Master Of Professional Accounting

Looking for a way to fast track a career change into accounting? This advanced programme enables you to put your undergraduate degree (or equivalent work experience) towards a career in professional accounting – and provides a pathway to membership with professional accounting bodies.

A change in career is a common reality for many – you might be interested in forging a path in a new line of work or be ready to gain expertise in a new area of interest. Changing careers is a great way to open a range of new job opportunities and show employers that you’re adaptable and unafraid of change.

This Master’s degree has been designed for those who would like to pursue a new career in professional accounting. It’s a conversion programme, meaning you have the advantage of covering core knowledge and competencies - and developing higher level capabilities - quickly so you can start working as soon as possible.

You’ll need an undergraduate degree to apply (or equivalent professional experience) – but it doesn’t matter what discipline you’ve previously studied as the programme builds on the diverse skill set you already have.  

This includes analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, technical accounting skills, and research capabilities to operate in a variety of small to medium enterprises, as well as some larger organisations.

Professional Accounting Bodies:

To work as a registered chartered accountant or certified practicing accountant in New Zealand, you need to gain membership to the following professional accounting bodies:

• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
• Certified Practising Accountants Australia (CPA Australia)

There are so many benefits to being professionally certified and registered – global networking opportunities, discounted professional development – so when you successfully graduate this programme, you’ll have the academic requirements you need to apply for provisional membership.

What You’ll Learn:

The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) is an 18-month, 180-credit programme studied over three semesters. It’s made up of 10 compulsory courses – nine 15-credit courses at Level 8 (including an internship), and a 45-credit research project at Level 9.

Here’s a snippet of the technical and people skills you’ll gain and develop over the duration of the programme:

• Accounting theory and practical experience. Apply advanced knowledge of accounting and practice in financial accounting management accounting, taxation, audit and assurance.
• Research skills. Ability to undertake applied research.
• Collaboration. Work collaboratively with diverse teams and cultures and build positive working relationships in Aotearoa and global contexts
• Communication skills. Effectively and professionally communicate with a range of stakeholders.
• Business ethics. Critically engage with ethically and socially responsible accounting practices.

Highlights:

• Facilitates a career change. No prior experience in accounting or commerce is required.
• Applied learning. Utilise case studies and scenario-based learning to apply theory and skills to real-world situations.
• Blended course delivery. Learn in a variety of different ways from facilitated workshops and interactive lectures to online learning, presentations and discussions, and self-directed learning.
• Complete a research project. Undertake a research project in an area of accounting you’re interested in exploring.  
• Do an internship. Apply advanced accounting skills in an organisation to gain valuable work experience.
• Post-study work visa. International students can apply for a post-study work visa to gain work experience in New Zealand.
• Recognised by professional accounting bodies. This programme provides you with the academic requirements for membership with CA ANZ and CPA Australia.
• Small classes. Facilitated by expert lecturers with the right experience to support your learning.
• Strong, 35-year teaching history. Unitec has been providing accounting graduates who meet the expectations of the market for 35 years. This is evident from the successful career paths of alumni - both in New Zealand and abroad.

Entry Requirements:

• Academic requirements
• You must have completed at least one of the following:
• A recognised bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a relevant discipline with merit achievement deemed to be a grade average of B- or higher; Or
• A professional qualification in a relevant discipline, recognised as being equivalent to merit achievement in a bachelor’s degree or equivalent; Or
• Provide sufficient evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other life experience that would indicate a successful outcome in the qualification (only if you are 20 years or older)
• And meet one of the English entry requirements;
• University Entrance Literacy: 8 credits at Level 2 or above in English or M?ori (4 in Reading, 4 in Writing); or
• Evidence of English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA Rules on the Unitec English Language Requirements for International Students Web-page.
• Don’t meet these Academic requirements?
• If you don’t meet the academic criteria, our Bridging Education Programmes can help you qualify. Simply apply online, and we’ll discuss your next steps.
• If you don’t meet the above criteria, special or discretionary admission may apply; your eligibility will be determined at the interview.