Research vs Coursework

Hi Guys,

Great forum - I'm been looking through it over the weekend.

I have an Australian Bachelor Degree in Accounting and am a practicing Chartered Accountant in Australia with about 10 years experience in the 'Big 4'. I'm just about to finish my MBA through Heriot-Watt and am considering what to start on next.

In the future I'm considering moving to Canada to try to pursue a PhD in Accounting (if accepted) with a view of eventually entering the teaching profession in a university or college there.

To gain some specialised advanced Accounting knowledge I'm considering completing a Masters Degree here in Australia (Charles Sturt Univeristy) in Accounting. However I have the option of completing the degree primarily by Research or entirely by coursework.

Does anyone know if one option or the other would be the best inpursuing my goals? I read here that in the US it is important to focus on taught degrees in which case I'm guessing the coursework option would be best- is that the same in Canada??

Thanks

 

i have a M.A political science from a Québec university.
what i know is: coursework-only degrees are seen as an "easier" version of a degree ( ex if you got a coursework-only M.A you couldn't apply to a Ph.D unless being permitted to do so ).
As well, in Canada every province ( eg Ontario, Québec, Newfoundland, etc ) makes its own policies up, especially in the education, culture etc realm.

 

Ham is correct tiger - if you are accepted to a Masters by research, go for it. It will be your point of difference, and put in you good stead for a PhD. Indeed, if you find you are doing well in your Masters, you may be able to convert to a PhD along the way.

Considering you will have a HW MBA though, why not go directly for a PhD now, and skip the second Masters? Are you an Australian resident? If so, you could get an APA scholarship and get it for no cost.

Peter French is the resident expert in accounting studies for Australia - he may chime in and offer additional advice.

Good luck!

Cheers,

George

 

Thanks for the feedback so far.

The reason I am not interested in pursuing a full PhD in Australia is that Canada is where I see myself long-term and I think it would be best to obtain a 'native' PhD if I wish to seriously stand a chance at obtaining a reasonable Academic position there.

Also I have found that studying at institutions in different countries really eye-opening and interesting. Different cultures think/teach/examine in different ways and I have found it has really broadened my ability to think 'outside the square'.

But given I'm not planning on moving over for at least 2-3 years I thought continuing to pursue an Australian masters to add to my Bachelor couldn't hurt my chances of gaining entry to a PhD when the time came.

Of course anymore feedback would be appreciated!

 

http://www.cvu-uvc.ca/

this is the CANADIAN VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY consortium, where dozens of fully accredited canadian universities offer DISTANCE learning degrees up to Ph.D.
You get both french & english speaking opportunities.
Hence you might enrol in some master at a distance and when/if ever you relocate, you step in on the right foot.
Again beware each province is a world apart from others ( even health medicare practices differ ).

 

Thanks for the link, unfortunately no Accounting based Masters but great info for anyone specifically interested in Candadian based distance programs.