Master of Professional Accounting
This internationally recognised master's degree prepares you to launch a career as a professional accountant with just 12 months of full-time study. Option to take the CA Program (CAANZ) at the end with 9 months of further part-time study.
240 points, MPAcct (CA Program), 21-23 months study; or 180 points MPAcct, 12 months study
Hamilton
January (21 months to complete) or November (23 months to complete)
Why study the Master of Professional Accounting?
Waikato's Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcct) is tailor-made for university graduates who have never studied accounting before, but already have a bachelor's degree in another area.
This internationally recognised qualification will set you up for a professional career in accounting and as a future business leader. It is globally accredited by professional bodies and respected by top employers.
Depending on your career goals, choose either the 180-point Master of Professional Accounting programme (12 months) or the 240-point programme (CA Program) with a Chartered Accountancy endorsement (21-23 months).
The course has two intakes each year, so you can start in either January or November. If you start in January, the course will take 21 months to complete with a short break over Christmas. If you start in November, it will take 23 months to complete with a 2-month break over summer.
During your studies, you will develop advanced knowledge and skills in all the core areas of accounting, business, law, economics and finance, and be able to apply them to practical accounting situations.
Please note this is an accelerated course with an intensive workload.
Career Opportunities
- Auditor
- Business analyst / consultant
- Chartered accountant
- Chief financial officer
- Financial manager
- Management accountant
- Tax accountant
240 points, MPAcct (CA Program), 21-23 months study; or 180 points MPAcct, 12 months study
Hamilton
January (21 months to complete) or November (23 months to complete)
Degree information
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Plan your study -
Entry Requirements You can apply for the Master of Professional Accounting if you:
- Have a bachelor's degree in any subject area
- Have achieved at least a B-minus grade average in your final year of study
You can apply for the Master of Professional Accounting if you:
- Have a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in any subject area
- Have achieved at least a B-minus grade average in your final year of study
International students must have an equivalent degree qualification from a recognised university, and meet the University of Waikato's English language requirements.
If you do not meet these requirements, you can enrol in an English language programme with our University of Waikato College.
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Fees and scholarships -
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
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International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
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You can apply for the Master of Professional Accounting if you:
- Have a bachelor's degree in any subject area
- Have achieved at least a B-minus grade average in your final year of study
You can apply for the Master of Professional Accounting if you:
- Have a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in any subject area
- Have achieved at least a B-minus grade average in your final year of study
International students must have an equivalent degree qualification from a recognised university, and meet the University of Waikato's English language requirements.
If you do not meet these requirements, you can enrol in an English language programme with our University of Waikato College.
-
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
Why study at Waikato?
Internationally recognised
Waikato's Master of Professional Accounting (180 points) is endorsed by four of the world's largest industry accounting bodies - CAANZ, CPA Australia, CIMA, and ACCA, making it your passport to work overseas and access a huge range of benefits.
Pass the CA Program (CAANZ)
Option to do 9 months' extra part-time study to complete the CA Program (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand) as a student at the University of Waikato, making you highly sought after by top employers in New Zealand and overseas.
Top 1% globally
Waikato Management School sits in the top 1% of business schools globally thanks to our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB), which we've held since 2005.
Which course should I choose?
Master of Professional Accounting - 180 points
Waikato's 12-month Master of Professional Accounting provides the ideal academic springboard to become an accountant. You don't need to have studied accounting before.
This qualification is endorsed by four of the world's largest industry accounting bodies - CAANZ, CPA Australia, CIMA, and ACCA, (see below). This means our graduates can join any one of these four organisations as a provisional member, opening the door to a huge range of benefits and job opportunities.
This degree is also respected by top employers, including the 'Big Four' professional services firms: Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG.
During the one-year accelerated course, you will gain applied knowledge in management and financial accounting, accounting information systems and processes, performance reporting, auditing, taxation, business law, strategic decision-making, quantitative skills for economics and finance, and economics for business.
Once you graduate, you will be ready to start work as a junior accountant in either a public practice, commercial firm or organisation.
Please note: You will still need to gain three years' work experience and pass your Professional Exams with one of the four organisations below before you can become a fully qualified chartered accountant.
Master of Professional Accounting (CA Program) - 240 points
Waikato University's new 240-point Master of Professional Accounting (CA Program) will get you even further ahead in your future career.
This programme is endorsed and run in partnership with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
Over 21-23 months of accelerated study (depends on whether you start in January or November), students will complete both the academic and professional requirements set out by CAANZ.
You will gain all the accounting and business knowledge you need in the first year of study, as described in the 180-point Master of Professional Accounting above.
But this is where things get interesting! The extra 9 months of part-time study after that will allow you to finish your CA Professional Modules while you are still at university, before entering the workforce.
This will make you highly attractive to top employers, both in New Zealand and overseas.
Each of the eight modules is taught by our lecturers face-to-face in Hamilton, over 8 weeks part-time, through a mix of lectures and tutorials. Exams will be held at the end of each module and assessed by CAANZ for quality assurance purposes.
Graduates of this qualification will be eligible to join CAANZ with provisional membership status. The third and final step in becoming a fully qualified Chartered Accountant is to achieve three years' work experience in an accounting role.
Complete the CA Program in only 9 months
Do you already have a Master of Professional Accounting and now want to finish your CA Professional Exams while still at university? Our new PGCert and PGDip in Professional Accounting (CA Program) are the perfect courses for you!