Master in Accounting and Controlling

"Our Master's program combines detailed specialist knowledge with methodological and conceptual skills - a combination much in demand on the job market."
Dr. Ursina Hüppin, Head of Program
Professional and modern financial management is a strategic success factor for companies. Highly qualified specialists and managers in accounting and controlling, with sound expertise and systematic and conceptual skills are, therefore, indispensable. This Master’s degree program prepares you specifically for demanding specialist and management functions in accounting, controlling, financial management, or management consultancy:
Achieve a respected and recognized professional qualification in the field of financial management, combined with distinctive systematic expertise in econometrics, programming in R, financial modeling with Excel, and data science.
Personalize your studies by choosing from a range of attractive electives.
Take the opportunity of a semester abroad or a summer school to gain international experience.
Create ideal conditions for further internationally recognized certifications such as the Certified Financial Modeler, the Certified Management Accountant or the Certified Public Accountant ("eidg. dipl. Wirtschaftsprüfer").
At a Glance
Title: Master of Science (MSc) ZHAW in Accounting and Controlling
Workload: 90 ECTS credits (corresponds to approx. 2,700 hours of study)
Duration: 4 semesters. (Students may hold a part-time job or do family work not exceeding a workload of 50%). If a student's part-time activity exceeds that level, the study period may be increased to 6 semesters
Start of New Program: Mid-September (CW 38)
Enrollment Deadline: 30 June 2023 - apply now
Location: Winterthur
Language of Instruction: German
Classroom Days:
4-semester model: 2.5 days on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
6-semester model: 1.5 days on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
Semester Fee: CHF 720.- + additional study expenses
Admission Requirements: Admission Procedure
Studying abroad: Students can do a semester abroad in their third (or fifth) semester at one of our numerous partner universities.
Accreditation: AACSB

"Students learn to link theoretical knowledge to real-world problems and develop solutions for corporate financial management."
Dr. Gabriela Nagel-Jungo, Head, Institute of Financial Management
Content and Program Structure
The Master in Accounting and Controlling is a scientifically based and, at the same time, practice-oriented degree program for specialists. You will learn to think and act in an interdisciplinary way, analyze complex tasks, identify various solutions, and implement them successfully. You will also deepen your knowledge of accounting and controlling, including related specialist fields, and be able to take on key interface, specialist, and management functions in these areas.
Module Overview for the 4-Semester Study Program

Practice and Research
Thanks to a flexible classroom schedule, you can pursue up to 50 percent of a study-related professional activity during a regular study period. The degree program usually takes four semesters, but the program can be extended to six semesters if there is a corresponding increase in study-related professional activity. The MSc comprises 90 ECTS credits, corresponding to a workload of around 2,700 hours. About half of the program is devoted to applied research, concluding with a scientifically based Master's thesis on a practice-oriented topic.
Your Career Prospects
Functions
- Financial Manager
- Responsible for Accounting and Controlling
- Head of Finance and Controlling
- Head of Group Accounting
- CFO (Chief Financial Officer)
- Management consulting in the field of accounting
- Other management functions
Sectors
- Industrial and commercial enterprises
- Service companies
- Banks and insurance companies
- Other financial services
- Financial consulting
- Management consulting in an auditing company
Testimonials
Admission
- You must meet a set of criteria for admission, a basic requirement being a Bachelor's degree in business administration or its equivalent in a related field. In addition to these formal requirements, we attach great importance to personal motivation and a desire to succeed. The individual admission decision is based on your overall profile following an admission interview.
The following additional criteria must also be met:
- Fundamentals of accounting and controlling (=12 ECTS). In the event of missing credits, it is possible to earn these in the first and second semesters of the Master's program.
- Ability to follow German and English language instruction at university level and to work with teaching materials in both languages (Benchmark: C1 level).
Accreditation

This program has been awarded the quality seal by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) for its quality in study and teaching.
The detailed assessment and further information about the accreditations of the ZHAW School of Management and Law can be found here.
This might also interest you
MSc Information Event
Attend one of our MSc information events. We are looking forward to meeting you.
Program-Specific Counselling
We will be happy to evaluate your suitability for admission and answer any questions you may have about our degree programs in an online conversation.
MSc Information Event
Program-Specific Counselling
Enrollment MSc Program
Attend one of our MSc information events. We are looking forward to meeting you.
We will be happy to evaluate your suitability for admission and answer any questions you may have about our degree programs in an online conversation.
Register for our Master's degree program.