Aims and Characteristics

Programme Aims

The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) programme is a conversion Master's programme aiming to provide business degree graduates with an intensive education in accounting and related knowledge and skills. Students' achievement is targeted at two levels:

• To become professional user, preparer, and auditor of accounting information upon completion of the Postgraduate Diploma;

• To become expert users of accounting information for making executive decisions upon completion of the Master’s degree.

Characteristics

The completion of seven core subjects leads to the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (PgDPA). On completion of the PgDPA components, graduates will be able to:

• apply and evaluate contemporary development and framework in external reporting, including corporate financial accounting, Hong Kong taxation and auditing.

• apply up-to-date accounting and finance concepts and techniques in internal decision making, including management accounting, managerial finance and strategic management.

• analyze and evaluate the legal, regulatory and ethical issues facing professional accountants.

In addition to the above core subjects, the completion of two additional compulsory subjects and three elective subjects leads to the award of the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA).  On completion of the MPA components, graduates will be able to:

• analyze and evaluate theoretical frameworks in accounting, finance and corporate governance.

• develop additional expertise in selected aspects of accounting and finance, such as theory and practice of accounting in China, strategic tax management in Hong Kong and China, financial statement analysis, finance for multinational corporations, mergers and acquisitions, or integrated knowledge through group projects.

Professional Recognition

The seven core subjects of the programme (which lead to the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (PgDPA) award, and constitute part of the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) award) have been accredited by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA). Graduates completing these seven core subjects, together with the Fundamental Business Courses, will be eligible for the exemption of 10 Modules in the HKICPA Qualification Programme (QP). Upon completion of another five subjects (i.e. two additional compulsory subjects and three elective subjects), students will be awarded the MPA.

The programme is also accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and CPA (Australia). PgDPA and MPA graduates are eligible to claim a maximum exemption of 9 papers from the ACCA examination. Together with meeting other undergraduate pre-requisites, graduates will also be eligible to apply for associate membership with CPA (Australia).

Graduates of PgDPA and MPA are also eligible to apply for exemption of 4 papers under the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries’ International Qualifying Scheme (IQS). These are: (i) Strategic and Operations Management, (ii) Hong Kong Financial Accounting, (iii) Hong Kong Taxation and (iv) Corporate Financial Management.

In addition, PgDPA and MPA graduates are also granted exemption of 2 papers from the Certified Tax Adviser (CTA) Qualifying Programme offered by the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong.