Masters in Accounting

ted2767

I've been accepted for masters in UCC and DCU.

Were I to take up one of these offers which one would people reccomend.

Thanks.

ssbob

Do you plan on doing professional exams? Which one gives you the most exemptions?

Is it the Smurfit DCU course? I would probably pick that however if you are living in Cork then stay in Cork.

SBWife

Smurfit is part of UCD.

ssbob

SBWife wrote: »

Smurfit is part of UCD.

I did know that.................:D:D

ted2767

Both carry equal exemptions I'm currently in Galway but want to move it's the first year of this course in UCC but the undegrad there is excellent also not sure what employment prospects are like post qualification in Cork would prefer to go there but don't want to move there for a year just to have to move to Dublin to find work a year later.

ssbob

ted2767 wrote: »

Both carry equal exemptions I'm currently in Galway but want to move it's the first year of this course in UCC but the undegrad there is excellent also not sure what employment prospects are like post qualification in Cork would prefer to go there but don't want to move there for a year just to have to move to Dublin to find work a year later.

I am living and working in Cork myself, prospects of work at the moment is quite ok with the multinationals etc however I am not sure if you want to go into practice or not, there are still trainee postions in the big accounting firms but not sure what that will be like one year from now!!

What course is that UCC one you are on about? is that the €6500 a year one?

ted2767

It's a new MAcc programme I think it's around €8,000 for the year

ssbob

ted2767 wrote: »

It's a new MAcc programme I think it's around €8,000 for the year

Wow thats saucy man, must look into that.

Is it practice or industry you are aiming for?

ted2767

Practice I think although not hung up too much on that to be honest

ssbob

I would say keep your options open but at the same time know that they are two very different career paths.

I have never heard of anyone going from industry to practice however I know lots who have gone from practice to industry.

thefa

As far as I know, the course in DCU has a very good reputation which only seems to be surpassed by Smurfit which has a big prestige factor going for it. Imagine for that reason DCU would be the better choice than a new postgrad but its a tough course and I'm not sure have you a preference on which city. I might be a bit bias since I done the undergrad in Accounting & Finance at DCU and have a good few friends doing the masters this year but on the other hand I'm from Cork so some balance!

mr_edge_to_you

I love these threads where people are obsessed with masters in accounting. Did a 4 year degree in AIT and I got what equates to 7 exemptions for the CIMA syllabus. Some of my friends got exemptions all the way to Strategic level with their three year diploma in professional accounting. There's other options out there instead of UCD and DCU.

You'd do a lot courses in BPP or DBS for 8 grand.

I personally don't see the value in a masters. I think the extra exemptions you might get would be easier got by doing the exam.

cunning stunts

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

I love these threads where people are obsessed with masters in accounting. Did a 4 year degree in AIT and I got what equates to 7 exemptions for the CIMA syllabus. Some of my friends got exemptions all the way to Strategic level with their three year diploma in professional accounting. There's other options out there instead of UCD and DCU.

You'd do a lot courses in BPP or DBS for 8 grand.

I personally don't see the value in a masters. I think the extra exemptions you might get would be easier got by doing the exam.

completely disagree, all you have to do is look at the CAP 2 failure rates vs masters failure rates...u have a far better chance of qualifying by going down the masters route, i did the masters in DCU myself and many of my friends who failed the CAP2s and got sacked are envious of the fact that I didnt have to do the CAP2s

No offence, but you cant compare CIMA with ACA

ted2767

How did you find it cunning?
What are the employment prospects like or were you sponsored?

mr_edge_to_you

If you can't compare ACA to CIMA, there was a similar number of exemptions available for ACCA and dare I say it CPA.

To be honest the choice of body is irrelevant. The level of commitment required to do professional exams at this level is the same across the board for most bodies.

The Op also says that they haven't decided which professional route they want to take hence my input from a CIMA viewpoint.

ted2767

I'd actually love to do CIMA but haven't seen too many jobs advertised which train you up also I think I'd prefer to train in practice first then go into industry.

cunning stunts

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

If you can't compare ACA to CIMA, there was a similar number of exemptions available for ACCA and dare I say it CPA.

To be honest the choice of body is irrelevant. The level of commitment required to do professional exams at this level is the same across the board for most bodies.

The Op also says that they haven't decided which professional route they want to take hence my input from a CIMA viewpoint.

I didnt mean to cause any offence, was just trying to make it clear that if the candidate was considering doing a masters then CIMA was irrelevant as the masters courses are designed for ACA candidates.

Also think the candidate should be aware that it is generally accepted that ACA is considered a bit more difficult than the other three designations, but then that is just my opinion [wouldn't say this is a commonly held view at all, mod edit]

Also found the masters quite tough but the majority of people got through in the end and didnt have the threat of a sacking looming over them

It Balanced!

Righteo....didnt want to make a new thread... so....

I will be starting my final year of my honours degree in Finance this September with the hope of doing a Masters in Accounting in 2012.

I will have most of the CAP1 exemptions but will need to do Tax and Law before meeting the masters criteria.

I emailed about when I can do it and they said 2012 only which is a shame as I'll be free this September.

The May 2012 sitting will be during my finals exams and I imagine the September exams occur after acceptance to the masters...

So is May my only option or can you get accepted for the masters before getting fully exempt?

Thanks

ted2767

As far as I know DIT allow you to do law in the summer although I'm open to correction.

ted2767

Any more advice?
I have to accept or reject the offers by the end of the week I'd love to go to Cork but I reckon that if I did I might end up moving to Dublin anyways as they'd be more opportunities in Dublin.
Would I be right in my assumptions?
One again any advice is greatfully taken.

EDudder

I actually found it easier to get a job in Cork than in Dublin. Maybe less competition? And there are alot of large multinationals here. This may not be the case for everyone though. I'm in the Big 4. Moved here nearly a year ago now and I'm glad I did.

Vivagora

Yes you can. I just did the Masters of Accounting in Galway and one of my classmates is only after completing law and tax together after doing the masters!
Dunno why they wont let you do the exams in September coz these are the "repeats" officially but I know people that did Law for the first time last September.
Be careful though as if you fail either law or tax then you have automatically failed the other subject even though you might have passed it and the pass rates are 50%. They are part a and b of one subject for the institute. Heard law was pretty tough this year

martin2012

Hi guys

After communicating with the experts and also searching different websites I really became interested to pursue a master degree in accounting at DCU. Today one my friends just told me about a shocking news, he said 50% of the students in the master class are already sponsored by the accounting firms and the rest are paying the full course fees by themselves & they are not really job guaranteed after completing their course, he mentioned that I am going to have a tough year, workload ect.... and spend lot of money and time & may end up with nothing (NO JOB!!!), I was told that, it’s better to spend a little bit more and do the master in accounting at Smurfit if I really want to get something after that, master in accounting at DCU is tough for no reason and you sacrifice your life and money and time for a year!!! I just wonder if this is really true?!!!! The only reason that I want to do my master at DCU is to get a JOB after. Please give me some advice in relation to this important issue if you studied the same degree and experienced the same thing!! Cheers:(:(