The programme is particularly interesting for international students because prior accounting study is not required. NMIT explicitly states that the programme is designed for graduates from any discipline who want to develop an accounting career.

Key advantages include:

• Level 9 master's qualification
• Suitable for graduates from disciplines other than accounting
• Professional accounting focus
• Accreditation by CA ANZ and CPA Australia
• Opportunity to meet the academic requirements for provisional membership of both bodies
• 75-hour internship with a local organisation
• Applied learning through case studies and scenario-based activities
• Research project at Level 9
• Study of financial accounting, management accounting, taxation, auditing and assurance
• Accounting information systems
• Business finance and economics
• Business law
• Opportunity to develop professional communication, ethical decision-making and analytical skills
• Study in Nelson, New Zealand 

Disciplines / Specialisations

NMIT does not currently advertise separate formal specialisations or majors within the Master of Professional Accounting.

Instead, the programme provides broad professional accounting coverage across:

Financial Accounting

• Financial accounting
• Advanced financial accounting

Management Accounting

• Strategic management accounting

Taxation

• Taxation principles and practice

Audit

• Audit and assurance

Accounting Technology

• Accounting information systems

Finance & Economics

• Business finance
• Economics

Business & Law

• Business law
• Business environment

Professional Practice

• Internship
• Professional communication
• Ethics
• Collaboration

Research

• Applied research
• Level 9 research project

Professional Accreditation

This is one of the most important highlights of the programme.

NMIT states that the Master of Professional Accounting has been accredited by:

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand – CA ANZ

and

CPA Australia

Successful completion provides the academic requirements to apply for provisional membership with both organisations.

Important clarification

Completing the master's does not automatically make a graduate a fully qualified Chartered Accountant or CPA.

NMIT explains that becoming a full Chartered Accountant requires completion of the relevant CA ANZ CA Program and Mentored Practical Experience.

Career Outcomes

NMIT identifies a range of career opportunities after completing the qualification.

Potential areas include:

• Financial accounting
• Management accounting
• Auditing
• Taxation
• Banking
• Business consultancy
• Accounting technician roles
• Assistant accountant roles
• Accountant
• Senior accountant
• Financial/business advisory roles

Technology / BYOD Requirement

Students need access to:

• A laptop or desktop computer
• Appropriate software
• Broadband internet
• A device capable of capturing digital images/video/audio where required

NMIT describes this as a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) approach and states that learners need their own computing equipment for regular use during classes and other activities.

Students also use:

• Moodle
• Microsoft Office 365
• NMIT Library
• E-books
• Research databases
• Online learning resources

Learning and Assessment Highlights

The programme is not limited to traditional classroom accounting theory.

Students learn through:

• Case studies
• Scenario-based activities
• Workshops
• Interactive lectures
• Online activities
• Independent study
• Applied research
• Internship experience

NMIT also highlights the development of:

• Analytical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Research capability
• Professional communication
• Collaboration
• Ethical accounting practice
• Technical accounting skills

Latest Updates

New master's programme

NMIT introduced the Master of Professional Accounting as one of its new master's programmes for 2026, alongside its new Master of Information Technology. NMIT says the programmes were developed to respond to demand for advanced professional skills.

2027 intakes now listed

The current NMIT programme page lists:

22 February 2027

and

19 July 2027

for Nelson.

2027 NMIT prospectus

NMIT's 2027 prospectus also lists the Master of Professional Accounting as a Level 9, 51-week full-time programme in Nelson, with CA ANZ and CPA accreditation.

New Zealand Student Visa Requirements

For an international student coming to New Zealand to study this full-time master's programme, the relevant visa will generally be the:

Fee Paying Student Visa

Immigration New Zealand states that applicants need an offer of place from an approved education provider and must demonstrate that they can pay tuition fees or have an appropriate scholarship, have sufficient living funds, have acceptable insurance and meet health, character and genuine-student requirements.

Living-cost funds

For tertiary study of one year or longer, Immigration New Zealand currently requires evidence of:

NZ$20,000 per year

for living expenses.

This is separate from tuition fees.

For a programme lasting more than one year, Immigration New Zealand says that demonstrating a credible plan for funding living costs in subsequent years can strengthen an application.

Visa documentation may include

Depending on the applicant's circumstances:

• Valid passport
• NMIT Offer of Place
• Tuition-fee payment/funding evidence
• Evidence of living funds
• Evidence of accommodation/funding arrangements where applicable
• Medical/travel insurance
• Evidence of onward travel or funds for a ticket
• Medical documentation if required
• Police certificates if required
• Academic documents
• English-language evidence where applicable

Post-Study Work Consideration

Because this is a Level 9 master's qualification, it can be relevant to New Zealand's post-study work pathway.

However, post-study work eligibility depends on the immigration rules and the student's actual study circumstances at the time they apply.

Therefore, students should not treat post-study work rights as automatically guaranteed. They should check Immigration New Zealand's rules when they are approaching graduation.

Important Points for International Applicants

Before applying, an international student should pay particular attention to these points:

1. Accounting background is not mandatory

This is a major advantage. NMIT specifically designed the programme for graduates from any discipline.

2. Bachelor's degree is required

A bachelor's degree, relevant graduate qualification or appropriate professional experience is required under NMIT's stated entry routes.

3. IELTS 6.5

No individual IELTS Academic band below 6.0.

4. Blended study

Students should be prepared for a combination of campus-based and digital learning rather than expecting a fully online programme.

5. Internship

The programme includes a 75-hour local internship, which is a valuable practical component.

6. Professional accreditation

The programme is accredited by CA ANZ and CPA Australia, with successful completion providing the academic requirements to apply for provisional membership.

7. Scholarship availability

There is currently no dedicated NMIT international scholarship advertised specifically for this master's programme on NMIT's published scholarship list.

8. 2027 fee confirmation

The currently displayed NZ$12,500 + NZ$450 Student Services Fee is the 2026 indicative fee, so 2027 applicants should obtain the updated fee before accepting their offer.