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MPAc Admissions Information

We are thrilled you are considering the Rady School of Management for your Master of Professional Accountancy. The Rady Admissions team takes a holistic approach to reviewing all applicants and in recruiting a cohort that reflects academic excellence, innovation, diverse perspectives and hard work. We encourage you to explore the application process, meet our advisors, and to take the time to put together a high quality application that reflects you and your career aspirations. This is your opportunity to invest in yourself and make the impact you want to have on the world.

Candidates with all undergraduate degrees may apply. Applicants who have significant prior study in accounting and who have completed the foundational accounting courses will be the most competitive. Applicants with non-accounting undergraduate degrees and less than 24 quarter units (18 semester units) in accounting will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who do not meet the accounting foundational courses at the time of application must be on track to complete them prior to the program start.  The GMAT/GRE is not required for MPAc admissions.

Fall 2024 Application Deadlines

MPAC

  • Round 1: October 15, 2023
  • Round 2: November 15, 2023
  • Round 3: January 15, 2024
  • Round 4: March 1, 2024
  • Round 5 (Fellowship & International Deadline): April 15, 2024
  • Round 6 (Domestic Deadline): June 1, 2024

Program Start Date: September 2024

All admitted students who enroll in the Master of Professional Accountancy program are expected to arrive to campus in time for the required orientation.  Orientation begins on September 12, 2024

Application Checklist 

A completed Master of Professional Accountancy application will include the following components:

Application Form

Please fill out the application form.

Transcripts

Provide unofficial academic transcripts by uploading a PDF (front and back sides of each page) directly into the online application. Official transcripts are not required until you are offered admission by UC San Diego.
For international applicants ONLY: https://grad.ucsd.edu/admissions/requirements/international-students/index.html- All international transcripts require an official translation into English by a certified translator. International applicants must submit a certified copy of their diploma indicating the degree received.

Upon Provisional Admission to UC San Diego

Beginning with the Fall 2023 admissions cycle, all admitted, international applicants are required to complete and submit a WES Course-by-Course evaluation. Please go to wes.org to create your account. You will be prompted to input your academic history, and will then be provided with a list of documents required for the completion of your evaluation. Applicants with academic work in progress who expect to complete a degree program before the intended date of enrollment at UCSD must provide evidence of degree conferral and a final academic transcript as soon as they are available.

Please do not send official documents to the Graduate Admissions Office. As an international applicant, you must submit a WES Course-by-Course evaluation via WES once you have been admitted for your admission to UC San Diego to be finalized.

Resume or CV

Submit your up-to-date resume or CV.

Accounting Background

Prospective students must have a solid accounting foundation to be a competitive applicant for the Rady MPAc program.   Foundational accounting courses ensure prospective students are prepared for the academically rigorous MPAc program and the accounting industry’s competitive hiring process.

By the start of the program, applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of 24 quarter units (18 semester units) in accounting including the following (or their institution’s equivalent of):

  • Managerial Accounting
  • Financial Accounting
  • Intermediate Accounting I
  • Intermediate Accounting II
  • Auditing
  • Federal Taxation

 Applicants with non-accounting undergraduate degrees and less than 24 quarter units (18 semester units) in accounting will be considered on an exceptional basis. Applicants who do not meet the accounting foundational courses listed above at the time of application must be on track to complete the pre-requisites prior to the program start.

Recommendations

All applicants are required to submit two recommendations. It is highly encouraged that recommendations be submitted online. It is most important that recommendations be completed by individuals who are in a position to analyze your ability and academic promise.

Statement of Purpose

Tell us why you think that you are a good candidate for the Master of Professional Accountancy program and how you expect the specific features of the program at Rady to benefit your future career. (500 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

GRE/GMAT Scores

The GRE/GMAT test requirement is optional for the Master of Professional Accountancy program. Applicants are welcome to include valid GRE or GMAT test scores at the time of application submission.  If you choose to include a GRE or GMAT test in your application, you should be aware that your application will be considered incomplete and will not be moved forward or reviewed until official scores are received from the testing institution and verified by the Rady Admissions Office.

  • The code for the GMAT is 3NS-ZK-33
  • The code for the GRE is 4836

The Rady Admissions Office encourages all applicants to prepare appropriately for these examinations. Study can be done individually, in classroom environments, or online. Though the Rady School does not endorse any particular test prep organization, the following are organizations that have been utilized successfully by previous applicants:

 

TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Score (for international applicants only)

  • TOEFL scores are to be sent from ETS to institutional code 4836. Minimum scores for TOEFL: 90, however, competitive applicants’ average scores are above 100.
  • IELTS scores are to be sent directly from the British Council or test-taking institution. The minimum IELTS score is 7. Select University of California, San Diego as the institution and have them released electronically to Rady/UC San Diego
  • PTE test takers must select the University of California, San Diego as a score recipient, then submit a copy of your scores directly to our Graduate Admissions office at: Rady School of Management, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive #0553, La Jolla, CA 92093-0553. Include your registration ID number and exam date on your application. Official scores will be verified online. The minimum PTE score is 65.

Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. Non-native English language speakers may be exempt from this requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree with grades of B (3.0) or better from either:

  • A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction, or
  • A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used in place of WHED as a means to obtain an exemption from the English proficiency requirement. 

Application Fee

The application fee is $135 for Domestic Applicants,  $155 for International Applicants. The non-refundable fee is payable by credit card through the online application. You may also pay by check, following the instructions in the online application. If you choose to pay by check, please note that your application will not be processed until your check has been received. Your application cannot be reviewed until the application fee is paid.

After You Apply

The Rady School admissions team reviews applications as they are received and makes decisions on a rolling basis. The number of seats is limited so applying early increases your likelihood of gaining admission.

  • After you submit your application, you will receive confirmation and instructions for further action, if necessary.
  • Once you have submitted a complete application, it will be reviewed to determine if the admissions committee would like to schedule an interview.
  • Interviews are required for admission and are by invitation only.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact the Rady Admissions Office.