Student experience

Life as an Executive Master of Accounting student

As a student on our Executive Master of Accounting programme, you’ll combine all the freedom of studying remotely with the benefits of Cambridge life. You will join one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the world and have access to all the benefits that come from being a part of it.

Your membership of one of the traditional Colleges of the University of Cambridge gives you the opportunity to experience a stimulating, proactive community of students, academics and alumni from diverse disciplines and departments.

Cambridge Judge Business School has its own Special Interest Groups you can join, and each College has its own societies and clubs, there are also University-wide societies and networks all of which help enrich your experience as well as your friendship circle and network.

Across 8 one-week-long residentials, you will have the opportunity to enjoy for yourself the rich traditions of Cambridge University established over hundreds of years, as well as get to know the beautiful and historic city of Cambridge.

The wealth of opportunities ensures that your time at Cambridge Judge Business School will be transformative, fun as well as driving your next steps and your future career success.

Interviewed student smiling.

Come to Cambridge, it's a beautiful campus You'll fall in love immediately like I did, and you'll just see the magic of the place.

Roberto A.R., Director of Global Advocacy, The Institute of Internal Auditors

The College experience

Cambridge Judge Business School is one of the only business schools in the UK to offer you the traditional University College experience. On acceptance to your programme, you are guaranteed membership to one of the Colleges of the University of Cambridge. Membership is for life enabling you to maintain your association with Cambridge long after graduating. 

Undergraduates typically live, eat and socialise at their College. As an Executive Master of Accounting student, you can stay in College accommodation during the one-week residentials (either on campus or in an off-site house), living alongside students from various subject areas.

Cambridge is a magnet for talented students and faculty. Unsurprising, then, that a major reason for coming here is the people you’ll meet. Through your College, you can connect with ambitious and talented individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and a wide range of academic disciplines, broadening your horizons and perspectives.

As an Executive Master of Accounting student, you may not be in Cambridge full-time, but your College is a still a place to network, socialise, revise and play sports. College rooms are available for you to book for meetings and events, and you can organise your own Formal Hall dining experiences within your college.

Many of our Executive Master of Accounting alumni say that the College experience plays a significant role in their time at Cambridge Judge Business School. Many have led sporting teams to victory. Some have formed bands. Others have formed lasting friendships with Nobel Prize winners. A few have even found love during their time here and married in their College chapel. The College experience can be as big or small a part of your Cambridge experience as suits you.

A Cambridge College dinner.

Facilities and events

Each College has its own facilities; from libraries and sports facilities to bars and even theatres. You might find yourself watching a live student band, attending a ‘bop’ (basically a fancy-dress party), or joining ‘Formal Hall’, when you’re invited to don a gown and dine in one of the Colleges’ historic chambers. Most Colleges also have a May Ball every year or two.

Students outside a Cambridge College.

Clubs and societies

Colleges run their own clubs and societies – from rowing to Wine and Cheese clubs – adding to those on offer at the wider University. They also offer an MCR (or Middle Common Room); a postgraduate student body for college members to get involved with, with associated shared spaces postgrads can use.

Students outside a Cambridge College.

Pastoral support and administration

Colleges operate as independent institutions and are responsible for arranging formal processes such as inductions, matriculation (when you start the programme) and graduation. They can also offer pastoral and academic support, as well as financial assistance and advice.

Colleges currently accepting Executive Master of Accounting students

Colleges that currently are happy to consider Cambridge Executive Master of Accounting applicants: 

Colleges are subject to change. Colleges will consider Cambridge Executive Master of Accounting participants on a first come, first served basis, therefore it is beneficial to submit your application as early as possible. 

Choosing the right College

Colleges range in size from 150 to 1,000 students, some are ancient, some modern, some are just for graduates, some just for women. Each College has its own rich history and identity, and maintains its own social, sports and activities calendar. As a student on the Executive Master of Accounting programme, you will be a fully-fledged College member able to make the most of these opportunities. 

Your chosen College will play an important role on 2 key days of your Cambridge experience: matriculation and graduation. The day you matriculate is the day you ‘come up’ to Cambridge – signing the College’s matriculation registration form and becoming an official member of the College, beginning your journey as a Cambridge student.  

As an Executive Master of Accounting student, how much or how little you interact with your College between matriculation and graduation is entirely up to you; it represents a very useful additional resource, to tap into during your time at Cambridge.

Graduate-only or mixed College?

Colleges admit students from across the University meaning a wide range of disciplines are represented at each College. This provides the opportunities to extend your network through College societies, at dinners and socials. If playing an active role in College life is feasible and appealing to you, our alumni recommend seizing the opportunity. 

Most Colleges are mixed with both undergraduates and graduate students, there are also several graduate-only Colleges at Cambridge. Consider which type of College will suit you best, as a graduate you may prefer to be solely with other graduate students. 

Reputation

Contemplate the ethos of the Colleges you intend to apply to join and whether they have a good reputation in your areas of interest. Your College will have its own networking opportunities and joining one that suits your personality and interests will improve the chances of networking with like-minded people. 

