Management Information & Managerial Accounting Systems (MSc)

Our MSc (Management Information & Managerial Accounting Systems) (MIMAS) is a full-time conversion programme running for 12 months from the date of first registration for the programme. Students take taught modules from September to May, followed by the completion of a group-based research project and culminating with a graduate placement commencing from June onwards.

MIMAS is a challenging postgraduate degree course. The employment record for our graduates is excellent and many are currently employed in a variety of positions, including management consultant, project manager, business analyst, business intelligence analyst, management accountant and financial accountant.

The programme includes a three-month industrial internship and you will also take modules in a variety of subjects relevant to both management accounting and Information Systems (IS).

The IS modules will give you an appreciation of how technology can be used to support the operations and transactions of modern organisations. The management accounting modules will provide you with a thorough understanding of management accounting concepts and techniques and how these can be used to support managerial decision-making.  The course also carries exemptions from three major accounting bodies: CIMA, ACCA and CAI.

Programme content

In total you will take 90 credits including taught modules to the value of 60 credits, and a placement module (AC6016) to the value of 30 credits. In the event of a placement not being secured an unplaced student will undertake a 30-credit Industry Report module (AC6017).

Part I 

• AC6002 Accounting Information Fundamentals (5 credits)
• AC6412 Business Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility for International Firms (5 credits)
• AC6419 Principles of Cost Management (5 credits)
• AC6420 Advanced Managerial Accounting (5 credits)
• AC6421 Performance Management, Risk and Control for International Firms (5 credits)
• FI6006  Professional Development (5 credits)
• IS6125  Database Analysis and Design (5 credits)
• IS6126  Databases for Management Information Systems (5 credits)
• IS6200  Programming for Business I (5 credits)
• IS6217  Programming for Business II (5 credits)
• IS6218  Understanding Global Business Processes (5 credits)
• IS6219  Enterprise Data Reporting and Visualisation (5 credits)

Part II

• AC6016 Placement (30 credits) or AC6017 Industry Report (30 credits)

This course is unique in being the only master’s level course in Ireland that focuses on both accounting and information systems. The course content is tailored to industry requirements, with frequent site visits, guest speakers, and case studies. The graduate placement opportunities are unparalleled in Ireland in terms of the profile of the companies, the international scope, and the full-time positions open to students on completion. It is an invaluable launch pad for careers in international business and entrepreneurship.

You will acquire the skills to steer organisational performance and monitor financial health, analyse historic data to predict future trends, and budget and forecast. In parallel, you will learn to design and build information systems from a process, database and user interface perspective. You will be introduced to business intelligence and data analytics, and you will gain important communication skills.

MIMAS students become business analysts, accountants, auditors and information systems professionals.

There are national and international placement opportunities available. The MIMAS course is unique in having cultivated an international reputation for the calibre of our students, and we have strong relationships with placement companies and employers in Ireland, the UK, and Europe. Across the Atlantic, students have been placed in organisations in New York and Seattle. Strong links are maintained with the financial services industry in Luxembourg. Post-graduation, a growing contingent of Chinese students has opened up the possibility of careers in China.

For MSc (Management Information and Managerial Accounting Systems) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Communicate and work effectively to a high professional standard;
• Demonstrate advanced analytical and problem solving skills associated with effective practice;
• Engage in advanced application of frameworks and techniques in organisational settings;
• Apply management accounting techniques to support organisational decision-making;
• Analyse management information needs and develop appropriate process automation and business intelligence solutions.

 

This course consists of traditional classroom-based lectures in addition to a series of computer practical sessions. You will also gain experience of seminars, industrial site visits, guest lectures, student presentations to (and feedback from) leading industry experts etc. On average, you can expect 25 contact hours per week (i.e. lectures/practical sessions) with the remainder of your time spent researching and completing projects and assignments.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used during this course. In addition to the traditional end-of-year written examinations, you will undertake a series of individual and group assignments and projects during the year in the areas of both management accounting and information systems.

Who teaches this course?

This course is taught by a team of dedicated and experienced academics who all have relevant industrial experience, either in management accounting and/or information systems. The majority of the teaching team also have PhDs which facilitates them in guiding your research efforts.

Full module information is detailed in the section below.

The MSc Management Information and Managerial Accounting Systems (MIMAS) is a conversion programme designed for applicants who have not previously studied Accounting or Software Development. As such, the course is not suitable for graduates from degrees with high levels of software development and management accounting content (e.g. BSc Business Information Systems, BSc Accounting).

This course is open to graduates of all disciplines (but not for graduates from degrees with high levels of software development and management accounting, as stated above) with a minimum Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8). Applicants who do not meet the Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) standard may be admitted to the programme under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) on the basis of significant practical or professional experience as deemed appropriate by the Head of Department and subject to the approval of the School of Business.

It is important to apply early as this programme is often over-subscribed. If your application is successful at this stage you will receive an offer or (if you have not yet received your final exam results) a conditional offer.  If you meet the application requirements but the course is full, you will be placed on the waiting list.  Students on this waiting list get priority over later applicants. If the course has not been filled in the first round, or by the first round waiting list, and your application is successful, you will receive an offer or a conditional offer. If you meet the application requirements but the course is full, you will be placed on the waiting list. 

View the grades comparison table

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website .

1. Choose Course

Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to three courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online

Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

3. Gather Supporting Documents

Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
• Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline

Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details. 

Questions on how to apply?

Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.

Non-EU Applications

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.