Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

The Accounting Study Program is one of the most popular majors among prospective students who wish to attend UGM. In fact, it’s one of the top five programs in the Social Humanities cluster every year. Prospective new students compete in every selection of the admission process to be able to attend this study program.

The Accounting Study Program has a high level of selectivity, with an acceptance rate of only 4 % in 2023. That year, 5620 students applied for the program, which means it had a 1:33 selection ratio. This means that only 1 out of 33 applicants is accepted.

Would you like to know why this Accounting Study Program is so special that thousands of prospective students are willing to compete for a spot here? The UGM Accounting Study Program is one of three study programs at the Faculty of Economics and Business UGM, known for its strong academic reputation and ability to maintain the quality of education on an ongoing basis. This is proven by the Superior Accreditation granted by the Institute of Accreditation for Economics, Management, Business, and Accounting Programs (LAMEMBA). In addition to national accreditation, the Accounting Study Program is one of the study programs at FEB UGM, that is included in the scope of accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The FEB UGM Accounting Study Program also uniquely presents aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology and information systems in its educational curriculum. This step was taken in response to the needs of the times, which are constantly evolving and to meet the challenges of disruption.

"By incorporating aspects of information technology and in the future we will also consider the inclusion of AI in this curriculum, we want graduates to continue to be relevant to the needs of the current business world which is facing major challenges due to disruption," said the Head of the FEB UGM Accounting Study Program, Vogy Gautama Buanaputra, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., AFHEA., Wednesday (17/4) at FEB UGM.

Vogy said the development of information technology, especially artificial intelligence and information systems, has changed the work landscape in various sectors, including accounting. Technological advancement has changed the way accounting works, and the presence of AI can automate and greatly simplify accounting tasks that were previously performed solely by humans. This condition expands the potential role of accounting graduates in the world of work, which can increase the job/professional potential of accounting graduates. Therefore, the Accounting Study Program is trying to present a new curriculum by significantly adding aspects of technology and information systems as part of the learning material.

The 2022 curriculum is designed to add technology and information systems material. There are seven courses or the equivalent of 21 semester credit units (SKS) that students must complete. Courses include Information Systems and Technology, Accounting Information Systems, Systems Analysis and Design, R Programming, Digital Business, Data Analytics, and Enterprise Resource Planning.

"Through this information technology-based curriculum, we hope that UGM accounting graduates will be able to acquire adequate knowledge of information technology and its relevance to accounting so that they would be able to take broader roles in both business and non-business organizations at national and international levels," he explained.

Another advantage of the FEB UGM Accounting Study Program is that it offers various opportunities for students to gain international exposure. This can be achieved through exchange and double degree programs with more than 40 partner universities abroad, especially for students participating in the International Undergraduate Program (IUP). Through this program, students have the opportunity to gain diverse learning experiences and expand their international networks.

In addition, the FEB UGM Accounting Study Program is also part of the Partnership of Asian Management Schools (PAMS). PAMS is a short academic program offered by FEB UGM since 2020 in collaboration with four partner universities, namely Woosong University, Foreign Trade University, Sun Yat-sen University, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. In this program, the FEB UGM Accounting Study Program offers courses on Digital Accounting Transformation.

Other than that, the FEB UGM Accounting Study Program also has the advantage of offering a Fast Track Program starting in the academic year 2023/2024. This program is designed to allow students with good academic skills and high commitment to complete their studies on time to continue their studies in the Master of Science in Accounting Study Program, FEB UGM. The Fast Track program can be taken by 7th or 8th semester FEB UGM Bachelor in Accounting students who are currently doing or planning to do their thesis and who meet the qualifications to proceed directly to the Master of Science level. Students will earn two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accounting, in 5 or 6 years.

"Currently, one student from the UGM Accounting Study Program is participating in this fast-track program," he said.

The various breakthroughs made by the Accounting Study Program aim to produce future leaders who have integrity, think critically and can adapt to changes in the global business environment.

Hilda Bhakti Fahrezi, a student of the Accounting Study Program batch 2022, admitted that studying at FEB UGM Accounting Study Program was one of her best decisions ever. The reason is that studying at FEB UGM took her to a different world of education. She believes that the education offered gives students the opportunity to develop their skills and exposes them to new challenges and experiences.

Meanwhile, the learning system prioritizes the Student Learning Center (SLC) to create two-way communication and discussion between instructors and students. Assignments also maximize the use of critical thinking, case analysis, group discussions, and introduction to government institutions.

"I was exposed to various activities ranging from workshops, committees and organizations within the faculty to job opportunities, which helped me improve my soft and hard skills," she said.

Hilda added that the learning system in the accounting program is also closely related to artificial intelligence and information technology. Several of the courses offered discuss and improve students' skills in technology. In this way, students are adequately prepared to meet the challenges of accounting graduates in today's digital age.

Meanwhile, Zaid Alfarizi, a student in the Accounting Study Program batch 2021, admitted that he gained a lot of insight during his lectures at FEB UGM outside of the learning material from books. This is because many of FEB UGM's instructors have professional experience outside of the classroom, and they bring in practitioner instructors from the outside to provide essential knowledge from the world of work.

Not only that, In addition, FEB UGM is nationally and internationally accredited, has collaborations with various national and international partners, and has alumni networks spread throughout the world. This advantage opens up more significant opportunities for students to gain experience from outside the campus, either through internships or student exchanges.

"These various advantages can make it easier for students to get internships or other exposure," he explained.

Reportage: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum