NCI Course Details

Candidates will develop a critical and analytical approach to problem-solving and decision-making in an accounting context and develop the ability to interpret, analyse and communicate financial and other information. The learning environment for the course is practical and applied in nature and on completion graduates will be able to think independently, make informed and effective decisions and critically engage with accounting practices and contemporary accounting issues.

Candidates will also gain a broader business viewpoint and develop insights into effective leadership practices, corporate governance and ethics issues, in addition to insight into business intelligence to deepen their understanding of data and data governance, gaining the capacity to use quantitative methods and analytics to make more data-informed decisions.

The course is for those wishing to embark on a career in Accountancy.

The MSc in Accounting provides students with critical competencies required by a professional accountant in today’s ever-evolving dynamic environment.

Students are required to undertake 6 core modules (5 credit modules) in Semester 1 and Semester 2. The uniqueness of this programme is that students have a choice of deciding between Pathway A (30 credits research methods and final dissertation) or Pathway B (3 x 10 credit modules).

One of the principal objectives of the programme is that graduates will, on successful completion of the programme, have entitlement exemptions from professional bodies such as ACCA, Chartered Accountants Ireland, CIMA and CPA.

Core Modules (5 Credits each)

Semester 1 (Sep-Jan)

• Financial Accounting
• Taxation
• Audit and Assurance
• Company Law
• Financial Management
• Management Accounting

Semester 2 (Jan-May)

• Financial Reporting
• Advanced Taxation
• Advanced Financial Management
• Performance Management
• Corporate Governance and Ethics
• Business Intelligence

AND a choice of Pathway A or Pathway B

Elective Pathway A

• Research Methods (10 Credits – over Semester 1 and 2)  
• Dissertation (20 Credits – Semester 3) 

OR

Elective Pathway B

• Critical Perspectives in Accounting (10 Credits – over Semester 1 and 2)
• Effective Leadership in the Organisation (10 Credits – Semester 3)  
• Accounting in Practice (10 Credits – Semester 3)

Note: All modules count towards the final award classification.

For more information on the modules taught on this course view our module descriptors.

The Master of Science in Accounting is awarded by QQI at level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This award will allow transfer to level 9 research degrees and in some cases progression to taught doctoral courses at level 10 on the NFQ.

Applicants are required to hold a minimum of a level 8 qualification (minimum 2:2 Honours) or equivalent on the National Qualifications Framework in a non-accounting discipline. Cognate degree holders will also be considered (those presenting with a minimum 2:2 Honours level 8 award).

For applicants whose first language is not English, please note the English language entry requirements.

For international students, please visit NCI's Your Country section to view the specific entry requirements for your region.

Applications may also be considered under the College’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) policy and this is likely to be particularly germane to the part-time provision of the course. RPEL will be assessed on the learner’s work experience and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

National College of Ireland has implemented a Bring Your Own Device policy for all courses. Specifically, students are expected to successfully participate in lectures, laboratories and projects using a portable computer (laptop/notebook) with a substantial hardware configuration.

The minimal suitable configuration is:

Processor:

• Intel 7th (or higher) generation processors (Core i-3, ii-5, -7,i-9-7x)
• or AMD Ryzen 3rd generation processors, running at 2.0GHz and above (Intel Atom/Celeron or AMD Athlon/Sempron Processors may cost less, but may not meet your requirements)

Random Access Memory (RAM):
8 GB minimum

Solid State Drive (SSD) Capacity:
256 GB minimum

Wireless Card:
802.11 a/b/g/n compliant with Bluetooth Capability (incompatibilities have been noted with the Qualcomm Atheros Wireless Adapters and software device drivers)

Graphics Card:
Direct X9 or later

Supported Operating Systems:
Windows 10 Home/Pro

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure their computer is functioning correctly and that they have full administrator rights. NCI cannot provide support for these personal devices.

Student Laptop Loan Scheme

A Laptop Loan Scheme is available for eligible students to assist them in completing their chosen course.

On-campus face-to-face classes.

Successful graduates may claim the following professional exemptions:

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): Various papers at the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills levels (9 papers in total).
• Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI): Full CAP 1 exemptions.
• Certified Public Accountants (CPA Ireland); Foundational Level (Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Taxation), Professional Level (Financial Reporting, Advanced Taxation, Corporate Law, Audit & Assurance and Managerial Finance).

Exemption criteria are subject to change, students and graduates should check with the relevant professional bodies for the up-to-date criteria.

Students need to be available 09.00-17.00 Mon – Fri. Full-time students may also be required to attend classes after 5pm. Class days and times vary and all modules will be delivered on-campus.

Please note that exams can be scheduled during the morning, afternoon or evening Monday to Saturday.

September Starts

1 year taught - 2 semesters (Sep-Dec and Jan-May) 3 additional modules (May-Aug) or a final Dissertation (due in August)

January Starts

(where available and subject to numbers) 1 year taught plus a final dissertation: 2 semesters (Jan-May and Sep-Jan) 3 additional modules (Jan-May) or a final dissertation due in May the following year.

€9,400 total fee

(EU/Ireland applicants, fees revised annually)

You can spread the cost of this course with a direct debit plan.

NCI Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships and discounts for both NCI and non-NCI graduates. Current NCI students and alumni can avail of a 25% discount on this course by applying for our Master's Edge Scholarship.

View our full list of scholarships.

The course fee for international students for September 2024 is €15,000.

From the January 2025 intake onwards, the course fee for international students will be €17,000.

Fees will be revised annually.

For more information on international fees, please visit International Fees & Funding and International Scholarships. Learn more about studying at NCI as an international student.