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Start on Your Path to a Master of Accountancy Degree

Selecting the right master’s program for your career goals is important. Connect with our team to learn more about the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Program or begin your application now.

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A Master’s Degree Designed For:

Individuals with a four-year undergraduate degree, or the equivalent, in any nonaccounting discipline, from an accredited institution.

Already have an accounting undergraduate degree? Consider the Master’s of Accounting and Business Analysis.

Application Deadlines for Fall 2025

Application due

  • October 31, 2024
  • January 30, 2025
  • March 11, 2025
  • May 1, 2025

What You’ll Need for Your Application

Applicants are not required to have previous full-time work experience. Application requirements include:

  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Undergraduate transcripts
  • Résumé
  • Essays
  • GMAT Focus/GMAT score (WSB GMAT code: 79K-2S-23)
  • TOEFL/IELTS score for non-native English speakers (institution code 1846)

Essay responses are limited to 600 words each.

Required questions:

  1. What is it about accounting and the career opportunities in accounting that you find interesting? What personal characteristics do you have that would predict success in the accounting profession? Where do you expect to begin your career after graduation? Explain.
  2. Describe ways in which you have considered or implemented a personal code of ethics; or how have you personally established ways to ensure that you make proper ethical decisions?

Optional question:

Please use this optional essay to communicate additional information about yourself that is not otherwise represented in the application, and that you feel would benefit the admissions committee.

Two video essays are required as part of the application process.

Video essays allow you to present yourself in a more personal and authentic way, giving the admissions team a better sense of your personality, communication style, and enthusiasm.

You will have two minutes to answer each question. You will use the platform Spark Hire to submit the essays. (Get tips for creating video essays in this podcast.)

Note: The admissions team will not start reviewing an application until the video essay requirement is complete.

It is not necessary to send official transcripts at the date of application. Applicants will be asked to upload an electronic transcript into the online application system. Applicants later admitted to the program will be asked to send their official (final) transcripts reflecting an undergraduate degree.

Schools outside the United States may be verified by World Education Services at the individual class level.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) may be an acceptable alternative to the GMAT Focus/GMAT test on a case-by-case basis. Scores should be submitted to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, institution code 1846.

The GMAT Focus/GMAT score will be waived if you meet one of the four sets of criteria below:

  1. Undergraduate degree from the Wisconsin School of Business
  2. Undergraduate degree from a U.S.-accredited university or college
    1. Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
    2. At least one math course or quantitative course like finance or accounting with a B or better
  3. Undergraduate degree completed outside of the U.S.
    1. Submission of original transcripts, along with transcripts evaluated by World Evaluation Services (WES)
    2. Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
    3. At least one math course or quantitative course like finance or accounting with a B or better
  4. Awarded an advanced degree, such as an MBA, JD, MD, or PhD from an accredited U.S. institution

The TOEFL is waived for students who have earned a four-year undergraduate degree and/or master’s degree (minimum of eight semesters total) with instruction in English or who will complete such a degree prior to matriculation in the Master of Accountancy Program.

Students should direct the Educational Testing Service to forward their test results, taken within two years of the intended start term, to the University of Wisconsin–Madison (institution code: 1846). A minimum TOEFL score of 104 is required for consideration of admission into the program. International Financial Statements are only required of students admitted to the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are certain scenarios in which transfer credits are allowed:

  • Graduate work from other institutions
    • With program and department approval, up to 6 credits of graduate coursework completed two years prior to admission at an AACSB-accredited institution, in which a grade of B or better was earned, may count toward the degree.
  • UW–Madison Undergraduate
    • Up to 6 credits from courses numbered 300 or above will be allowed to apply toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
  • UW–Madison University Special
    • With program and department approval and payment of the difference in tuition (between special and graduate tuition), students are allowed to count no more than 15 credits of coursework numbered 600 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Undergraduate coursework completed outside of UW–Madison cannot be transferred into the MAcc program. In the event that an applicant has taken an undergraduate class that is deemed to be equivalent to a required MAcc course, the program will consider waiving the course and the applicant can take an additional elective course to meet the degree credit requirements.

If you wish to become eligible to sit for the CPA exam and do not have a background or previous education in accounting, the MAcc program at the Wisconsin School of Business is likely to be a good option. If you have already completed an accounting undergraduate degree and you have been working in the profession for several years, you may want to consider enrolling in the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a non-degree seeking student to complete the accounting-specific credits necessary to be eligible for the CPA exam. If you are unsure which path would be best, please feel free to contact the MAcc program office for assistance.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison offers campus tours and other resources to help you plan your visit. Details are available from Campus and Visitor Relations. If you’re planning a trip to campus, please contact the MAcc program office to schedule a time to meet with us at Grainger Hall, home of the Wisconsin School of Business.

Please review the current tuition and fees, as well as financial support sources for MAcc.