Your community

Our Executive Master of Accounting cohorts make for a talented and collaborative global community. We welcome approximately 25 students each year from every corner of the world, including Africa, Australia, Middle East, Asia, North America, South America and Europe. The more intimate class size is conducive for a lively and interactive learning environment, enabling fellow participants to get to know each other and faculty members very well. Hear from some of our students below.

View student profiles

The faculty at Cambridge Judge Business School is made up of around 80 full-time members, covering a wide range of research areas. Many are leaders in their field and combine professional experience with academic rigour to provide exceptional academic programmes designed to stimulate, inspire and foster real-world impact.

View faculty that teach on the programme

On graduation you’ll become a lifelong member of the Cambridge Judge Business School global alumni community, a broad network of likeminded and influential individuals working across an array of industry sectors. There are over 400 alumni groups in 40 countries providing you with a supportive network that can help open new doors and explore opportunities.

More about alumni

Formed and run by students of Cambridge Judge Business School, Special Interest Groups – or SIGs – can be a very beneficial part of your experience. They offer a chance to network and share ideas around a particular area; current examples range from the Cambridge Business School Club (social), to Consulting, Finance and Communications (public speaking). Many SIGs arrange their own conferences and talks and offer opportunities to take on key leadership roles.

As well as the College clubs and Business School SIGs there are also more than 400 societies across the wider University. From sports clubs and arts groups to consulting networks and entrepreneurial societies there are plenty of opportunities to pursue interests, have fun and network. You can learn more at the yearly Freshers’ Fair, held at the start of the academic year.

View University of Cambridge societies

City of Cambridge.

Beyond academics 

At Cambridge Judge, you’ll find plenty of social events to get involved with. We’re the home of CBSC – a social club designed to connect our members with each other and the wider community. There are key social events in the calendar to enjoy as well such as the Cambridge Judge May Ball. 

Cambridge life

Learn more about what it’s like to live and study in the beautiful and historic city of Cambridge.

Virtual tour

Take a virtual tour of the Business School and check out the facilities on offer.

EDI at the Business School

Cambridge Judge is an international community at the forefront of new discoveries that have changed thinking over centuries. We believe that inclusion encourages the innovation that makes change happen. Our international faculty provide a global perspective to your interactions, personal connections and learning. We value the contribution that cross-cultural understanding, equity and diversity brings to our business leadership, and strive for a better world through sustainable, equitable, diverse, and inclusive business practices that allow every individual to flourish.

Master of Accounting stories

Find out what our Executive Master of Accounting students and faculty have been up to recently.

The pandemic and the digitalisation of the accountancy sector.

In this article, we'll be exploring the state of tech adoption in the accounting space in the leadup to the pandemic, the technology trends currently dominating the industry, and the impact of digitalisation on the next generation of accountants.

Students on the Cambridge Master of Accounting (MAcc).

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) programme at Cambridge Judge Business School is designed for future leaders looking to lead change and disruption in accounting. Here’s everything you need to know. The Cambridge Master of Accounting (MAcc) programme at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School offers something different to traditional Master of Accounting programmes. Leveraging world class faculty and experience from a team of executive-level professional advisors, the Cambridge MAcc aims to develop a generation of leaders and decision makers in accounting, finance, policy and related fields looking to challenge the status quo. Here’s everything you need to know about the Cambridge MAcc, including its curriculum, its class profile, and information on applying. What are the benefits of a Cambridge Master of Accounting? The Cambridge Master of Accounting curriculum The Cambridge MAcc is taught part-time across a 24-month period, combining online learning with in-person week-long seminars every three months in Cambridge, taught by Cambridge faculty, expert advisors, and practitioners. The Cambridge MAcc differs from traditional MAcc programmes in its critical standpoint towards accounting standards and systems, and how it encourages students to challenge them. “We challenge the entire infrastructure. We question how and why it's structured in a certain way, and whether…

Kennedy Agyeman-Asiedu.

Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, is one of the most coveted positions among financiers and accountants. So, what does it take to be a CFO? And how can a Master of Accounting (MAcc) help you get there? If you’re great with numbers, thrive when working on multiple projects, and love managing teams, you could be a chief financial officer (CFO) in the making. To get there, it’ll be about more than just understanding a business’ finances, as you’ll need to use an array of skills to reap success. So, what does it take to become a CFO? And how can a Master of Accounting (MAcc) from Cambridge Judge Business School help you get there? You’ll build strong leadership skills As a CFO, you'll be responsible for shaping your company's future financially. It’s crucial that you understand what qualities are needed to become an effective leader if you see yourself filling the boots of a CFO. “Accountants need to learn how to lead and influence, ensuring that they’re conscious of an organisation, and be able to spot problems so they don’t happen again,” says Ben Taylor, partner at EY and advisor to the Cambridge MAcc programme. “You have to elevate above technical…

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