Master of Professional Accounting

The Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcct) is designed especially for students who have never studied accounting before at university-level, but already have a bachelor's degree in another subject area, such as arts, teaching, law or economics.

This internationally recognised qualification will prepare you to launch a career in accounting after just 14 months of study. It provides the ideal platform to start your journey towards becoming a professionally qualified accountant (CAANZ, CPA Australia, CIMA, or ACCA).

There are two intakes for the course each year, so you can start in either November or January. Please note it is a full-time, accelerated course with an intensive workload.

During the course, you will develop advanced skills and knowledge in all the core areas of accounting and business, and be able to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to practical accounting situations.

On completion, you'll be ready to start work in a public accounting practice, or a commercial firm or organisation.

All of the papers in this 220-point taught masters degree are compulsory. You will learn about financial and management accounting, accounting information systems, commercial and corporate law, auditing, taxation, finance, and economics for business.

Waikato's Master of Professional Accounting is approved by four of the world's largest professional accounting bodies - ACCA, CAANZ, CIMA and CPA Australia.

This means our graduates can apply to join any of these three respected organisations and gain provisional membership, making it your passport to work overseas and expand your networks.

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• Chartered Accountants Australia + New Zealand (CAANZ)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• CPA Australia

Once you're a member, you'll then need to gain three years' work experience in an accounting role, and pass the CA Professional Exams.

You'll be studying at Waikato Management School, which is New Zealand's #1 ranked business school in the Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings 2023.

We are also a Triple Crown international business school accredited by EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB since 2005. This is a global benchmark of excellence achieved by less than 1% of the world's business schools.

As part of this degree, you have the option to EITHER undertake a research project focused on a contemporary accounting issue and write a report of around 8,000 words (ACCTN582); OR complete an accounting internship in the workplace (ACCTN583).

Note: Students are expected to demonstrate self-initiative and find their own host organisation for the internship paper. This can be achieved by speaking to prospective employers at networking expos, and becoming actively involved with the Beta Alpha Psi student club.

For personalised career and study advice, talk to our friendly team of advisers in the Management Student Centre (MSC), phone +64 7 838 4303 or email