation and defence for TP disputes	Stronger execution, clear roles, measurable team performance	Reduced VAT errors, better cash flow, fewer surprises at audit	Structured governance, fewer findings, faster dispute resolution
Prerequisites	TP fundamentals recommended	Supervisory experience helpful	Basic VAT knowledge helpful	General tax experience helpful
Pathway	Progress to PG Certificate in Transfer Pricing	Progress to Mechanics of Leading Tax Teams, PG Certificate (leadership)	Progress to PG programmes, International Tax or SA Tax Law	Progress to PG Certificate in International Taxation or Transfer Pricing
Assessment	End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected	End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected	End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected	End of module progress assessment 5000-word assignment if PG-Cert option elected

Transfer Pricing

International Tax

South African Tax Law

Mechanics of Conducting a TP Trial

Mechanics of Leading Tax Teams

Mechanics of Indirect Taxation

Mechanics of Tax Risk Management

Mastering Tax Dispute Resolution in South Africa