Master of Professional Accountancy FAQs

The Rady faculty are ranked among the top in the world, they are leading experts in their field, both academically and professionally. As a student in the MPAc program, you will learn from cutting-edge research as well as from current and former senior executives from industry and global accounting giants.

Faculty and staff are with you every step of the way, providing individual career support, academic advising, as well as tutoring, and extracurricular options to expand your experience outside the classroom. You can also expect hands-on experience with major firms within the capstone project. As a student, you have the flexibility to take electives in the program across the Rady Campus. Students in our program have up to 40% of the electives from other Rady programs in finance, data, leadership, and industry focus (e.g. energy). We are constantly evaluating our curriculum, based on marketplace changes and industry feedback.

The Master of Professional Accountancy program is designed as a full-time, 9-month immersive program. Currently, there is no part-time, evening, or weekend format available in the MPAc program. The curriculum consists of seven 4-unit core courses, two 1-unit professional seminars, and 20 units from a set of elective courses. This program is comprised of 40% electives which allow you to customize your program to support your career and academic goals.

Yes, the capstone project is a requirement for all students and will provide you with real-world experience working on a company project. This is a key differentiator for Rady, where all of our students graduate with hands-on experience, working on real business problems. Accountants build trust and confidence in capital markets all over the world. You will be asked to support decision-makers as they navigate the complex business demands of a growing number of stakeholders. The capstone will allow you to work with industry or professional firm sponsors to analyze and address a complex issue facing them. The topics are current and will change with the environment.

Yes, the MPAc degree has been recognized as a STEM-designated field of study. Students who complete the MPAc degree will have the opportunity to qualify for an additional two-year STEM extension of their post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permission. The Rady School MPAc degree is one of only 24% of specialized master's programs in the U.S. to earn STEM designation. Students take several classes that focus on managerial decision-making using new technologies and approaches with the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Yes, each student will receive personalized support from their academic advisor. Your MPAc advisor will be guiding you throughout your entire program.

Graduate students at UC San Diego have a variety of housing options, including on-campus and off-campus accommodations. Visit the UC San Diego HDH Graduate and Family Housing webpage for on-campus housing information. On-campus housing is limited; students wishing to live on-campus are encouraged to submit a housing application as soon as they receive an admissions offer. All on-campus housing is managed by UC San Diego Housing Dining Hospitality (HDH); the Rady School is unable to answer on-campus housing-related questions or request prioritization of housing applications.

Please visit the UC San Diego off-campus housing webpage for more information about off-campus accommodation options.

Contact our Rady Graduate Admissions Department if you would like to schedule an Advising Session with our Assistant Director of Admissions. We also offer the option to audit a course or speak with former students.

The Rady MPAc program faculty directors and dedicated career advisors have great industry connections, providing opportunities to connect with employers worldwide. The employers who recruit our graduates include accounting firms (big 4, mid-tier, regional, local, and international), public and private companies, and government agencies.

MPAc students are given opportunities to engage with employers, to attain leadership opportunities, and to secure unique internships - all before the start of the program, and as early as their Junior year as an undergraduate. In the past, they have had the opportunity to visit EY, Deloitte, PwC, BDO, Moss Adams, RSM, Grant Thornton, HCVT, and White Nelson Diehl Evans in the Bay Area and Orange County during the Summer and exclusively network with campus recruiters, partners, and alumni.

In addition, MPAc students receive access to recruitment events, such as Meet the Firms and employer information sessions. They are also given personalized introductions to Rady MPAc’s network of campus recruiters and alumni. They have access to a list of more than 200 job opportunities and more than 100 interview slots available.

MPAc students have access to a large network of firms and companies. Students participate in multiple interviews and receive several job offers through the on-campus recruitment process. Below are some of the companies where our graduates have accepted full-time offers: Ernst & Young Grant Thornton PricewaterhouseCoopers Industrial Securities Co., Ltd. (China) HCVT - Holthouse, Carlin & Van Trigt KPMG Eide Bailly PricewaterhouseCoopers Grant Thornton Ernst & Young: Japanese Business Services CKP, LLC CITIC Securities Company Limited Moss Adams LLP DeGregori, Gormsen & Ringer LLP

The Rady MPAc Program not only prepares students to enter careers in public and private accounting but also related fields, such as banking and consulting. Our graduates have accepted offers with public accounting firms and within the industry with titles of:

Audit Associate, Tax Associate, Staff Associate, Assurance Staff, Audit Staff, Tax Staff, Junior Accountant, Staff Associate -Japan Business Services (JBS), Analyst, Research Assistant, Equity Research Analyst, and Compliance Associate

Yes, MPAc students work closely with a dedicated Career Consultant and Employer Relations Manager from the Rady Career Management Center. Your consultant is committed to providing personalized career support as early as August before the school start date or as a confirmed UCSD Junior Applicant to ensure access to the recruitment season. Career Management Center Consultants are skilled at assisting students with identifying strengths as well as leveraging experiences and contacts to target career opportunities. Candidates receive guidance on the development of key job search skills, including interview techniques, networking strategies, and resume/cover letter construction.

The firm recruiting process starts before the MPAc program even begins, so make sure to apply early.

No, neither a Bachelor’s degree (major or minor) in accounting nor accounting-specific work experience is required for the MPAc program. Meeting all of the accounting prerequisite courses is highly encouraged.

You may apply for admission before completing the required pre-requisite coursework, but they must be completed before the start of the MPAc program in order to enroll in classes.

Applicants are reviewed on a holistic basis, meaning the admissions committee looks at the overall competitiveness of your interview and application as it relates to your prior academic work, professional experience, fit or alignment with the Rady School values and mission, and more. There are many specific factors that go into admission decisions, including previous education performance, recommendations, the GMAT/GRE (if applicable), TOEFL/IELTS (if applicable), work experience, essays, and passion for the program. All of these components are carefully reviewed once your application is completed. The graduate admissions committee will balance the diversity of education, work experience, background, and leadership potential to build a diverse cohort of the high caliber of students.

Yes, we offer a unique opportunity for Juniors actively attending a UC (UCSD, UCR, UCI, UCSB, UCSC, UCD, UCB, UCSF, UCLA) to apply for Graduate admissions early. There are several benefits to becoming a Jr. Applicant. Please see our website for additional information on eligibility or contact Stacy, our MPAc Assistant Director of Admissions at sfgoldstein@ucsd.edu

Application:

When will applicants be notified of the admission decision?

Will I be interviewed as part of the application process?

How can I receive financial support?

Is an admission enrollment deposit required?

Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required for all international applicants unless the applicant meets the UC San Diego English Language Proficiency policy waiver requirements.

In order to meet the waiver eligibility, applicants must have completed studies as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States (or other English-speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, or Canada with the exception of Québec) for at least one full academic year while maintaining a “B average before entering UC San Diego. These applicants are automatically exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE requirement. If this is the case, simply leave the TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE sections of the online application blank.