An MS in Accounting abroad is a common choice for finance professionals wanting to build advanced technical skills for a heavily regulated, in-demand industry.
The curriculum typically covers financial reporting, taxation, auditing, and core accounting principles. Because of this multi-faceted design, graduates work across a wide range of industries and roles: in corporate finance, they analyze financial statements to guide strategic decisions; in public accounting, they conduct audits to ensure regulatory compliance.
Many students also pursue the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) certification alongside or after their MS in Accounting, since it’s directly relevant to the field and can meaningfully improve employability in accounting-specific roles. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) is a different, investment/finance-oriented certification; it’s not a standard or necessary complement to an MS in Accounting specifically, so don’t assume you need both.
Top countries to study an MS in Accounting
Several countries host strong MS in Accounting programs, each with distinct advantages. Rather than citing a specific ranking-based country breakdown (see the note at the top of this document on why a previous ranking table was removed), here’s a general orientation:
The United States
The USA is commonly considered the leading destination for an MS in Accounting, home to well-known business schools and a large market for accounting-related roles. Most US MS in Accounting programs are STEM-designated, which matters significantly for post-study work options (see the OPT section below).
The United Kingdom
The UK hosts numerous well-regarded programs; note that UK universities commonly use different naming conventions than “MS in Accounting,” typically MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting & Finance, or similar, so search using UK-specific program names. Notable schools with accounting-related Master’s offerings include Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and Imperial College London; confirm the exact current degree name and structure directly on each university’s own page before assuming it matches a US-style MS in Accounting. A direct tuition comparison against US programs wasn’t independently verified for this update, so this guide doesn’t assert a general affordability claim; compare current fees directly for your specific shortlisted programs.
Hong Kong and mainland China
Institutions like the University of Hong Kong, Peking University, and Tsinghua University are commonly cited by students researching this region; confirm the exact current program name, structure, and ranking directly on each university’s own page and current QS/THE subject rankings, particularly for students interested in Asia-Pacific career paths.
Australia
Universities including UNSW, University of Sydney, and University of Melbourne offer well-regarded accounting programs with strong industry connections in the region.
France
France has a strong reputation for finance and accounting education, home to schools like HEC Paris, INSEAD, and ESSEC.
Check the current QS World University Rankings by Subject (Accounting and Finance) or Financial Times rankings directly for up-to-date, verified program-level rankings, since these are published annually and specific positions shift meaningfully year to year.
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Course curriculum for an MS in Accounting
While each university customizes its curriculum, certain core topics are common across most programs:
|
Core Course |
What It Covers |
|
Financial Accounting |
Preparation and interpretation of financial statements per GAAP |
|
Managerial Accounting |
Using accounting information for internal planning and decision-making |
|
Auditing |
Risk assessment, internal controls, and regulatory compliance |
|
Taxation |
Federal, state, and local tax laws, tax planning, and return preparation |
|
Accounting Information Systems |
Using information technology to manage accounting data |
|
Financial Reporting and Analysis |
Interpreting financial statements to provide stakeholder insights |
|
Corporate Governance and Business Ethics |
Ethical considerations and governance in accounting practice |
|
Advanced Accounting |
Complex topics like consolidations and foreign currency transactions |
|
Capstone Project/Internship |
Hands-on application of accounting principles, common though not universal |
Eligibility for an MS in Accounting
Requirements vary by university; a general pattern:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Reasonable proficiency with spreadsheet/accounting software
- GMAT or GRE scores, where required (see below)
- English proficiency test scores (TOEFL or IELTS) for non-native speakers
- Two professional or academic letters of recommendation
- A statement of purpose
- Relevant work experience, beneficial though not always required
GMAT/GRE requirements
Not every program requires a standardized test score, and requirements vary considerably by school. Programs may be more likely to ask for a GMAT/GRE score depending on your specific profile (relevant work experience, undergraduate GPA, and whether your undergraduate degree was quantitative), though this isn’t a fixed rule applied identically everywhere. This guide doesn’t cite a specific target score, since competitive benchmarks vary meaningfully by school and cohort; check your specific target program’s current class profile and admissions page directly rather than assuming a fixed number. Some business schools offer their own internal assessment tests as an alternative to GMAT/GRE for certain programs; whether this applies to a specific school’s MS in Accounting program specifically (as opposed to their MBA or other programs) needs to be confirmed directly with that school, since this guide could not independently verify this at the individual-program level for this update.
