The Master’s in Accountancy and Control offers you the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in accountancy as well as in finance & control. It is an intensive yet flexible program where you are largely in control: how you study, the direction you choose, and how you organize your time. In this article, you’ll find practical tips and experiences to help you navigate the program successfully.
Core Courses
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Do’s: Attend the lectures. The second part of each lecture often focuses on a case study that applies the theory in practice, which helps solidify your understanding.
Don’t: Start studying too late. The material contains a lot of theory. While it’s not extremely difficult, the volume can be overwhelming if you don’t start early.
Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation
Do’s: Focus on understanding the formulas. Many variables can be approached with different formulas, so knowing what you are actually calculating is more effective than memorizing them all.
Don’t: Underestimate this course. Since the content is finance-oriented, it may be more challenging to follow if you come from an accounting background.
Corporate Sustainability
(Not taken)
Advanced Financial Accounting (Auditing Track)
Do’s: Review past exam questions. Professors tend to repeat question styles and topics each year, which gives you a good indication of what to expect.
Don’t: Procrastinate. Like FAR, there’s a lot of theory involved, and it’s impossible to fully grasp it all in just a few days.
Thesis
Business Application
Do’s: Choose a problem from your immediate environment. This makes communication easier and less formal compared to working with an external company where you’d need frequent calls or visits.
Don’t: Delay your literature search. Finding relevant sources in academic journals can be time-consuming, while the actual writing often takes less time.
Replication Study
Do’s: Ask for help from a fellow student with experience in R, Stata, or Python. Learning these tools can be tricky, and getting guidance can save you a lot of time.
Don’t: Postpone your work. This thesis type requires consistent weekly effort; otherwise, you risk running out of time.
Opportunity for a Student Job or Internship
Since the program only requires attendance on two days a week, you’ll have time to pursue a student job or internship alongside your studies. This allows you to gain valuable practical experience and immediately apply the knowledge you acquire in the classroom.
Conclusion
The Master in Accountancy and Control is demanding, but definitely manageable if you prepare well and work consistently. The program combines theory, case studies, and research to provide you with a strong academic foundation, while also giving you the flexibility to gain practical experience. If you strike the right balance between studying, practical work, and personal development, you won’t just earn a degree. You’ll also build a strong foundation for a successful career in accountancy and control.
