Ramp up your career with a recognised accounting degree
Make the move into accounting or get the certification you need to take the next step in your accountancy career. Learn to manage complex accounting and business issues and gain the confidence to provide specialist expertise.
By studying for our MPA, you’ll understand professional practice, ethics, and procedures. You’ll gain insight into the business landscape in New Zealand and around the world.
The MPA is a valuable qualification on its own. And it can also be the first step to becoming a chartered accountant.
Who can study for an MPA
You don’t need an accounting degree or a background in the field to study for the MPA. This makes it ideal if you’re a recent graduate or a working professional looking to add accountancy to your skillset.
What you’ll learn
The MPA develops your professional skills in:
- financial management and financial reporting
- accounting information systems and auditing
- business law and corporate governance
- global accounting standards.
You’ll build deeper expertise with advanced courses in financial accounting, management accounting, and financial management.
How you’ll study
You can choose to start in Trimester 1 (March) or Trimester 3 (November). Assessment includes projects, tests, and examinations.
There are two ways to study the MPA—the standard pathway and the CA fast-track pathway.
Standard MPA pathway
The standard MPA pathway includes 12 courses that give you a solid foundation in subjects like:
- business law
- taxation
- accounting systems
- financial accounting.
CA fast-track MPA pathway
If you want to become a chartered accountant, we recommend our CA fast-track MPA pathway.
The standard MPA programme meets all the academic requirements for entry into the CA programme through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and CPA Australia.
Nine of our MPA courses can be counted towards membership of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Find out about ACCA exemptions
Complete three extra chartered accountant courses
Alongside the MPA's 12 core courses, you’ll complete three chartered accountant courses at the University. You can complete all 15 courses in as little as 12 months of full-time study.
Get exemptions from some CA programme courses
This study pathway gives you exemptions from six of the nine courses in the CA ANZ Chartered Accountant programme, helping speed your progress to becoming a chartered accountant.
Qualification support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
Get in touch and a copy of our prospectus, or get in touch directly with our Recruitment Manager, Jade Chiam.
Email: jade.chiam@vuw.ac.nz
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the MPA degree shall have:
(i) completed a Bachelor’s degree;
(ii) been accepted by the MPA director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.
(b) Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the Associate Dean (Students) of the Wellington School of Business and Government for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the MPA
2. A candidate for the MPA shall normally be enrolled for at least four trimesters and shall complete the MPA within four years of first enrolling in it.
3. (a) The course of study for the MPA shall consist of courses worth at least 180 points, including:
MMPA 501–504, MMPA 506–510, Strategic Accounting for Value and Performance (MMPA 512) and 513; 15 further points from the MPA Schedule, or a substitute postgraduate course approved by the Director.
(b) A candidate who fails two or more courses in any one trimester or who has failed any course on two occasions may continue in the programme only with the permission of the associate dean.
International recognition
Wellington School of Business and Government is among the top 1% of business schools worldwide that hold the ‘Triple Crown’ of international business education accreditations. By studying here, you can be confident your qualification will be recognised globally for its quality.
Future careers
The MPA helps you fast-track your accounting certification. It’s ideal for recent graduates and working professionals who want to add accountancy to their skillset.
As well as roles in accountancy firms, your MPA can set you up for a career in banking and finance, law, government, not-for-profit organisations, and companies large and small.
More career information
Find out more about careers in Accounting.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Business and Government
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Applicants must be enrolled, or intending to enrol full time, in a Master’s or PhD degree in areas related to identity management and are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
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This scholarship is for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.
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This scholarship is to help students conduct research in the field of librarianship.
Scholarships for international students
We're currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Business and Government
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This scholarship is to help students conduct research in the field of librarianship.
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This scholarship is open to Pasifika students intending to enrol in a Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Master’s degree in Business at the Wellington School of Business and Government. Applicants are expected to have met the admissions requirements for the qualification of interest. Applicants will be assessed on merit however preference may be given to applicants experiencing financial hardship.
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The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is undertaking research at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington on the interactions and relationship between the public and private sectors in the area of policy and management.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Recommended study plan
The following study plan allows you to avoid timetable clashes.
Trimester 1, 2026
- MMPA 501—Financial Accounting
- MMPA 502—Sustainable Decision Making and Control
- MMPA 504—Finance
- MMPA 508—Economics
Trimester 2, 2026
- MMPA 506—Advanced Financial Accounting
- MMPA 510—Auditing
- MMPA 512—Strategic Accounting for Value and Performance
- MMPA 513—Accounting Systems, Ethics and Technology
- MMPA 531—CA: Risk and Technology (14 September to 15 November 2026, for the optional CA fast-track pathway)
Trimester 3, 2026
- MMPA 503—Business Law
- MMPA 507—Statistics
- MMPA 509—Taxation
- MMPA 516—Data Analytics in Accounting (approved elective)
- MMPA 532—CA: Financial Accounting and Reporting (11 January to 14 March 2027, for the optional CA fast-track pathway)
- MMPA 535—CA: Audit and Assurance (18 January to 21 March 2027, for the optional CA fast-track pathway)
How to become a chartered accountant
1. MPA CA fast-track pathway
Alongside the standard MPA, complete three CA programme courses at the University.
2. Provisional CA membership
When you complete your university studies, you can apply for provisional CA membership through CA ANZ.
3. GradDipCA (CA programme)
Your university studies will give you exemptions for six of the nine courses for CA ANZ’s Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA).
Complete three further courses through CA ANZ to be awarded this additional qualification.
4. Mentored practical experience
Complete three years of mentored practical experience—either before, during, or after studying the GradDipCA.
5. Full CA membership
When you complete all of the above steps, you’ll be eligible for full CA membership.
Research areas
Our Accounting and Commercial Law academic staff are active across a range of specialist research areas.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.