Also read: Top Exams to Study Abroad
Scholarships for an MS in Accounting
Several India-based and university-specific funding routes exist:
|
Source |
Type |
Details |
|
Tata Trusts |
Merit and Need-Based |
Supports Indian students pursuing higher education; check current scheme names and eligibility directly, since Tata Trusts runs multiple distinct programs with their own criteria |
|
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation |
Overseas Scholarships |
Supports full-time Master’s, MPhil, or Doctorate study; the Foundation’s eligible fields notably exclude MBA/management specifically (confirmed elsewhere on this site), though accounting as a distinct field may be treated differently, so confirm current field-of-study eligibility directly before assuming it applies |
|
Government of India |
Various |
Multiple ministries and bodies offer study-abroad scholarships; check current schemes directly |
|
J.N. Tata Endowment |
Loan Scholarships |
Offers loan scholarships for Indian students pursuing postgraduate study abroad |
India-based scholarships like these are generally competitive relative to the number of awards available. University-specific financial aid is also worth checking directly, since policies on whether admitted students are automatically considered vary by school.
Scholarship coverage varies by source and program; some cover tuition in full or in part, leaving other costs (living expenses, travel, insurance) to be funded separately. Many students use an education loan to cover some or all of these costs.
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Career scope of an MS in Accounting
The scope of an MS in Accounting is broad, opening doors across multiple industries:
- Finance: financial reporting, tax planning, auditing, and compliance roles
- Consulting: financial advisory, risk management, and performance improvement work
- Technology: financial planning and analysis, internal audit, and compliance roles at tech companies
- Healthcare: financial records management, audits, and regulatory compliance
- Public sector and nonprofits: managing public funds and ensuring transparent financial reporting
- Manufacturing and real estate: cost accounting, budgeting, and financial analysis specific to these sectors
Accounting-trained graduates can also find roles in other sectors, including education, sports organizations, and entertainment companies, though this guide doesn’t have a specific source quantifying how common this is; treat it as a general possibility rather than a typical outcome.
|
Important correction on OPT: this article notes elsewhere that many US MS in Accounting programs are STEM-designated, though this is program-specific, not automatic; check your specific program against the current USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Where a program is STEM-designated, graduates are eligible for a 24-month STEM-OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT period, for up to 36 months of total post-study work authorization, not simply “up to one year, with the possibility of extending it further” as a vague, undersold description would suggest. Confirm your specific program’s STEM designation and current OPT/STEM-OPT rules directly with your school and on the USCIS/Study in the States site, since immigration rules are reviewed periodically. |
Industries and companies with accounting-relevant roles
The companies below are examples of organizations with roles relevant to an accounting background, not a claim that they specifically recruit from MS in Accounting programs or from any particular school’s program:
- Consulting and finance: firms like Deloitte, PwC, and EY, alongside banks like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, commonly have financial reporting and risk-management roles relevant to this background
- Technology and e-commerce: companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple have financial analysis, internal audit, and compliance roles
- Healthcare and pharmaceuticals: companies like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson have roles managing financial data and processes
Specific recruiting relationships with any given university’s program vary by school and year; check your target school’s own career-outcomes or recruiting-partner data for program-specific evidence. Many smaller firms and startups also value the broad financial literacy accounting graduates bring.
Job prospects after an MS in Accounting
Common roles after this degree include Financial Analyst, Internal Auditor, Tax Accountant, Management Accountant, Forensic Accountant, Controller, Finance Manager, and Budget Analyst. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics currently projects 5% employment growth for accountants and auditors from 2025 to 2035 (faster than the average for all occupations), with roughly 115,300 annual openings projected over the decade, largely driven by workers transferring roles or retiring.
Individual salary figures vary considerably by specific role, company, location, experience, and market conditions, and shift meaningfully year to year; this guide deliberately avoids repeating a specific role-by-role salary table, since such figures age quickly. Check current data from Glassdoor, Payscale, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or your target university’s own career-outcomes reports for an accurate, current picture.
Sources
- Harvard Business School’s actual program structure (no ‘Master of Accounting and Management’ degree exists; ‘Accounting & Management’ is a PhD research unit name, and HBS’s non-MBA accounting offerings are 6-week online certificates): confirmed via Harvard Business School’s own official pages (hbs.edu).
- STEM-OPT 24-month extension for STEM-designated programs: confirmed via established USCIS/Study in the States guidance.
- US accountant/auditor job growth (5% projected 2025-2035) and annual openings (approximately 115,300): confirmed directly via the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ own current Occupational Outlook Handbook page for accountants and auditors.
Disclaimer: rankings, fees, scholarship terms, and salary figures referenced in this guide change over time and are reviewed periodically. This article is for general information only and is not financial or immigration advice. Verify current details directly with each university before making decisions.
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