Accounting

The DCU MSc in Accounting is the leading graduate accounting programme of its kind in Ireland, an innovative partnership of learning which is informed and shaped by the needs of the accounting and taxation professionals of tomorrow. This one-year full-time Masters programme encourages critical and creative thinking, teamwork and communication, and develops a diverse range of professional attributes which equip graduates to excel in the accounting profession and to adopt leadership positions in their professional lives.



The MSc in Accounting at DCU is designed to meet the needs of Honours graduates who have taken major accounting specialisms in their undergraduate studies. The programme offers exemptions from all subjects in the CAP2 Examination of Chartered Accountants Ireland and Part 1 of the AITI Chartered Tax Advisor Programme.



The DCU MSc in Accounting allows recent graduates to study for a Masters’s qualification and at the same time gain exemptions from professional examinations. It aims to foster the student’s ability to provide professional solutions based on a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the various elements of accounting and the ethical underpinnings of the profession. This is increasingly important in the complex commercial environment, where proposed actions have a wide range of implications for business.

General Entry Requirements

For admission to the M.Sc. in Accounting candidates must hold:

• A 2.1 Honours degree in Accounting (or in a Business degree with a significant specialism in Accounting), or international equivalent, together with full exemption from the CAP1 examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland;



OR



• A credit award in a Professional Diploma in Accounting together with full exemption from the CAP1 examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland.



• Applicants who have achieved a 2.2 Honours degree in Accounting (or in a Business degree with a significant specialism in Accounting), or a Pass award in a Professional Diploma in Accounting (or equivalent), may still obtain a place. This will depend on availability of places and on obtaining high grades in core Accounting modules (Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Taxation and Finance) in your programme.



• Candidates who have not received their degree results by the application closing date will receive conditional offers.



NOTE : It is a condition of admission to this programme that applicants are fully exempt from CAP 1 examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland. All applicants must apply directly to Chartered Accountants Ireland for exemption and provide the University with a certificate of exemption from Chartered Accountants Ireland. A list of Chartered Accountants Ireland accredited courses is available on the Chartered Accountants Ireland website. The deadline for exemption applications to the Institute is normally the end of July (you should check this with the Institute to be sure). Failure to produce proof of CAP 1 exemptions on joining the programme may result in withdrawal of your place on the programme.



International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language.

1 year full-time.

The programme commences in September 2025

Accountancy as a Career

Graduates from the MSc in Accounting have a range of professional opportunities available to them in several career sectors including Governance, Accountancy, and Consulting. Graduates are well equipped for their FAEs upon completion of the course and successfully progress their careers in professional services and industry. Excellent financial management and accuracy in tax payments are important for all businesses and there are many opportunities in SMEs, industry, and professional services.



What Qualifications do DCU Graduates Progress In?

The majority of students, 80%, pursue a Chartered Accounting Ireland (CAI) qualification after graduation in a firm in audit or tax on a training contract. Graduates can stay in the firm or move to industry into a financial accounting role and later a management accounting role. It is also possible to achieve the CAI qualification through training in industry.



Graduates may also pursue the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) qualification, which involves training in industry.



Graduates may also opt for the Chartered Association of Management Accountants (CIMA), which involves training in industry. You will get a good few exemptions through DCU.



Who Employs Finance and Accountancy Graduates from DCU?

Graduates are employed in a variety of roles and sectors in the Irish market, some examples are listed below (this list is not exhaustive). Employers sponsor many graduates on this course, but opportunities outside professional services are readily available to graduates from this degree.



- Professional Services / Business Advisory/ Tax

- Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, KPMG, PwC

- Industry/ Public Sector

- KWC, Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General