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Overview
One of a kind
Join the only postgraduate degree in New Zealand combining the vital business disciplines of accountancy and finance.
Level
- Postgraduate, NZQF Level 9
Campus
- Auckland
Distance learning
- Available
Credits
- 240
Duration
- 2 year(s) full-time. Available part-time.
International
- Available for international students studying in NZ or via distance learning
Other
- Available in block mode.
Whatever your accountancy career ambitions are, this qualification will help you get there.
The Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance (MPAF) is the only professional master’s degree in New Zealand combining the two popular disciplines of accountancy and finance. It is open to graduates with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Open the door to professional organisations
Completion allows you to join key professional accountancy organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
The MPAF meets the academic requirements of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). It is accredited by all three organisations. The MPAF is also endorsed by the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Institute.
Elevate your career
Completing this qualification shows a commitment to gaining the business capabilities employers are looking for. It will build on your previous study and/or practical work experience. You'll gain an excellent understanding of accountancy and finance principles and practical applications. It is the only master’s qualification where your study covers both these disciplines. Whether you come from a background in accountancy and finance or not, the MPAF will help build on your skills to help you move into more senior roles.
Insights
- The 2020 Student Experience Survey results for this programme found that 75% of students on this programme were satisfied with the online learning environment, 83% felt that assessment tasks challenged them to learn, and 92% highlight that the programme has given them excellent “confidence to learn independently”.
- The 2020 Graduate Destination Survey results for this programme found that 80% of graduates are in employment and 40% have continued in further study. The most common job title for graduated students was “Accountant”. Respondents indicated that 50% were earning above the New Zealand median national salary.
- Between 2018 and 2021 the average number of students enrolled in the programme was 131 (headcount) and across the whole programme 96% of courses were successfully completed during 2020.
- The QS World University Ranking by Subject ranks Massey in the top 101-150 universities worldwide in this subject area.
Careers and further study
Careers
Sought after by employers
International trends are for employers to reward postgraduate study well, especially in larger enterprises. The skills you learn are increasingly recognised as setting you apart from other potential employees.
Earn more
A 2017 Ministry of Education publication The post-study earnings and destinations of young domestic graduates, found that in New Zealand:
- young master’s graduates earn more than one and a half times more than the national median (five years after study)
- earnings and employment rates increase with the level of qualification completed
- five years after completion, the median earnings of young master’s graduates are 15% higher than for those with a bachelor’s degree.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
Entry requirements
University admission
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Programme admission
Required
To enter the Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance you will have been awarded or qualified for an undergraduate degree achieving at least a B grade average in the highest two levels of the majoring subject.
You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
If you do not have the entry requirements
English language and foundation courses
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
Courses and planning
Credit summary
240 credits
- Part A compulsory courses – 120 credits
- Part B compulsory courses – 120 credits
There are regulations around completion of Part One before progressing to Part Two.
Courses for this programme
Part A
| 110701 | Accounting Systems | 15 |
| 110702 | Financial Accounting and Reporting | 15 |
| 110703 | Management Accounting and Decision Making | 15 |
| 125701 | Quantitative Methods for Accounting and Finance | 15 |
| 125702 | Financial Management | 15 |
| 152771 | Management in Organisations | 15 |
| 155771 | Law of Business | 15 |
| 178771 | Economics | 15 |
Part B
| 110804 | Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting | 15 |
| 110805 | Advanced Strategic Management Accounting | 15 |
| 110806 | Auditing and Assurance | 15 |
| 110807 | Tax | 15 |
| 125803 | Corporate Finance | 15 |
| 125804 | Financial Asset Management | 15 |
| 125805 | International Finance | 15 |
| 125806 | Financial Risk Management | 15 |
Planning your programme
Planning overview
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
The Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part, before moving to the second.
In order to progress from Part A to Part B, you must achieve a minimum B- grade average in Part A of the qualification.
Maximum time limits for completion
There are maximum time limits to complete some undergraduate and all postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the programme if you wish to continue your studies.
Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit
For postgraduate qualifications where they are completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with a class of Honours, or Distinction or Merit.
Look for information on ‘Student Progression’ in the:
More information
- Read the regulations for this programme thoroughly
- Contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
Fees and scholarships
Fees and finance
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student homepage login
A good fit if you:
- have an undergraduate qualification in any subject
- want to increase your in-depth knowledge of accountancy and finance
- would like to take the next step in your career.
Meet our students
“
I was delighted that I got the chance to complete Massey’s MPAF programme with its first class technology and very experienced professors.
” Andrea Li
NASDAQ - Accountant
“
I am definitely confident in saying that MPAF has laid very solid foundations for me to step into the workforce.
” Flora Wang
Audit New Zealand, Auditor
Meet our lecturers
Alison is a taxation specialist and has undertaken research in a variety of areas of taxation law and corporate law. Prior to joining Massey, Alison’s corporate experience includes as a tax adviser for KPMG and Crowe Horwath and as an international tax adviser for Shell London.
Alison Pavlovich
Lecturer in Taxation
Accreditations and rankings
Massey's School of Accountancy is one of only two institutions in New Zealand and Australia, and one of 12 outside the United States, to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for its undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programmes.
Massey's accountancy programmes are internationally accredited by the UK's Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Massey Business School is rated in the top 5% of global business colleges by AACSB International.
Massey's accountancy programmes have accreditation from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
Massey University is part of the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute's (CFA's) University Affiliation Programme.
Accountancy programmes at Massey University have been accredited by CPA Australia - one of the world’s largest accounting bodies.
Accountancy programmes at Massey University are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 200 universities for accounting and finance.
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 300 universities for business and management.
Massey University is ranked #1 in New Zealand and in the top 150 universities globally for business administration and finance by ShanghaiRanking.
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Regulations
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
Postgraduate regulations
General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
Applying and enrolling
Applying for the programme
Check you are ready
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
Choose your programme and click on Apply now
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
Receive and accept an Admission Offer of Place
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
Enrolling in courses
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
- prerequisites (courses you have to do before the one you are enrolling in)
- corequisites (courses you have to do at the same time as the one you are enrolling in)
- restrictions (courses that you cannot enrol in if you are completing or have completed another identified similar course)
- location – for instance some distance-based courses still have an on-campus element, so double check that the way the course is taught is suitable for your situation.
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
What are courses and credits?
What are courses and credits?
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
- See the ‘Courses for this programme’ section for the list of courses.
- Courses search
Understanding course numbers
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
- sub-degree courses are '0' (i.e. xxx.0xx)
- undergraduate study begins at 100-level, (i.e. xxx.1xx)
- as you progress through 200- and 300-level courses this number changes to 2 and 3 respectively. The higher the number that starts the second three digits, the higher the level of study.
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Workload and time management
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
Scholarships and awards
Scholarships related to this programme
- FUJIFILM Business Innovation Global Student Exchange Scholarship
- FUJIFILM Business Innovation Postgraduate Bursary
- FUJIFILM Business Innovation Scholarship for Women
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.