Petition: Support International students and allow transfers between MPAcc(CA) to MPAcc

International students studying Accountancy at Massey are coming up against Visa issues due to the University not allowing transfers between MPAcc(CA) to MPAcc. These two programmes are similar: 

• Both are a Master’s degree

• Both are the same level of study (Postgraduate / NZQF Level 9)

• Both programmes share the exact same courses for at least the first year of study. 

However, the University has stated that students are not allowed to transfer between the two programmes due to issues related to course withdrawal and credit transfer. Under New Zealand immigration policy, if a student changes from MPAcc(CA) to MPAcc, they will no longer meet the Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) requirement of 30 weeks’ full-time study. This is because the student would need to apply for a new student visa based on the new programme offer, and previous study time may not be counted.In order to protect International students who wish to transfer between these two programmes, we are asking Massey University to:

• Allow transfers from MPAcc(CA) to MPAcc (particularly after Year 1), 

• Recognise completed courses in full — the first-year curricula in both programmes are identical, so credits should transfer without loss, 

• Protect Post-Study Work Visa eligibility so completed study counts toward visa purposes after the transfer, and 

• Provide a formal written statement confirming that both programmes are under the same qualification type, and that the first-year courses are identical. This would allow Immigration New Zealand to recognise the previous full-time study period as transferable and count it towards the new programme for PSWV eligibility.

Click here to sign the petition. Let's give international students the flexibility they deserve!