Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) - School of Accounting and Commercial Law

Master of Professional Accounting

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Victoria University has developed a new programme providing a Master’s degree in Professional Accounting (MPA) – the first such degree to be offered in New Zealand. This programme may be completed in 16-17 months.

The MPA has been developed in response to a shortage of accounting graduates, both in New Zealand and internationally. It is open to graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. The MPA will provide the opportunity to pursue membership of New Zealand and international accounting bodies.

About the Programme

The MPA is designed to provide students with the skills and understanding required as accounting professionals. The programme meets the academic requirements of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA), CPA Australia and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

The programme will equip graduates for leadership in the profession through their knowledge of accounting issues and understanding of professional practice, ethics and procedures.

Graduates will have been instructed by academic staff who are leaders in public and private sector accounting. They will have been encouraged to aim for high-level roles in the profession and in organisations.

Students completing MPA will know and understand the main elements of the accounting discipline; the financial context in which business operates as well as the financial implications of business decisions; professional practice, ethics and procedures; the legal, economic and social environment in which business and accounting decisions are made in New Zealand and internationally.

Amongst the World's Best Accounting Schools

Victoria University’s School of Accounting and Commercial Law (SACL) has been ranked among the best in the world for research quality in an international ranking.

Each year, Brigham Young University in the United States ranks universities throughout the world based upon the research output of accounting staff.

For more information, please see the Victoria News article 'Victoria’s accounting research among best in the world'.

Programme Structure

Students enrol in 16 courses for at least four trimesters of study, comprising 14 core courses and either two elective courses/special topics (the content of which will change from time to time) or a research paper. All courses must be completed within four years of first enrolling in the programme.

Part time study options are available to domestic students, who can study between one and four courses per trimester. See Courses for more information.

Courses

Courses will be taught during all three teaching periods: Trimester 1 (February/March to June), Trimester 2 (July to October) and Trimester 3 (November to February/March). Each of the 16 courses will be offered twice a year, with one of the two offerings taking place in the evening (to accommodate students in full-time employment).

Core Courses	Course Code
Financial Accounting	MMPA 501
Management Accounting	MMPA 502
Business Law	MMPA 503
Finance	MMPA 504
Corporations and Business Associations Law	MMPA 505
Advanced Financial Accounting	MMPA 506
Statistics	MMPA 507
Economics	MMPA 508
Taxation	MMPA 509
Auditing	MMPA 510
Management	MMPA 511
Advanced Management Accounting	MMPA 512
Accounting Systems	MMPA 513
Advanced Financial Management	MMPA 514

Each course will be offered over 12 weeks. Assessment includes projects, tests and examinations.

Please note that the content of courses can vary in each offering.

Location

All courses are taught at Pipitea Campus, which is located in the heart of Wellington's legal, government and business district. The campus includes the Old Government Buildings, Rutherford House, and the Railway West Wing. As the campus is next to Wellington's railway station and the bus terminus, there is easy access for train and bus users.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants for the MPA degree will have:

completed a Bachelor’s degree with good grades; and
been accepted by the MPA Director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

International applicants whose first language is not English must also meet the postgraduate English language requirements of the University:

IELTS overall band of 6.5, with no sub-score below 6; or
TOEFL 575, or 237 in the computer-based test, or 90 in the internet-based test with a minimum of 20 in writing; or
two ratings of 5 and two ratings of 4 in Victoria University’s English Proficiency Programme

Start Dates

The MPA will begin in February/March (Trimester 1) and November (Trimester 3) each year.

Duration

It may be possible to complete the full MPA degree within 16-17 months (full time).

Accreditations

In addition to being accredited by NZICA, CPA (Australia) and ACCA, Victoria Business School is the first in New Zealand to have obtained accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in both Business and Accounting. Less than 1% of business schools worldwide hold this distinguished hallmark of excellence.

Prior to gaining AACSB accreditation the Faculty already held AMBA accreditation for the MBA programme. Since gaining AACSB accreditation, the Faculty has also been awarded EQUIS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development. We are, therefore, now one of 58 business schools (from around 13,000 worldwide) to hold AMBA, AACSB (Business) and EQUIS accreditations, (the ‘Triple Crown’) and among the Triple Crown holders we are the only school to also hold AACSB (Accounting) accreditation.

View Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean Professor Bob Buckle's National Business Review article, Business schools measure up to international standards, National Business Review, 9 March 2012.

Potential Careers and Employment Opportunities

Many accounting graduates choose to work in accounting firms but there are a number of other opportunities. Wellington, being the centre of Government, offers career openings in Government Departments, for example, The Inland Revenue Department and Audit New Zealand. There are also opportunities in both large and small companies, financial institutions such as banks, charitable organisations, as well as law firms and share brokers to name but a few.

Careers New Zealand – a New Zealand Government entity – maintains a website which lists career opportunities in various occupations including Accounting. It currently rates the chances of obtaining a job in accounting as being “good”. For more information see Careers New Zealand.

More Information

Document	File size	File type
Master of Professional Accounting Brochure	227 KB	PDF

For more information, including how to apply, domestic applicants should contact Christopher Cripps (MPA Programme Director). International applicants should contact Victoria International.

Contact Us

Programme Director: Christopher Cripps
Office: RH 705
Phone: +64 4 463 5757
Email: address

School of Accounting and Commercial Law

Master of Professional Accounting