Program Overview

Master of Professional Accounting

The Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcct) is an internationally recognised master's accounting degree that prepares students to launch a career as a professional accountant with just 12 months of full-time study.

Program Details

• The 240-point MPAcct (CA Program) will no longer be offered at the University of Waikato after the January 2026 intake.
• The 180-point MPAcct qualification will continue to be offered at Waikato.
• Graduates of the 180-point MPAcct (or equivalent); or Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting); who wish to complete the CA Program at Waikato may enrol in either the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (60 points part-time) or Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (120 points full-time), starting in either January 2026 or January 2027.

Points and Duration

• 240 points, MPAcct (21 months study); OR 180 points MPAcct (12 months study)

Locations

• Hamilton

Area of Study

• Waikato Management School

Start Dates

• January (H Semester) or November (G Semester)

Why Study the Master of Professional Accounting?

Waikato's Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcct) is tailor-made for university graduates who already have a bachelor's degree in another area. This internationally recognised qualification provides the ideal springboard to launch your career as a professional accountant. You don't need to have studied accounting before at school or university.

Career Opportunities

• Auditor
• Business analyst / consultant
• Chartered accountant
• Chief financial officer
• Financial manager
• Management accountant
• Tax accountant

Degree Information

Plan Your Study

The 180-point Master of Professional Accounting requires full-time study for 12 months, from Nov 2025 to Oct 2026. Take all 12 papers (green boxes), worth 15 points each. Students who are enrolled in the 240-point Master of Professional Accounting - CA Program will then study part-time for a further nine months from Jan-Sept 2027. Take all eight of the CA Professional Modules (blue boxes), worth 7.5 points each.

Papers

• November to February (C Trimester)
  • ECONS506 Economics for Business
  • ECONS507 Quantitative Methods for Business Analysis
  • ACCTP569 Management Accounting for Organisational Value
  • ACCTP570 Accounting Systems and Processes
• March to October (A & B Trimesters)
  • ACCTP571 Financial Accounting and Reporting
  • ACCTP576 Business Law
  • ACCTP578 Accounting Information Systems
  • ACCTP573 Management Accounting and Strategic Decision Making
  • ACCTP577 Performance Reporting
  • ACCTP572 Advanced Auditing
  • ACCTP574 Advanced Financial Accounting
  • ACCTP575 Advanced Taxation
• CA Program (January to September)
  • ACCTP512 Risk and Technology
  • ACCTP513 Financial Accounting and Reporting
  • ACCTP517 Audit and Risk
  • ACCTP516 Tax
  • ACCTP514 Business Performance
  • ACCTP519 Data Analytics and Insights
  • ACCTP515 Accounting for Mātauranga Māori and Sustainability
  • ACCTP518 Integrated Chartered Accounting Practice

Entry Requirements

• Have a bachelor's degree in any subject area
• Have achieved at least a B-minus grade average in your final year of study

Fees and Scholarships

• Estimated fees: $17,669 per programme
• Domestic tuition fees: Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
• Scholarships: Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.

Graduate Outcomes

Students graduating with a Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcct) will:

1. Develop the accounting and business skills and competencies expected of professionals in their field.
2. Be able to use advanced professional and research-led knowledge in accounting to understand and critically analyse information; and apply this knowledge in theoretical and practical situations.
3. Be able to apply their knowledge in real-world situations; and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to practical accounting situations to develop competence and confidence in a professional business environment.
4. Develop effective communication skills and competencies, both orally and in written form, for a wide range of audiences.

Why Study at Waikato?

• Internationally recognised: Waikato's Master of Professional Accounting (180 points) is endorsed by four of the world's largest industry accounting bodies - CAANZ, CPA Australia, CIMA, and ACCA, making it your passport to work overseas and access a huge range of benefits.
• QS World University Rankings: QS has ranked Waikato in the world's top 201-250 universities for the subjects of Accounting & Finance.
• Top 1% globally: Waikato Management School sits in the top 1% of business schools globally thanks to our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB), which we've held since 2005.