Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting


Programme Overview

Designed for non-accounting graduates, this full-time eight-month conversion course fast-tracks students towards becoming a qualified accountants and focuses on the fundamentals of financial accounting, management accounting, corporate finance, audit, taxation and related areas. The programme provides significant exemptions from the examinations of professional accountancy bodies. It is fully accredited by ACCA, Chartered Accountants Ireland and CIMA.

This programme fast-tracks non-accounting graduates and gains significant exemptions from the examinations of professional accountancy bodies. Ranked 1st in Ireland and 1st in Western Europe for Accounting (Eduniversal 2022).

Programme at a Glance

  • Start Date: September 2024

  • Duration: 8 months

  • Delivery: 12 taught modules. You will be assessed through a mixture of written exams and continuous assessments. A dissertation is not required.

  • NFQ Level: 9
  • Ranked 1st in Ireland and 1st in Western Europe for Accounting (Eduniversal 2022)

Programme Information

After eight months of study, graduates may claim the following professional exemptions:

  • ACCA: Various papers at the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills levels;
  • Chartered Accountants Ireland (ACA): Full CAP 1 exemption;
  • CIMA: The PG Diploma is a fully accredited programme, with extensive exemptions available;
  • Irish Tax Institute: Group 2 exemptions;
  • CPA Ireland: Foundation Level (Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Taxation), and Professional Level (Financial Reporting, Advanced Taxation, Corporate Law, Audit & Assurance and Managerial Finance).

Expert faculty and practitioners from Big-4 accountancy firms combine to deliver modules, grounded in the academia-practice link that underpins the entire programme. As the economy continues to recover and grow, so does the demand for accounting professionals. Guest speakers from ACCA, CAI (ACA), CIMA and other accountancy bodies advise on your next steps in the accountancy profession.

Ireland is one of the only European countries to provide a two-year graduate work visa. The Irish Third Level Graduate scheme exists to allow legally resident non-EEA third level graduates to remain in Ireland for the purpose of seeking employment and applying for a green card or work permit. Students in training to become fully chartered accountants have the opportunity to apply for a Stamp 1A visa. This visa lasts up to four years and six months.

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service provide full details and FAQs on their website. Visit the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service's website to learn more. The Trinity Careers Service also provides information on their website.

Student Prizes

Chartered Accountants Ireland are sponsoring a cash prize of €250 for the highest highest-placed student in the ‘Financial Reporting’ module.

EY are sponsoring cash prizes of €250 each for the highest placing students in the ‘Audit’ and ‘Corporate Governance and Ethics’ modules.

Grant Thornton are sponsoring a cash prize of €250 for the highest highest-placed student in ‘Accounting in Practice'.

Irish Tax Institute are sponsoring a cash prize of €250 for the highest placing student in the ‘Taxation’ module.

Find out more about career opportunities on completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting. Visit our Career Development page.