Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
Programme Overview
Designed for non-accounting graduates, this full-time, eight-month conversion course fast-tracks students towards becoming qualified accountants. The programme focuses on the fundamentals of financial reporting, taxation, audit, corporate governance, management accounting, and related areas, providing the technical and professional knowledge required for further study and career success.
Graduates of the PG Dip may benefit from significant exemptions from the examinations of professional accountancy bodies.
Programme at a Glance
- Start Date: September 2025
- Duration: 8 months
- Delivery: 12 taught modules. You will be assessed through a mixture of written exams and continuous assessments. A dissertation is not required.
- NFQ Level: 9
Programme Information
We have recently undertaken a comprehensive review of the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, updating and consolidating the module structure to deliver a more focused and enhanced learning experience. These revised modules retain the same core learning outcomes and now also form the foundation of our new MSc in Accounting and Analytics. Both PG Dip and MSc students will share the same classes until the PG Dip students complete their studies.
As a result of this curriculum change, the revised PG Dip has been resubmitted to the relevant professional accountancy bodies for exemption approval. Trinity Business School has offered this programme since 2016 and has consistently secured extensive exemptions for its graduates from all major accountancy bodies. Based on our long-standing track record and the unchanged learning outcomes, we are confident that similar exemptions will continue to apply.
For the 2024/25 academic year, the exemptions our graduates may be eligible to claim should match previous years:
- ACCA: Various papers at the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills levels
- Chartered Accountants Ireland (ACA): Full CAP 1 exemption
- CIMA: Extensive exemptions, with the PG Diploma previously recognised as a fully accredited programme
- Irish Tax Institute: Group 2 exemptions
- CPA Ireland: Foundation Level (Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, and Taxation), and Professional Level (Financial Reporting, Advanced Taxation, Corporate Law, Audit & Assurance, and Managerial Finance)
Final details will be confirmed once the review process is complete.
Ireland is one of the only European countries to provide a two-year graduate work visa. The Irish Third Level Graduate scheme exists to allow legally resident non-EEA third level graduates to remain in Ireland for the purpose of seeking employment and applying for a green card or work permit. Students in training to become fully chartered accountants have the opportunity to apply for a Stamp 1A visa. This visa lasts up to four years and six months.
The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service provide full details and FAQs on their website. Visit the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service's website to learn more. The Trinity Careers Service also provides information on their website.
Student Prizes
Chartered Accountants Ireland are sponsoring a cash prize of €250 for the highest placed student in the ‘Financial Reporting’ module.
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants are sponsoring a cash prize of €250 for the highest placed student in the ‘Management Accounting’ module.
EY are sponsoring cash prizes of €250 each for the highest placed student in the ‘Audit’ and ‘Corporate Governance and Ethics’ modules.
Grant Thornton are sponsoring a cash prize of €250 for the highest placed student in ‘Accounting in Practice'.
Irish Tax Institute are sponsoring a cash prize of €250 for the highest placed student in the ‘Taxation’ module.
Find out more about career opportunities on completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting. Visit our Career Development page.