Accountancy Masters,Which one?

dlocko

Hi,
Just wondering how you would rank these masters.
I intend on trying to get into one of the big 4 next year after finishing the master’s programme.

UCD
DCU
Maynooth NUI
DIT

If anyone has any insight into how the big 4 rank these when going through the graduate recruitment process, I would be very grateful.


Thanks

jessup

I'd say your OP nearly has them in the right order except maybe flip the last two. Definitely the M Acc in Smurfit is perceived as the best one. Wasn't too impressed with it myself, but that's the perception and 'perception is reality'.

sodabread

I'd say the DCU masters is perceived as being the most challenging and hence has a reputation for producing quality grads. Probably DCU and UCD are the top two with DIT third and NUIM fourth.

KenHy

What Soda-bread said, although realisticly there is probably not much between DCU and UCD apart from the extra few grand it costs to go to UCD! NUIM is relativity new, so that would mean that it has less of a reputation, not necessarily that the course is of lesser quality. I don't know anything about DIT, so I wont comment.

edit- I'm currently doing the DCU one, is very though in terms of workload, hopefully it'll be worth it.

ofjames

You might want to look into the situation regarding exemptions for DIT and Maynooth (didnt even know they did an Macc)

For DCU and UCD, the only way you wont get your exemptions is if you dont complete the programme. it doesnt matter if you fail an exam once you pass it on repeat for example. So there is a safety net there as such which seems only fair given that you (or your firm) is shelling out 10k to do the thing.

However, I heard before that for DIT that you have to pass the exams first time to get your exemptions. This would be a major issue as the masters is really just a prof 3/ CAP2 alternative at the end of the day. Without getting the exemption there is really little point in doing it at all.

If the above is incorrect regarding DIT feel free to correct me.

jonnybravo

I did the DCU masters - tough year but I liked it - alot of people say its more recognised in Accountancy firms than the UCD but I don't know if thats true or not - the reason I picked DCU was cost - 12k for Smurfit and 7k for DCU - big difference - not sure what it is now tho as that was a few years ago.

defiantshrimp

ofjames wrote: »

You might want to look into the situation regarding exemptions for DIT and Maynooth (didnt even know they did an Macc)

For DCU and UCD, the only way you wont get your exemptions is if you dont complete the programme. it doesnt matter if you fail an exam once you pass it on repeat for example. So there is a safety net there as such which seems only fair given that you (or your firm) is shelling out 10k to do the thing.

However, I heard before that for DIT that you have to pass the exams first time to get your exemptions. This would be a major issue as the masters is really just a prof 3/ CAP2 alternative at the end of the day. Without getting the exemption there is really little point in doing it at all.

If the above is incorrect regarding DIT feel free to correct me.

I work with someone who did the masters in DIT and the didn't fail but they didn't get 50% in one or two subjects or something like that. As a result the ICAI didn't give them any exemptions from CAP2! Not sure if that happens with the other masters or not though.

collegemum

Are the exams for the MA in DCU before xmas??

Celtise

I'm in a similar position trying to pick which masters to start in September - however I already have a sponsorship and contract having already worked with one of the big four. UCD was perceived as the best by my colleagues though I think about half did UCD, half DCU so DCU was second rank no surprise.

The most important issue for me is that I am missing full CAP1 exemption from my degree so I have to complete it in September as I have a clashing exams in May for my degree.

As such I will be considered after applicants that already have CAP1 exemptions if there is spaces so I would probably not get into UCD and DCU have indicated they wouldn't accept me at all. DIT are open though.

To be honest, I am considering NUIG as my first choice because frankly it's a lovely college and since I lived in Dublin while working with my big four company before and currently live in Cork, Galway will be a welcome breather for a year. Also NUIG are very open to accepting students in my situation.

Haven't really looked properly into Maynooth but I do hear it's new enough and since I know little to nothing about the college itself either I'm kind of leaving that (and DIT!?!) as back ups!

collegemum

Don't rule out Maynooth. The accounting degree is fantastic.....and the Masters seems to be going down very well

20 Times 20 Times

Hmm mm , No Mention of the Degree program or the masters program from DkIT. Which I have heard , that candidates applying that have graduated from DkIT with this are looked at VERY favourably due to having a great work ethic.

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland exemptions

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