Is working in a prestigious organisation your dream? Like how it is seen on movies, wearing beautiful suits and leading a team at work, living that corporate life. Do you think that you’re good at managing an organisation and you are also great at leadership?
Accounting is an essential part of a business and the knowledge and that the students will learn in this course will help them give a broad view of businesses. Accountants practices and processes by which financial transactions are recorded, monitored, analysed and managed.
This field deals with all the key financial matters such as revenue, cost, remittance, profit and loss management, debts, credits and all other expenses.
Why Study Accounting & Finance New Zealand?
Study accounting and finance can set you up with an exciting career with good job security, attractive salaries and the opportunity to work. For a better experience, study abroad in New Zealand can be your option. Here are the reasons why New Zealand can be the best destination for you:
1. Low cost of studying compared to other International countries
Studying overseas makes us one to be exposed to diversification. Studying in New Zealand is much more affordable compared to other international countries like USA, UK, Australia and Canada.
2. International reputation and quality education
New Zealand bases its education programmes and degrees on the world’s most recognised and accredited education system equal to other International countries such as the US and UK. New Zealand holds an international reputation as a provider of quality education.
3. Warm and friendly hospitality
The locals are known for their friendliness, hospitality and warmth to overseas visitors, and enjoy meeting folks from other countries.
4. Ideal travel destination
Both destination of education and a place for thrill and adventure. New Zealand offers treat-to-the-eyes attractions and students can widen their horizons by travelling to the places. Travelling does not have to be a luxury.
5. Working with a student visa
This is possibly the best privilege of studying in New Zealand. The New Zealand government has allowed international students to stay back after graduating to work locally. Students can also work part-time, on average students can work part-time during holidays or break. This is also a great opportunity to continue being employed there and become a permanent resident.
Find out more: Why study in New Zealand
Keep reading as we will be guiding you with more important guides on a few topics.
- What is Accounting about?
- What are the major fields in Accounting?
- What are the important skills I need in this field?
- What are the entry requirements and qualifications?
- How long will I be studying in this programme?
- How much are the average tuition fees?
- What are the job opportunities?
- Universities in New Zealand offering Accounting programmes.
What is Accounting about?
Accounting is a bachelor's degree that is done by students to help them become experts in managing a business in all forms. It could be a startup or a huge organisation.
Studying Accounting could be for any purposes either to start one's own business or to manage a bigger scale organisation. Studying accounting plays a direct role in the financial performance and efficiency of the organisations they work for.
What are the major subjects in Accounting?
In Accounting, there are a number of major subjects that students can further into. Some of the branches in the field that could interest you are listed below.
Core Subjects |
Scope |
Economics |
Economic analysis of resource allocation |
Statistics |
Experimental data on a specific subject to study the supply and demand |
Accounting |
Preparation and presentation of accounting information |
Finance |
Process of presenting financial information to stakeholders |
Operations |
Successful management of business operations and systems |
Strategy |
Strategic vision and mission and execution of strategy |
Ethics and Law |
Regulations and legal issues |
Marketing |
Fundamentals of marketing and how it affects the economy |
Auditing |
Financial Inspection |
Governance and Risk |
Organisational hierarchy and management |
Taxation |
Goods and Services Tax |
What are the skills and qualifications needed in this field?
Furthering into this field one needs a number of skills to qualify. The field of Accounting requires specific skills that you might have already possess.
1. Leadership
You’re a leader in nature. You love working on ideas purposefully and love leading a team. You’re confident
2. Good communication skills
If you are friendly in nature and have good communication skills you are almost for this field. As you will be interacting with people, it will be crucial to be able to communicate and interact confidently with others.
3. Self-oriented
You’re someone who has self values and discipline. Your manager can trust you and hand over challenging tasks as management requires strategic thinking and planning skills to accomplish tasks.
How long will I study in this programme?
The study duration could vary from one institute to another. However, as a general estimate, we have compiled a general estimate of the duration according to the study levels and qualifications.
