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Accounting (Master of)

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John Currie - Programme Director

 

Course Overview

The Master of Accounting programme’s aim is to further develop your conceptual base and knowledge and skills as an honours accounting graduate seeking a career in this area. The programme combines the advanced study of accounting as a basis for a professional career with the development of your academic and intellectual capabilities. It emphasises group work and oral and written communication skills, and has been developed with reference to the Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) syllabus. Therefore, significant exemptions from the CAI examinations are available.

 M.Acc. programme now includes a Summer School in  Analytics

NEW FOR 2017-2018! The M.Acc. program now includes summer school on “Audit and Accounting in the 21st Century: Data & Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Related Technological Tools”.

M.Acc. Group Walking Trip 2014/15

MAcc group walking trip 2014

                                                                     Non EU Students: 24 Month Stay Back Option

 

 

Applications and Selections

The programme starts in early September each year. Applications are made online to the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) (www.pac.ie). The PAC application code is GYC00.

 

Who Teaches this Course

The following staff from the Accountancy and Finance Discipline at NUI Galway are involved in teaching the MAcc program:

In addition, staff from the Discipline of Management and the Discipline of Business Information Systems each contribute a module to the program.

Visiting lecturers from the accounting profession, industry, and academia also contribute to the program. 

Requirements and Assessment

Semester One exams: December.
Semester Two exams: April/May.


A range of assessment methods are integrated and assessed throughout the programme. These include projects, reports, presentations, case studies and debates.

Summer schools: May and June.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is a 2.1 honours degree in Business or Commerce, with a significant specialisation in Accounting. Students are normally required to have full exemptions from the CAI’s CAP1 examinations before embarking on the MAcc programme.

Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2017

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

35

Closing Date

27th June 2017

Next start date

September 2017

NFQ level

Mode of study

Taught

ECTS weighting

90

Award

CAO

PAC code

GYC00

Course Outline

The programme includes modules in:
• Financial Reporting
• Management Accounting and Control
• Taxation
• Auditing
• Finance
• Skills for Accounting Research and Practice
• Management Information Systems
• Strategic Management

In addition students complete EITHER two summer schools OR a research dissertation. Recent and forthcoming summer schools include:
• Advanced Taxation.

• Management Control Systems and Innovation.
• Audit and Accounting in the 21st Century: Data & Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Related Technological Tools

Further Education

Exemptions:

Graduates of the MAcc are granted full exemption from CAI’s CAP2 examinations, provided they have full exemption from CAI’s CAP1 examination before taking the MAcc.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

A wide range of career choices are open to graduates, in particular in the accounting and tax consultancy professions. Most participants on the programme are sponsored (and subsequently employed) by major accounting firms, such as KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Ernst & Young 

MAcc. graduates’ success in recent professional examinations 

Our graduates consistently achieve very high places in the Final Admitting Examination of Chartered Accountants Ireland and in the final examination of the Irish Tax Institute (AITI). In the most recent (2012) professional exams, our graduates Aisling Curtin and Sarah Finnegan (both MAcc. 2010) obtained second and third place respectively in CAI’s Final Admitting Examination and Nora Cosgrove (MAcc 2008) was placed second in the final examinations of the Irish Taxation Institute.

What employers say about the programme

"Since its inception, KPMG has sponsored students on the Master of Accounting programme in NUI Galway. We are delighted with the results. In its graduates, KPMG looks for rounded individuals with well-developed thinking and interpersonal skills. We really notice these skills in those who have completed the Master of Accounting in NUI Galway. It is the combined focus on technical skills development and personal development that we believe prepares students well for a career in business".   - Colm Gorman, Head of HR, KPMG

"Analytics is the key skill that differentiates an accountant from a true business partner, and can ultimately define the career of an accountant as analytics brings more meaning, life and understanding into accounting information". - Conor Clifford, Director of Finance, Medtronic

 

 

Who’s Suited to This Course

The MAcc programme could be for you if you hold (or expect to graduate shortly with) at least a 2.1 honours primary degree with a significant specialisation in accounting and expect to have full (or nearly full exemptions) from the CAP1 examinations of CAI. The majority of students on the program are sponsored by accounting firms who intended to employ them to train as chartered accountants upon graduation from the M.Acc.

Learning Outcomes

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,095 p.a. 2016/17

Fees: Tuition

€6,871 p.a. 2016/17

Fees: Student levy

€224 p.a. 2016/17

Fees: Non EU

€13,250 p.a. 2016/17

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €2,000 towards your tuition.  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay TUITION up to a maximum of €6,270.  SUSI will not cover the student levy of €224.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = tuition (EU or NON EU) + student levy as outlined above.

Find out More

Programme director: Mr. John Currie 
T +353 91 493 884
E john.currie@nuigalway.ie

What our Students and Graduates Say

Zhang

Zhang Xiaolin |   CURRENT MASTER OF ACCOUNTING STUDENT

The subjects in this Master of Accounting programme are very appropriate for your future career. You get to develop and practice your presentation and research skills through various assignments. From the programme, you will not only acquire knowledge but you will also develop an ability to solve real world problems. There is a good mix of international and national students in the class. The group work on various courses allowed me to experience working on problems with students from different cultural backgrounds. Staff are all very professional and friendly. The staff know that as an international student you live far away from your family and friends and they try to help and encourage you.
Alphonsa

Alphonsa Cherukodath |   CURRENT MASTER OF ACCOUNTING STUDENT

This programme has helped me to gain practical knowledge through problem solving in the various accounting and finance modules. It has made me more professionally competent as a result of the presentations, case study analysis and debates that are all part of the programme. The teaching faculty of the programme are very professional and all have industry experience which helps me to understand the topics more easily. Galway is a diversified city with very good infrastructural facilities and people are very friendly. The weather in the city was a completely new experience, but I have adjusted!"
Hanhuz

Hanhuz Wang |   CURRENT MASTER OF ACCOUNTING STUDENT

Courses arranged in this programme are essential and helpful for my future career in accountancy. I like that this study year is a challenge for me. I believe the year will help me develop my professional knowledge and skills and will greatly improve my job prospects. All staff teaching on this programme have excellent professional knowledge and teaching skills. They are nice, enthusiastic and helpful to me. I enjoy being here and am having a really good time in Galway. I regard Galway as my second hometown.
Ciarán

Ciarán O’Donnell |   Associate, Ernst & Young

“I would certainly recommend studying the Master of Accounting degree at NUI Galway. My experience and time at Galway was without a doubt a positive and very enjoyable one. The facilities at the J.E Cairnes Business School are top class and are entirely conducive to an effective study environment. The programme lecturers are very much approachable, friendly, and hardworking. Furthermore the course offers a great platform for developing those skills necessary in progressing in the workplace and also with the professional exams. Lastly it needs to be mentioned that Galway City itself is a fantastic location to study in and the contacts you develop during the program are, in my opinion, invaluable.”

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Past students

Aisling Curtin, Sarah Finnegan

Aisling Curtin (L) and Sarah Finnegan (R), M.Acc. graduates, who achieved second and third place respectively in CAI’s Final Admitting Examinations 2012‌

Recognised By:

Chartered-Accountants-IrelandR

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