Master of Professional Accounting

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. 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: 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. 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: As part of your studies, you’ll complete a 50-hour work-based internship where you’ll develop a proposal in collaboration with an external organisation, agree on objectives and timelines, and then complete the mahi. Our experienced staff will help you prepare for and find placement at available internship opportunities in a range of New Zealand organisations. It’s a great opportunity to apply your learnings in a real business environment – and will help enhance your future employability. When you graduate, you’ll meet the academic requirements required to gain provisional membership with CA ANZ and CPA Australia. From there, you’ll be able to work towards full membership as a chartered accountant or certified practicing accountant. You’ll also be able to enter the workforce in a wide range of other roles in financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, taxation, banking and finance, and business consultancy across the private and public sector. Salary expectations will depend on your qualifications, experience, and the size, type, and location of the organisation you work for, but here’s an estimate of what you can expect: Our Career Development Team This student support service is available to all students while they study, when you graduate, and as you transition into employment. They can help you develop good employability skills, become job-ready, and develop the skills needed to effectively manage your career. They run workshops throughout the year on topics including CV development, interview preparation, and personal brand - and also provide one-to-one career guidance appointments.

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 Māori (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.