Ready to apply to the Terry College of Business Master of Accountancy program? Below, find information about requirements, prerequisite courses, GMAT exemption, and more.
Graduate School Application
Students must apply via the UGA Graduate School in order to be considered for admission. Final decisions will be issued by letter from the UGA Graduate School. Applicants with undergraduate accounting degrees from AACSB-accredited schools are preferred.
Required Documents
The following documents and fees are required:
- One unofficial transcript from institutions you’ve attended
- Three letters of recommendation (two from accounting faculty and one additional)
- Resume
- Statement of purpose (1 page)
- Documents for international applicants
- Application fees
- GMAT scores (View GMAT Exemption Information)
Additional information about these documents are provided below.
Unofficial Transcript
UGA students should download a PDF of their unofficial transcript from Athena. If accepted, an official transcript must be submitted to the Graduate School before enrolling in courses.
Letters of Recommendation
You should request recommendations from at least two Accounting instructors and a third recommendation from an individual who knows you well, either academically or professionally. UGA will send an online link to a recommendation form to the recommenders you list in your application. Click here for a brief video with more details.
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose must be one page, single or double spaced, and titled “Why do you want to pursue a MAcc degree?”
International Applicants
The following additional documents are required for international applicants:
- Final transcript or other document showing proof of degree
- TOEFL or IELTS scores. Suggested minimum scores are 105 on TOEFL and 7.5 on IELTS.
- Certificate of Finances form. This form is only required if admitted.
Application Fees
You must submit a one-time application fee via credit card online in order to complete your application — $75 for domestic applicants, $100 for international applicants.
Applications are considered for fall and spring semesters. Summer admission is limited to applicants who wish to earn course credit for a summer internship. If admitted, you will enroll in a 3-hour course and will be required to pay summer tuition. Your summer internship must be 8 weeks or longer, working 40 hours per week.
Applications received after the general admission deadline for each semester will only be considered if space is allowed.
Application Fee Waiver
Students attending designated UGA feeder schools qualify for an application fee waiver for the Master of Accountancy program. A letter on letterhead from the Feeder Program Coordinator on your campus is required.
The following UGA feeder schools qualify for an application fee waiver:
- Albany State University
- Florida A&M University
- Ft. Valley State University
- Morehouse College
- North Carolina A&T State University
- Spelman College
Learn more about application fee waivers from the Graduate School. Contact the Graduate School to confirm your eligibility.
GMAT Scores
The Tull School of Accounting recommends a GMAT score of at least 550 (or a GMAT Focus Edition score of 515) for admissions to the MAcc program.
Note: The Graduate Management Admissions Council is offering a new version of the GMAT exam, the GMAT™ Focus Edition, which has a new score scale. Click here for more details. Registration for the GMAT™ Focus Edition opens on August 29, 2023. Testing will begin in Q4 2023. Candidates can still register for the current version of the GMAT Exam, which will be available until early 2024.
If you’re an accounting major with a GPA of at least 3.7 from UGA or another AACSB-accredited U.S. institution, you may be eligible to exempt the GMAT requirement. Find a complete list of qualifications below. Click here for a brief video with more details.
GMAT Exemptions
All applicants to Terry’s MAcc program may, and are encouraged to, voluntarily submit a GMAT score as part of their application. GMAT exemptions are generally available for any MAcc applicant meeting the requirements in either category I or category II below. Any MAcc applicant falling into category III must submit a valid GMAT score. However, the MAcc admissions committee may request any applicant to submit a GMAT score.
I. GMAT Exemption Requirements for Non-UGA Applicants from U.S. Institutions
- Earned an accounting degree from an AACSB-accredited U.S. college or university prior to enrollment;
- Attained an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.7 or higher;
- No grade below B in the upper-level ACCT courses, including retakes. For example, if you earn a C- in Intermediate I the first time then retake to score a B+, you must take the GMAT; and
- No more than two (2) withdrawals from upper-level ACCT courses.
II. GMAT Exemption Requirements for UGA Accounting Major Applicants
- Attained a 3.3 GPA or higher in all required upper-level accounting courses you completed. For this purpose, upper-level ACCT courses include UGA-required ACCT courses numbered 5000 or higher, excluding Professional Accounting courses (ACCT 5710, ACCT 5720 & ACCT 5700); and
- Completed a minimum of four (4) required upper-level accounting courses; and
- Not received any grade below C+ in completed upper-level ACCT courses, including retakes (ACCT courses numbered 5000 or higher, excluding ACCT 5710 & 5720 [Professional Accounting I and II]). For example, if you earn a C- in ACCT 5000 the first time then retake to score a B+, you must take the GMAT; and
- Not have withdrawn from more than two (2) upper-level ACCT courses.
III. No GMAT Exemption for All Other Applicants*
- The GMAT is required for ALL non-accounting major applicants, including UGA undergraduates who major in something other than accounting.
- Applicants from colleges and universities outside the U.S. and all colleges and universities without AACSB accreditation are required to submit a valid GMAT score.
- Any other applicants not described in I or II must submit a valid GMAT score.
* UGA’s graduate school requires at least a 500 GMAT for admission, and the J.M. Tull School of Accounting strongly recommends at least a 550 GMAT for admission to the MAcc program.
Newly Admitted Students
Orientation is required for all newly admitted students. The date for orientation will be sent with your notice of admission.
Prerequisite Courses
Students must complete a bachelor’s degree and the below prerequisite courses before beginning the MAcc program. Equivalent courses from other undergraduate institutions will satisfy these prerequisites.
Accounting Course Requirements
- ACCT 5000* Intermediate I
- ACCT 5010* Intermediate II
- ACCT 5020 Intermediate III (if offered at undergraduate institution)
- ACCT 5200 Audit I
- ACCT 5310* Systems I (if offered at undergraduate institution)
- ACCT 5400* Tax I
*For the BBA/MAcc Double Dawg Program, only these prerequisite courses are required.
Recommended Business Courses
These courses are suggested but not required before beginning the MAcc. If you are a Terry BBA student or graduate, you may have already taken these courses.
- ECON 2105 Principles of Macroeconomics
- ECON 2106 Principles of Macroeconomics
- FINA 3000 Financial Management
- LEGL 2700 Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business
- MARK 3000 Principles of Marketing
- MGMT 3000 Principles of Management
- MIST 2090 Management Information Systems
- BUSN 3000 (formerly MSIT 3000) Statistical Analysis for Business
Contact
- Admissions, Diversity, and Engagement Coordinator, J.M. Tull School of Accounting, Master of Accountancy