Study Masters in Accounting in Canada: Top Universities, Fees, Ranking, Eligibility, Admission Process, Scholarships, Placements

Masters in Accounting in Canada (MAcc) is a 2-year post-graduate program best suited for students who are looking for career options like IT Auditor, Public or Corporate Accountant, Auditor Fraud Examinee, etc. The annual average cost of pursuing masters in accounting for international students in Canada is approximately 42,300 USD.

Accounting masters in Canada majorly cover areas like taxation, insurance, comptrolling and financial strategies, banking, etc. The average salary for accounting postgraduates in Canada is around 46,300 USD per annum. Moreover, overseas students can obtain scholarships worth 2,300 USD to 3,800 USD to pursue this program.

Best Colleges in Canada for Masters in Accounting

Canada has top-ranked universities and colleges that offer several accounting and finance courses at the post-graduate level. The table below lists some of the top universities in Canada offering masters in accounting, along with their programs, tuition fee, and duration:

University	Program	Cost (in EUR)	Duration
University of Alberta	Master of Accounting	5885	2 years
University of Toronto	Master of Management and Professional Accounting	50,989	2 years
Carleton University	Accounting MAcc	22,423	1 year 4 months
Wilfrid Laurier University	Master of Finance	5,948	1 year
York University	Master of Financial Accountability	9,617	2 years
Saint Mary’s University	MBA (CPA Stream)	31,801	3 years
Brock University	Master of Professional Accounting	18,009	1 year 1 month
University of Saskatchewan	Accounting MPAcc	41,610	2 years

Course Curriculum for Masters in Accounting in Canada

To get an overview of the course syllabus for masters in accounting in Canada, one must understand the term-wise areas of study offered. The course curriculum involves core areas of accounting, including the following:

Term 1	Term 2
Strategic Performance Management	Integration and Team Management
Advanced Topics in Taxation	Integration and Analysis
Advanced Topics in Assurance	Information Technology and Systems
Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance	Corporate Governance
Advanced Financial Statement Analysis	Accounting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organizations

Difference between MBA Accounting and Masters in Accounting

As the two courses sound similar, students often tend to confuse between MBA accounting and masters in accounting. However, there are major differences between the two in terms of their course structure, study areas, scope, job profiles, etc. The differences between the two options are illustrated in the table below:

Factors	MBA Accounting	Masters in Accounting
Basic Difference	Major focus on business aspects with a specialization in Accounting.	Emphasizes mainly upon accounting, including its theory and practical applications.
Core Study Areas	Economic Performance Analysis, Strategic Cost Management, Audit Theory, etc.	Accounting, Taxation, Management, etc.
Duration	1 year (general study) and 1 year (specialization)	2 years
Job Roles	Chief Financial Officer, Tax Accountant, Consultant, Business Analyst, etc.	Management Accountant, Internal or External Auditor, Government Accountant, etc.
Average Salary for Freshers	59,400 USD	46,300 USD

Master Degree in Accounting in Canada Admission Process

In Canada, master's in accounting admissions are based on the fulfillment of basic requirements, program-specific requirements, and eligibility criteria. Let us discuss different aspects of the admission process in detail.

Eligibility Criteria

This section elaborates on the eligibility criteria that one must meet in order to secure admission into the master of accounting and finance in Canada:

• Mandatory education of 10+2+4 years 
• An aggregate percentage of 70-75% in the last two years of the bachelor’s degree program.
• It is compulsory to sit for GMAT or GRE exam to be able to apply to Canadian colleges and universities.
• For the prerequisite bachelor's courses, students must receive a minimum of 60% in order to demonstrate their knowledge of the field.

Admission Requirements

When it comes to admission requirements, applicants are required to submit certain documents along with their online applications. Moreover, international students need to showcase their proficiency in the English language by submitting ELP test scores. 

