AUT - Master of Professional Accounting: Auckland's only 2-year conversion Masters
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Master of Professional Accounting: Auckland's only 2-year conversion Masters
The AUT Business School offers Auckland's only course-work masters for those who wish to pursue or advance an accounting career but may have a degree in different subject area.
The qualification paves the way to registration with the leading professional accounting bodies: CPA (Australia), NZICA (New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants) and CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants). This is the only degree of its type in Auckland.
What you need to know:
- AUT's Master of Professional Accounting meets the academic requirements for membership with:
- CPA (Australia)
- NZICA (New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants)
- CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
- Provides the opportunity to change careers to become an accountant
- Is available to graduates with an undergraduate degree in any subject area - including non-business degrees
- Is taught by leading academics in an interactive environment to maximise your learning
- 2-years full time, part time available
- You must complete all papers. Cross credits are not available for this qualification
AUT is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world for Accounting and Finance in the 2011 QS World University Rankings® by subject, and is ranked first in Auckland and second in New Zealand for accounting research in the government initiated PBRF audit (Performance-Based Research Fund 2006).
Career Opportunities
Accounting offers fantastic job opportunities both in New Zealand and internationally. There is strong demand for highly skilled accountants and senior managers with a strategic understanding of accounting and finance. Successful graduates of the Master of Professional Accounting can apply for registration with CPA Australia, NZICA or CIMA. Careers include:
- Chartered accountant
- International accounting firms
- Management accountant
- Chief financial officer
- Finance manager
- Forensic accountant
- Senior management
- Business consultant
- Tax specialist
Quicklinks to programme details and further information:
- MPA programme overview
- Is this the right qualification for me?
- Entry requirements
- Structure
- Papers
- Fees
- Meet the accounting team
- Contact info
- Domestic student info flyer (view pdf online)
Programme overview
Start Date: 27 Feb 2012 / 16 July 2012
Duration: 2 years full time / part time available
Programme Code: AK3611 Level: 9 Points: 240
AUT University encourages early application. This programme will remain open until all places have been filled.
The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) is designed for those who have completed a bachelor's degree in any field of study and wish to obtain a postgraduate qualification in accounting.
The programme provides an advanced understanding of accounting principles and practice within business and the wider economic environment and gives you the opportunity to change career path if you do not have a background in accounting.
The MPA provides you with the academic requirements for membership with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) or CPA Australia - the pathway for those wanting to become registered chartered accountants.
The MPA is a good choice if you:
- Wish to gain membership with the professional accounting bodies NZICA or CPA Australia to become a registered chartered accountant
- Want to change career to become an accountant
- Require the practical knowledge and skills to become a literate and analytical accounting professional
- Need to advance your understanding of accounting from a strategic business perspective
- Need accounting and financial expertise for senior management or leadership roles
Entry requirements
- Applicants must have completed a bachelors degree*
- Applicants for whom English is a second or additional language must have an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 overall and a minimum of 6.0 in each band. For more details, please refer to English Language Requirements in AUT’s Academic Calendar
- Admission to the Master of Professional Accounting is subject to the approval of the Dean (or representative)
Structure
To graduate with a Master of Professional Accounting, you must successfully complete the requirements (240 points) below.
Note: You must complete all papers. Cross credits are not available for this qualification
1. Compulsory Papers: You must complete the 14 core papers (210 points) listed below.
2. Additional Paper: You must select one further paper (30 points) from the elective papers provided.
3. Sequence of Learning: A full-time student wishing to complete the programme in four semesters while maintaining maximum flexibility regarding their choice of elective will complete the programme in the sequence outlined below to satisfy all pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements.
| First semester |
Second semester |
| Financial Accounting | Taxation in New Zealand |
| Management Accounting for Business | Accounting Information Systems |
| Business Law | Managing Organisations and People |
| Law of Business Organisations | Economics for Business |
| Third semester |
Fourth semester |
| Auditing | Finance for Accountants |
| Advanced Financial Accounting | Research Methodology |
| Strategic Management Accounting | Electives (30 credits) |
| Statistics for Business |
Papers
Core Papers
Students must complete the following core papers (210 points) below:
368903 Financial Accounting
368904 Management Accounting for Business
368905 Taxation in New Zealand
368906 Accounting Information Systems
368907 Auditing
368908 Advanced Financial Accounting
368909 Strategic Management Accounting
368910 Finance for Accountants
378901 Economics for Business
378902 Statistics for Business
418901 Business Law
418902 Law of Business Organisations
468901 Managing Organisations and People
479005 Research Methodology (not offered from 2012)
369024 Issues in Professional Accounting Practice (new from 2012)
Elective Paper
Then a further 30 points from an elective paper which can be chosen from:
369007 Contemporary Issues in International Accounting
369017 Advanced Topics in Accounting Information Systems
369018 Current Issues in Management Accounting
369019 International Financial Statement Analysis
369020 Accounting Codes of Practice (not offered from 2012)
369021 Accounting Issues in Emerging Markets
Please note that cross credits are not available for this qualification.
Meet the Accounting team. Our leading research staff and their areas of interest can be found here.
Contact us. For further information please contact the Postgraduate office: business.postgraduate@aut.ac.nz or ph: (09) 921 9999 ext 5611
Announcements and details for AUT postgraduate students are available on AUTonline
Links to professional accounting bodies
The MPA meets the academic requirements for those seeking registration with the following professional bodies. We advise you check their websites below for information about the benefits of professional membership and the opportunities for certified and registered chartered accountants.
NZICA (New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants)
CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
