Masters in Accounting

Dellboy2007

The places currently offering it are:


University College Dublin - Smurfit School
Dublin City University
Dublin Institute of Technology
University College Cork
NUI Maynooth
NUI Galway
Athlone Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Letterkenny Institute of Technology

Has anyone completed the Masters in any of these? I'm in my final year of Degree and strongly considering it. The one problem that may completely ruin my chances are, I'm not sure if I will have the Law exemption. After checking the websites, it seems some are stricter then others. I understand that given the high demand for places people with CAP1 exemptions will automatically get preference over me, but if I was to apply with for the masters with the intention of passing the exam in September would I stand any reasonable chance of getting on one of the programmes in September?

I think some of them can be automatically stricken off the list, i.e NUIG, Smurfit, DCU

Pandoras Twist

Only option is to ring them themselves.

If Smurfit wasn't paid for by the firm I will be working for, I would have gone to DIT. Cheaper, and the guy that runs it seriously knows his stuff by all accounts.

Dellboy2007

Ya i've got in contact with most of them on the list and it doesn't seem to be a problem. DIT does sound pretty good. Obviously one can't afford to be picky given my circumstances, but I would be hoping for somewhere closer to home (Galway), shame nuig is out of the question but I know there are some other great places offering it. I wouldn't mind UCC but I would say there is a lot of competition for it.

I'll most likely finish with a 2.1 so not sure if that would be good enough to beat existing UCC Commerce or Accountancy Undergrad students who are planning on doing the Masters.

Anyone like to divulge a small bit about their experience doing the Postgrad and the location they did it?

20 Times 20 Times

Planning on doing my Masters in Dundalk , Remember to look at what master courses offer you exemptions , I know that Dundalk offers full Cap2 exemptions with the Masters.

Dellboy2007

Yes, that is a given. I haven't found any colleges so far, offering a Masters in Accounting that did't grant CAP2 exemptions.

20 Times 20 Times

Ps I think Dundalk is quiet cheap compared to the rest , If i remember its approx 6200.

Blarney92

UCC are starting a masters programme this year as well so you can add them to your list

Dellboy2007

Can't seem to edit first post but the fees are

University College Dublin - Smurfit School - €11,500
Dublin City University - €8224
Dublin Institute of Technology - €6,490 + capitation
University College Cork - region of €8,000
NUI Maynooth - €5,160
NUI Galway - €7,095
Athlone Institute of Technology - €5,500
Waterford Institute of Technology - €6,250
Dundalk Institute of Technology - €6200
Letterkenny Institute of Technology - €4,000

Galego

You can add 2 more to the list, which I am currently considering myself.


MSc/MBA in Accounting and Finance Management - Griffith College. 7.950 EUR

This one offers you all the ACCA F exemptions a part from F5 although you have to study Performance Management in the course.


MSc in Accounting - The Independent Colleges. 7.950 EUR

This course has not run yet and this will be the first year so I do not know about exemptions yet. On their website it says it is benchmarked to ACCA and others. If anyone finds out more info on this course please let me know.

ted2767

How about doing a masters overseas?
There are many courses in the U.K. which are about the same price but maybe from colleges/universities with better international recognition.

MoMo1987

The MSc Accounting in DIT would suit you perfectly, I completed this master last year and it is very accommodating for students re-sitting CAP1 exams in the summer. Our final exams in May over lapped with the CAP1 examinations and the college were good enough to rearrange our exam timetable to make it possible for some students to resit there CAP1.

The overall experience of the MSc is great, the lecturers and students are all friendly and easy to get on with. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to do a masters who, especially those without still without full CAP1's. The total cost is around 8,000 which is expensive but well worth it considering the price of other places. Sure it's worth considering anyway if your keen on completing a masters.

Dellboy2007

MoMo1987 wrote: »

The MSc Accounting in DIT would suit you perfectly, I completed this master last year and it is very accommodating for students re-sitting CAP1 exams in the summer. Our final exams in May over lapped with the CAP1 examinations and the college were good enough to rearrange our exam timetable to make it possible for some students to resit there CAP1.

The overall experience of the MSc is great, the lecturers and students are all friendly and easy to get on with. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to do a masters who, especially those without still without full CAP1's. The total cost is around 8,000 which is expensive but well worth it considering the price of other places. Sure it's worth considering anyway if your keen on completing a masters.

Thanks MoMo, i'd hope to do any outstanding CAP1 in September. DIT does sound good. Could you provide as much information about the masters as possible: Class sizes, Class difficulty, timetable, lecturers, exams, thesis, etc.

MoMo1987

Dellboy2007 wrote: »

Thanks MoMo, i'd hope to do any outstanding CAP1 in September. DIT does sound good. Could you provide as much information about the masters as possible: Class sizes, Class difficulty, timetable, lecturers, exams, thesis, etc.

I found it quite good and everyone in the class bar 1or2 had a job lined up for when they finished. firms see it as a very attractive course to recruit from.

Class size is 45, I think this is the maximum they allow into the master but i'm positive.

The course is challenging but manageable at the same time, its not mental busy all the time like Smurfit. It is completely focused and geared towards students achieving CAP2.

The timetable is very good, usually have around 17 hours a week consisting of 3 full days Monday - Friday, 1 lecture on a Thursday and Friday off each week. this time comes in very handy when CA's are due and you begin studying.