Students can apply for master's in accounting programs through the official websites of the respective universities. Applicants must submit the following documents in order to apply for masters in accounting in Canada:

• Academic Transcripts
• 2-3 LORs
• Statement of Interest (include reasons for choosing the course and career goals)
• Resume (include educational and professional experience)
• MAcc Prerequisite Form (for students who studied from more than one institution at the UG level)
• Test Scores 
• Standardized test scores (GMAT/GRE)
• English language proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE)

Here are the university-specific minimum ELP score requirements for admission to MAcc programs:

University	TOEFL iBT	IELTS	PTE	CAEL
York University	100	7.0	-	-
University of Saskatchewan	97	6.5	-	-
Carleton University	86	6.5	60	70
Brock University	105	7.5	72	-

Why Study Masters in Accounting in Canada?

As there is a rise in demand for accounting professionals in Canadian multinational corporations, it is predicted that the admissions for master's degrees in accounting in Canada will increase by over 2% in the upcoming admission intakes. Let us look at some of the other benefits of pursuing a master of accounting and finance in Canada:

• Due to the high demand for accounting professionals in Canada, the Labour Force Survey (2017) predicts that the unemployment rate in the accounting sector will drop by 1.1 percent each year.  
• There is a wide scope after pursuing masters in accounting in Canada as there is overall 10% growth in employment opportunities and satisfaction for people working in this field.
• Students pursuing a master of accounting and finance in Canada become proficient in areas like problem-solving and critical analysis. 
• In Toronto, there are around 1,800 job vacancies for students holding  MAcc degrees.  This indicates that it is one of the booming sectors in Canada. 

Cost of Pursuing Masters in Accounting in Canada

The cost for studying MAcc degree in Canada comes up to 43,000 USD per year (including all expenses). However, this cost also includes one-time expenses that students are not required to pay during the second year of study.

Pre-Arrival and Post-Arrival Costs

When applying for a masters in accounting in Canada, overseas applicants will incur the following pre-arrival and post-arrival expenses:

Expenses	Cost (in USD)
Pre-Arrival Expenses
GRE Fee	205
GMAT Fee	599
TOEFL Fee	160-250
IELTS Fee	185-190
Application Fee	68-113
Health Insurance	401-607
Visa Application Fee	235
Post-Arrival Expenses
Airfare	1,400
Hotel Accommodation	200-800
Meals	45 (per meal in a day)
Travel	25 (per day)
Financial Statement	10,000

Living Costs

Besides tuition fees, overseas students have to bear living expenses in Canada throughout their period of study. These expenses might differ from one student to another; however, we have given the estimated monthly costs of different living expenses in Canada below:

• Meal Plans: 7,600 USD (on an average)
• Transportation Expenses: 82 USD (U-Pass)
• Personal Expenses: 1,000 USD to 2,000 USD (approx.)

Annual Costs

Among the annual expenses are tuition fees, off-campus living costs, and expenses related to books and other educational supplies. While studying MAcc in Canada, international students will incur the following university-wise expenses per year:

University	Tuition Fee (in USD)	Living Expenses (in USD)	Books and Educational expenses (in USD)
York University	40,550	10,900	570
University of Saskatchewan	35,700	4,380	1,150
Carleton University	33,370	10,550	905
Brock University	29,000	14,310	760

Career Prospects Post Masters in Accounting in Canada

Masters in accounting in Canada is a highly rewarding program as it offers a number of lucrative career opportunities for international students. There are more than 3,873 job openings for accountants in Canada. 

Moreover, the recruitment of accountants has increased by nearly 10% in several Canadian companies and government agencies. Further, accountants in financial services witnessed a 2% increase in hiring over those in legal services. Here are )some of the job opportunities and salaries one can expect after completing the master of accounting and finance in Canada:

• Management Accountant: 50,210 USD
• Government Accountant: 43,250 USD
• External Auditor: 41,400 USD
• Internal Auditor: 46,450 USD
• IT Auditor: 50,230 USD