A specialisation is a focused collection of courses within a programme that allows you to gain deep, targeted knowledge in a specific sub-field. Normally these courses make up more than 50 percent of a qualification, some of which lead to registration within a certain field. They may be interdisciplinary, professionally oriented, or designed to meet accreditation requirements. Specialisations often restrict elective choice in favour of a clearly defined study plan.

Completed specialisations will appear on your academic transcript.

Please see the main programme link below for further details.

Behind every successful business is a good accountant. Study Accounting with us and prepare yourself for a career in either financial accounting or management accounting. Financial accounting involves the presentation of financial statements and techniques for their analysis. Management accounting explores the use of accounting data for managerial planning, decision making, and control.

The University of Auckland is ranked first in New Zealand and in the top 100 globally for Accounting and Finance.* As a leading accounting and finance education provider in the Asia-Pacific region, we are renowned for research excellence and innovative teaching. Professional bodies that recognise our Accounting programmes include CAANZ, CPA Australia, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the CFA Institute.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

Research opportunities
When you undertake your doctorate in Accounting at the University of Auckland Business School, you’ll join a high-calibre research community and have opportunities to publish papers, attend international conferences and develop a network in academia and industry.
We welcome research proposals in topics relating to our two key research specialisations:
Financial accounting
- Financial reporting and its impacts
- External auditing
- Social and environmental accounting
- Accounting policy decisions
- Integrated reporting

Financial management
- Management control
- Diffusion of innovation in management accounting
- Management accounting systems and behaviour in organisations
- Transfer pricing in multinationals
- Performance measurement