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SCMP Reporter

People without an accounting background will soon be able to qualify as professional accountants by taking a Master of/Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting offered by Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

  Pending final approval by the university, the Department of Accountancy will begin the two-year, part-time programme in September.

  It is also expected to be approved by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants, after which the MPA/PgDPA award will be recognised as an accredited conversion programme under the society's new certification scheme.

  Professor Joseph Cheung, head of PolyU's Department of Accountancy, said the conversion master's programme would provide intensive education in accounting and accounting-related knowledge to business degree holders.

 He said the programme had a dual purpose. First, it would meet the need to educate non-accountancy degree graduates to become accountants.

  Professional accountants would also be able to broaden their knowledge base without losing practical perspectives.

  Professor Cheung was optimistic the programme would be approved.

   'Students successfully completing the first year of the programme will graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma while candidates electing to complete the second year will be awarded a Master of Professional Accounting,' he said.

 Terrence Chan, assistant professor, said topics that were covered in the course such as international finance, corporate governance and the theory and practice of accounting in the mainland would be useful when applied in the workplace.



Conversion towards a career in accountancy