Graduate Diploma in Accounting

Lakehead University’s Graduate Diploma in Accounting (GDA) is a one semester professional accounting program which prepares students to pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. The GDA seamlessly integrates with the Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Major) and enhances the technical and enabling competencies of our undergraduate students by further developing critical thinking, analytical, integrative and ethical reasoning, and communication skills.The CPA Ontario Accredited GDA provides students with advanced standing into the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP). Graduates of the GDA will receive advanced standing for Core 1, Core 2 and all four elective modules, thereby, entering the CPA PEP at the Capstone 1 module. Students may save time in achieving the CPA designation by completing the GDA. Graduates of Lakehead’s Honours Bachelor of Commerce Program who have taken the prerequisite courses as part of their studies, and graduates from other Canadian universities with a degree specializing in accounting and all CPA PEP prerequisite credits, either through a post-secondary institute or the CPA Preparatory courses, may apply for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Accounting.

Applicants for admission must be graduates of a recognized university, college, or institute as well as show evidence of scholarly achievement. Except where otherwise stated in the Admission Requirements of a particular program, degree students must have a four year bachelor's degree or its equivalent with at least second class standing (B) based on their last 20 half courses or equivalent.An applicant holding a degree other than one in the discipline area to which admission is sought will be considered on the basis of courses taken and academic standing. A Qualifying Year at the undergraduate level may be required to meet the admission standards. Courses taken as part of a Qualifying Year can not be used as credit towards a graduate degree.Graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Lakehead University or an equivalent degree from Lakehead University. Our minimum admission requirement for international applicants is 75% or 3.0 on a 4 point Canadian scale, with an accredited university degree equivalent to a Lakehead University 4 year degree.