Master of Accounting (MAcc)

The program information below was valid for the spring 2020 term (May 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Graduate research fields

  • Information Technology
  • Performance Measurement
  • Taxation

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Winter
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Regulations require residence (full-time enrolment) for a minimum of two terms beyond the Honours Bachelor's degree for regular full-time students.
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Professional
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
  • Study option(s) 
  • Additional program information 
    • This program is accredited by Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Canada, so students who successfully complete the program, including all CPA requirements, are exempt from all 6 modules of the CPA Professional Education Program and may proceed directly to the Common Final Examination (CFE).

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • Successful completion of any of the following University of Waterloo four-year Honours undergraduate degrees with at least a 75% average across all courses taken in the last three years:
      • Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management
      • Bachelor of Math/Chartered Professional Accountancy Studies, or
      • Bachelor of Science/Chartered Professional Accountancy Studies
    • Completion of the following set of Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) courses with at least a 75% average across all courses, calculated using the grade from the first attempt at a course in the case of repeated courses:
      • AFM 311 Connections to Ethical Context
      • AFM 341 Accounting Information Systems
      • AFM 351 Audit Strategy
      • AFM 362 Taxation 1
      • AFM 363 Taxation 2
      • AFM 373 Cases and Applications in Corporate Finance or AFM 476 Cases and Applications in Corporate Finance
      • AFM 391 Intermediate Financial Accounting 2
      • AFM 401 Accounting Theory
      • AFM 433 Business Strategy
      • AFM 462 Taxation 3 for Public Accountants
      • AFM 479 Cases and Applications in Finance II or AFM 424 Equities and AFM 322 Derivatives or ACTSC 371 Introduction to Investments and MATBUS 470 Derivatives
      • AFM 481 Cost Management Systems
      • AFM 482 Performance Measurement and Organization Control
      • AFM 491 Advanced Financial Accounting
  • Application materials 
    • Transcript(s)
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Master's Research Paper option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 7 approved graduate courses (0.50 unit weight) over two terms.
    • The availability of particular courses depends on sufficient student demand.
    • Students must achieve an average of at least 60% in each ACC course and an average of at least 75% across all courses presented in fulfillment of the degree requirements. Students with a first-term average below 75% may be required to withdraw from the program.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Academic Integrity Workshop
  • Master’s Research Paper

    • Coursework option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 8 approved graduate courses (0.50 unit weight) over two terms.
    • The availability of particular courses depends on sufficient student demand.
    • Students must achieve an average of at least 60% in each ACC course and an average of at least 75% across all courses presented in fulfillment of the degree requirements. Students with a first-term average below 75% may be required to withdraw from the program.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Academic Integrity Workshop
School of Accounting and Finance website