Study Levels |
Duration |
Foundation/A levels |
1 year |
Diploma |
2 years |
Undergraduate Degree |
4 years |
Master’s Degree/PhD |
1-4 years |
What are the entry requirements and qualifications?
To successfully get admission into an Accounting degree or pathway programme, students must meet the minimum academic and entry-level English language requirements.
However, requirements could vary according to institutions. We advise you to refer to the institutions directly for more details.
- Foundations / A levels in Accounting
- SPM with minimum 5 passes
- Pass 4 relevant subjects in STPM, including English
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or related subjects
- Completed any relevant Degree or any equivalent International Degree with minimum CGPA 2.5, completed a Masters Degree and/or PhD from a recognised International Institute or any equal International Institute.
English language requirements:
- TOEFL score 55
- IELTS score of 5.5 (no bands below 5.0)
- Kaplan iBT 61
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) 53
Also read: General Student Visa Requirement for New Zealand
How much are the average tuition fees?
The average tuition fees for Accounting can vary from one institute to another according to different levels and qualifications. Here are the average estimated tuition fees below :
Programme |
Estimated Fees in NZD |
Estimated Fees in MYR |
Foundation/ A Levels |
NZD5,600 - NZD11,000 |
RM15,000 - RM30,000 |
Bachelor’s Degree |
NZD33,000 - NZD74,000 |
RM90,000 – RM200,000 |
Masters |
NZD27,700 - NZD46,300 |
RM 75,000 – RM125,,000 |
PhD |
NZD28,000 - NZD55,600 |
RM75,000 - RM150,000 |
Also read: Cost of living in New Zealand
What are the job opportunities after Accounting?
There are a number of job possibilities for an Accounting major. The right job will be dependent on your personal skills, preferences and personality.
Here are the career choices available for Accounting graduate:
Career |
Scope |
Estimated Monthly Income (RM) |
Auditor |
Audit |
RM5,000 |
Public Accountant |
Accounting and Finance |
RM6,000 |
Tax accountant |
Taxation |
RM5,000 |
Consultant |
Accounting and Management |
RM8,000 |
Also read:
Top Universities in New Zealand that offer Accounting programmes
New Zealand is becoming one of the most preferred countries for many international students to further their higher education. In addition, graduates with Accounting degrees are high in demand and it keeps growing.
For those who are interested to pursue Accounting in New Zealand, below are some of the notable institutions that offer the course and are also ranked the best in the 2021 QS World University Rankings.
1. University of Auckland
University of Auckland is the largest university in New Zealand, located in the country's largest city, Auckland. It is the highest-ranked university in the country, being ranked 81st worldwide in the 2021 QS World University Ranking.
2. Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Founded in 2000, Auckland University of Technology is a public institution located in Auckland, New Zealand. It has enrolled for more than 29,000 students with 4,194 international students from over 94 countries.
3. Victoria University of Wellington
Established in 1897, Victoria University of Wellington is a public university based in Wellington, New Zealand. It has been 223rd in the Top 500 Universities, according to 2021 QS World University Rankings.
4. Massey University
Massey University is especially known in New Zealand for its ability to deliver research-led teaching and research training. The university has strong links with various industries and commerce that contribute to the development of the economy. The main research areas that it focuses on are veterinary medicine, food technology, information sciences, engineering technology, agriculture, finance, marketing and accountancy.
5. University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury is New Zealand's second-oldest university (after the University of Otago). Under the 2021 QS World University Rankings, it is ranked 270th overall in the world, and the fourth highest-ranked university in New Zealand.
6. University of Otago
Based in Dunedin, Otago, University of Otago offers a wide range of courses including accounting. It scores highly for average research quality and known for its vibrant student life. Another interesting fact about this university is its architectural grandeur because you will find beautiful gardens to satisfy your study experience.
7. University of Waikato
Established in 1964, the University of Waikato is a university based in Hamilton, New Zealand. In the 2021 QS rankings, it is placed as the 375th place. The university has the current prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern as one of its notable alumni.
Also read: University Rankings in New Zealand