Lorna Sandila

For Lorna, the MPA programme allowed her to move into higher level study—even without a background in accounting.

Lorna Sandila missed her opportunity to study accounting during her undergraduate degree so the Masters in Professional Accounting (MPA) became the perfect choice for her post graduate study.

She reflects that a major bonus of studying the MPA is that it allows students to study a higher level qualification within a relatively short amount of time.

"I enjoy the small class numbers which gives more opportunity for one on one time with lecturing staff and lively classroom discussions."

Lorna also enjoys the flexibility to build her life around the course. "Lectures take place on two days of the week which means you can work part-time as well."

Originally from the Hawkes Bay, Lorna came to Wellington for undergraduate study and hasn't looked back.

"It makes sense to study commerce subjects in Wellington," she says. "I find it inspiring to look out of the window and see Parliament and it feels good to be in a place where a lot of the national business news generated daily is happening.

"I'm planning to finish up the course during the middle of 2011 and hope that being one of a small number of MPA graduates will help me stand out from the crowd enough to gain employment in one of 'the big four', accounting companies."