Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of the most common questions asked in regards to the Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program.
What type of student is the MSA Program looking for?
We are looking for well-rounded applicants with diverse levels of previous accounting coursework and/or experience. While strong academic performance is important, we are also interested in learning about your other passions and your future career aspirations. We review applications on a holistic basis and all components are taken into consideration. There is an optional section of the application to provide any additional details that are not addressed elsewhere.
What are the job prospects for MSA graduates?
Job prospects for MSA graduates continue to be very high with 100% of domestic graduates reporting successful outcomes and 91.3% of international graduates reporting successful outcomes within six months of graduation for our 2025 cohort. Graduates explore traditional roles in top firms as well as more specialized roles in tax and mergers and acquisitions.
For international learners, the MSA program is STEM-designated, a label given to academic programs in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The STEM-designation allows graduates of the program to extend their OPT for an additional 24 months, helping them gain hands-on experience working in the United States.
What is the difference between the MSA program and the MAS program?
The MSA program is a one-year professional program in accountancy for students of all academic backgrounds who did not complete a bachelor’s degree in accounting from an AACSB accredited U.S. based institution. The MAS program is designed for students that have a bachelor’s degree in accounting from an AACSB accredited U.S. based institution.
Are scholarships or financial aid available?
At Gies College of Business, we are committed to building diverse cohorts of learners with unique experiences, perspectives, and goals, and who come from many educational, socio-cultural, geographic, and familial backgrounds. To support this, we provide a limited number of scholarships each year, covering partial tuition to learners who enhance the diversity of the incoming cohort through their academic, professional, and/or lived experiences. To be considered for a scholarship, choose ‘Yes’ in the “Financial Aid” section of your Graduate College application and then complete the scholarship acknowledgement. The scholarship acknowledgement must be agreed to within the application for consideration of a scholarship.
Please note that we only offer partial tuition scholarships and are unable to provide teaching, research, or graduate assistant positions covering full tuition and fees.
Domestic candidates may apply for Federal Financial Aid via the FAFSA.
Common Application Questions
I haven't completed the prerequisite coursework. Is there a list of recommended courses I can take to meet the program prerequisites?
If you have not completed the required prerequisites for admission, Gies Business offers non-credit, online courses through Coursera to satisfy the requirements. You will want to make sure that you earn a course completion certificate and upload to your application for each course so you can prove your successful completion.
The following three courses, in combination, will satisfy the principles of financial accounting prerequisite:
The following course will satisfy the finance prerequisite:
Coursework in Statistics & Business Strategy is also highly recommended but not required.
Am I eligible to apply with a bachelor’s degree from a non-US institution?
Yes! Please visit the University of Illinois Graduate College’s Admissions Requirements by Country to view specific requirements based on the location of your undergraduate institution. If you have specific questions regarding your eligibility, reach out to our team at grad@business.illinois.edu.
Since GRE/GMAT is optional, should I still submit it?
You are strongly encouraged to provide GRE/GMAT score report if:
- Your undergraduate curriculum does not include sufficient coursework that demonstrate strong quantitative skills.
- Your undergraduate GPA is below the program’s expectations and/or it does not meet the Graduate College’s minimum admission requirements and you do not have relevant full-time work experience in finance or other STEM-related fields.
- Your academic background is outside of business, finance or other STEM related disciplines.
Is an English proficiency exam required for international applicants?
Yes, an English proficiency exam is required for international applicants unless you qualify for an exemption.
See the University of Illinois’ English Proficiency Requirements for more details on exemptions, required scores and limited status admission for low test scores.
My English proficiency score doesn't meet full status requirements. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can still be admitted with an English proficiency score below the full status requirements, but you will be required to take an additional English as a Second Language Placement Test (EPT) upon arrival on campus. Based on the EPT results, students are generally required to enroll in noncredit English as a Second Language courses while enrolled in your graduate program. Limited status admission is not a conditional offer; you are still considered to have fully met the admission requirements. For more information, please review the Graduate College's English proficiency requirements.I completed a degree in a country where English is not the primary language, but my education was completely in English. Do I still need to submit my TOEFL scores?
You will still need to submit English proficiency score. English proficiency score waiver is only granted to international applicants that meet one of the following criteria are exempt from the English proficiency requirement for admission:
- Received a post-secondary degree from a US institution (or an institution within an approved country) within five years of the proposed admission term.
- Completion of at least two years of post-secondary study in the US (or an approved country) within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment.
- Completion of at least two years of professional work experience in the US (or an approved country) within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment.
For more information, please review the Graduate College's English proficiency requirements.
As an international candidate, do I need to upload financial documents at the time of application?
Financial documents are not required for admission. Admitted students requiring a visa will need to upload their proof of funding and passport in order to obtain their I-20.
Can I send unofficial copies of my test scores?
Unofficial scores can be loaded into your application, but your official scores must also be sent directly to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Institution Code – 1836. Department codes are not required for our university.
Can I submit required documents after the application deadline?
An application file is considered incomplete until all required documents are received by the admissions committee. As we make admissions decisions on a rolling basis, it is very important that you provide all requested materials as soon as possible. Any information requested following the posted deadlines will be reviewed if space is still available in the incoming cohort.
Still have questions?
Our admissions team is here to help – connect with us for personalized guidance on the MSA program and application process.