Exams are difficult enough and it doesn't help that semester one exams take place in January after the Christmas break. Our year had 3 exams in semester 1 (financial reporting, financial management and finance) and 5 in semester 2 (same again with year long models tax and audit).

Thesis is the same as anywhere 15000 words and due for the first week in September. Most people left this till the summer and started it then, its a decent idea to make a start on it just after xmas and get some of the hard work out of the way because its a pain in the arse doing the research over the summer.

Overall the course is challenging but you get back what you put into it, my class were all great craic and it was a good mix of students from different colleges so it's not just one big click from the start. I went in there not knowing anybody and made some friends that I will be in touch with for life. It def worth considering this course, jesus I should send this to DIT and maybe I'd get some cash for attracting students .

Dellboy2007

Thanks for the reply Momo was exactly the type of information I was looking for. Anyone else with any experience of a Masters?

verywell

Hi

Yes I completed my Masters in Waterford. It was really tough. We had 11/12 subjects each term with various group projects ongoing throughout the year.

I was not exempt from CAP1 Law as I skipped a year but I got accepted no problem. I did not (nor still haven't) sat the law exam yet, as my lectures advised me not as we would be so busy with the masters unless I really wanted to do it.

I didn't, so have put it off until May this year.

Be prepared for a full-on year with a lot of laughs but a lot of hard work put in. The accountancy masters (IMO) seemed a lot different to others. We had a full week of classes with a lot of work, whereas other masters seemed to have less classes and more time off during the week.

We were not split into semesters. We had 30% exams at xmas and 70% in May. I assumed that we would be but alas it all came down to the year end exams.

There was approx 32 in our class, with a couple of dropouts. Normally they said that their class size was 20 but due to demand and space, they were able to accept the 32.

Thesis is 15000 started throughout the year and handed in in August. I was blessed with a really cool lecture who gave me any help that I needed. I had never done one before, so thought it would be a huge obstacle but turned out all right in the end. Pls start early and do not put it off. You will be glad

Any more questions, just let me know.

Vivagora

I did the Masters in Galway and it was a great but tough year. NUIG Masters is seen as harder to get into as class size is so small and I cant stress how important this is because the better you know the lecturer the easier they are to approach for help and you will need a lot with thesis believe me.

I had friends that did it in Smurfit and hated it becuase class size was 150-200 so very hard to make friends. However they didnt have a thesis just a two week summer school which means your summer is to yourself and their exams are semesterised which makes the Masters a lot easier. On the other side Ive heard accountants in Big 4 firm talking about it and it is generally seen as "paying for your degree" so I would never go there.

Maynooth is a great place apparantly just their exams were all in one week so pretty hard to pass but my friends really liked it there.

I wouldnt go near an IT no matter where it is-Accountants still have a snobby attitude to IT students.

Most Masters arent as strict as they say regarding exemptions. My year in Galway had 3 students out of 29 that didnt have full CAP 1s although it said it was a requirement!

gottcha_goin

Vivagora wrote: »

On the other side Ive heard accountants in Big 4 firm talking about it and it is generally seen as "paying for your degree" so I would never go there.

Thats just rubbish. It costs the most bcoz its the best masters. It gives you Cap 2 exemptions and prepares you for the FAE. The average is a B in the class. 95% of the class have jobs. Its just an attitude that exists about Smurfit which you are exhibiting.

ted2767

I'd say each and every Masters has its merits nuig is ver well regarded as is smurfit & dcu I'd say the new masters in ucc will be quite good it hasan excellent reputation as an undergrad course and some of our lecturers said it should be very good.
Long story short there is of course different perceptions of differing schools/colleges etc but each has its merits I'd imagine a good masters from either should see anyone well on their way to their desired outcome.

Vivagora

gottcha_goin wrote: »

Thats just rubbish. It costs the most bcoz its the best masters. It gives you Cap 2 exemptions and prepares you for the FAE. The average is a B in the class. 95% of the class have jobs. Its just an attitude that exists about Smurfit which you are exhibiting.

Im not trying to insult you. If you paid that amount to go to school obviously you would want a company paying for it. Ive friends that went there this year so Im going on what they ahve told me. Plus any masters of accounting prepares students for FAEs and gives CAP2 exemptions. Thtas the whole point of doing Masters. And its not rubbish when I hear my managers in a Big 4 company talking about what they think of the Masters. Id like to know what the people that employ you think!

Furthermore, when I was applying for Masters Smurfit accepted me and my friends straight away two years ago while other colleges had an interview process and waited for final results to issue offers. That speaks for itself all they care about is money and wouldnt refund my deposit either.

Kristina F

Don't go to letterkenny IT..its a ridiculous college..the lecturers are not up to masters standard and they don't give a **** about students..they tell students as soon as they go in the door that we will all be lucky to pass..Teamwork involves your team members grading you on what they think you deserve and it ends up being a popularity contest at the end of the day..the people who do most of the teamwork rarely get the grade they deserve and the group make depends on how all team members can present in front of the class so if someone can barely speak English then the group will suffer..also during exams the supervisors text and call people on their phones while you are they trying to concentrate doing your exam..also most of the course involves projects and they leave little time for study..the classes are only over 2 days..so this means there is 7 hours of one class so its very very hard to concentrate..i am currently in my last semester of the masters in lyit so ill be happy when I graduate to get out of the dump of a college

Kristina F

*group grade depends on...