MSc Professional Accounting and Corporate Governance

The MScPACG programme aims to provide an active learning environment to develop students for leadership positions in the professional accounting and corporate governance area in Hong Kong and the Greater China region.
 

For Professional Accounting Stream, applicants must:

• hold a non-accounting degree from a recognised university; or
• hold an equivalent qualification acceptable to CityUHK.

For Corporate Governance Stream, applicants must:

• hold a degree from recognised universities or professional membership from recognized institutions; or
• hold an equivalent qualification acceptable to CityUHK.

Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is NOT English should also fulfill the following minimum English proficiency requirement:

• a score of 79 (Internet-based test) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)@#; or
• an overall band score of 6.0 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS)@##; or
• a score 450 in band 6 in the Chinese mainland’s College English Test; or
• other equivalent qualifications.

^@ TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years. Applicants are required to provide their English test results obtained within the two years preceding the start of the University's application period. 'TOEFL iBT Home Edition', ‘TOEFL MyBest Score’, ‘IELTS Indicator’, ‘IELTS One Skill Retake’ and ‘IELTS Online’ are not acceptable.

^# Applicants are required to arrange with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send their TOEFL results directly to the University. The TOEFL institution code for CityUHK is 3401.

^## Applicants are required to arrange for sending their IELTS result(s) via the IELTS Results Service e-delivery to the University. Please note that applicants with an overall band score of 6.0 will be required to pass an interview for English proficiency conducted by the concerned academic unit. Interviews for other applicants may not be required.

This programme has been selected by the University Grants Committee (UGC) for the scholarship award under the main priority area of ‘Financial’. Scholarships are available to local students admitted to the programme. Nominated students will be invited to submit applications for the scholarship. For details, please visit the scholarship website. 

1. Programme Core Courses (12 credit units)

• Accounting Information Systems
• Advanced Taxation
• Corporate Governance
• Law Relating to Business and Companies
   

2. Stream Core Courses (18 credit units)

Participants can choose ONE of the following two streams:

a) Professional Accounting Stream

• Auditing
• Corporate Accounting
• Cost and Management Accounting
• Financial and Management Accounting
• Financial Management
• Financial Reporting

b) Corporate Governance Stream

• Credentials and Essential Soft Skills for Effective Board Management
• Companies and Securities Regulations and Practice
• Corporate Finance and Policies
• Corporate Financial Reporting
• Risk Management
• Strategic Management and Business Policy
   

3. Stream Electives (Optional)

a) Professional Accounting Stream

• Credentials and Essential Soft Skills for Effective Board Management
• Business Economics and Statistics for Accountants
• Business Management for Accountants
• Companies and Securities Regulations and Practice
• Professional Internship
• Risk Management
• Strategic Management and Business Policy

b) Corporate Governance Stream

• Auditing
• Business Economics and Statistics for Accountants
• Business Management for Accountants
• Cost and Management Accounting
• Professional Internship

Note: The course list and curriculum are subject to periodic review and may change.  The availability of elective courses is subject to sufficient student demand and department resources.  As a result, some courses may not be offered every academic year.  The Department reserves the right to adjust the course offerings and modify the elective list as necessary.

Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)

This programme is accredited by the HKICPA.  Professional Accounting Stream graduates are required to pass the subjects as indicated in the approved curriculum (refer to the website at (https://www.cb.cityu.edu.hk/ac/programmes/postgraduateAndRD/) in order to qualify for exemption from the relevant Associate Modules of the Qualification Programme (QP).

Exemptions are only available to  graduates who have completed and passed subjects with substantial coverage relevant to Modules of the Associate Level of the QP within the last five years.  The final decision on exemptions rests with the HKICPA.

For more information about the QP and its module syllabuses (for self-assessment), please visit the HKICPA’s website:

https://www.hkicpa.org.hk/en/Become-a-Hong-Kong-CPA/Qualification-Programme/Professional-accountancy-education/Associate-Level

[Important Note on QP Module Exemptions]

Our accredited programme includes two prescribed elective courses (AC5890 & AC5891) essential for obtaining full exemption from the QP.  If students intend to sit for the QP and have not completed these electives, whether due to any reason, or have not covered equivalent subject areas in their previous studies, they may need to undertake the relevant QP modules independently.  Exemptions are subject to fulfilling HKICPA’s requirements.

The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute (HKCGI) and The Chartered Governance Institute (CGI)

Subject to the renewal of the Collaborative Course Agreement with HKCGI, graduates of the Corporate Governance Stream may enjoy full exemption from the professional examinations of HKCGI and CGI**.

**The full exemption is subject to fulfilling the requirements of HKCGI.

Other Accreditations

This programme is also accredited by other professional institutions and the exemption list is subject to periodic review.  For details, please refer to our website at: 

 https://www.cb.cityu.edu.hk/ac/programmes/prof_accred/

Subject to funding and annual approval, admitted applicants are automatically considered for two types of scholarships (hence, no separate application is necessary):

• AC Entrance Scholarships
• AC Academic Excellence Scholarships

For details, please visit AC website at https://www.cityu.edu.hk/ac under Programmes & Courses.

Department of Accountancy