When Kennedy Simmons, HBA ’25, enrolled in Ivey’s three-month Graduate Diploma (GDip) in Accounting – an accelerated path from HBA to the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation – she expected an intense summer of advanced tax and financial reporting. What surprised her most was that it didn’t feel like a sacrifice at all.
“I don’t feel like I lost my summer at all,” said Simmons. “Honestly, it was a nice summer, just without the travel. We worked hard, but we also went out after exams, had bonfires, and built a really close group. I’m very glad I did it.”
Running from May to July, the Ivey GDip program builds directly on the HBA curriculum and concludes with a capstone case competition. For Simmons and her classmates, it offered the best of both worlds – rigorous preparation for the CPA designation and the familiar learning environment of Ivey.
Continuity and connection
That familiarity drew Jenna Dale, HBA ’25, to Ivey’s GDip program.
“What piqued my interest most was the integration with the HBA program,” she said. “The professors were a big draw, too. We already knew their teaching style and what to expect – and that made a huge difference.”
Like in HBA, the cohort stayed together in the same classroom every day, building the kind of tight-knit section bonds that are a hallmark of Ivey’s learning model. That blend of familiarity and focus made the program feel like a natural extension of the HBA experience rather than a departure from it.
Becoming a professional
Accounting lecturer Chris Sturby, HBA ’01, MBA ’09, who teaches in the GDip program, said this combination of rigour, structure, and support is what makes the GDip so valuable.
“The Ivey Graduate Diploma in Accounting program provides students with a unique opportunity to become a professional. At business schools, we often throw around the term ‘professional,’ but few people think about what this means,” he said.
He added that the CPA designation gives students rigorous training, professional development requirements, and a code of conduct that reflect a commitment to the broader good.
“The CPA is a great launching point for our HBA students and the Graduate Diploma in Accounting is the cornerstone of the CPA education process at Ivey,” he said.
Future-ready graduates
Stewart Bain, HBA ’25, said the program’s pace and structure helped him stay focused and move ahead quickly.
“The GDip program is fast – you just get it all done, rather than needing to study while you’re working," he said.
He said the program gave him the structure and support to feel ready for the next step.
“The GDip experience has made me much more confident about my ability to be a great CPA and do well on the exam,” he said. “The GDip gets you to a point where you have all the skills to write the CFE (Common Final Examination).”
Case-based learning and camaraderie
For Khalid Al Zadjali, HBA ’25, the GDip delivered both technical depth and practical application.
“The program is very case-based, but also integrates technical practice to build a strong foundation,” he said. “Having that background from Ivey is really helpful in putting things together for the CPA cases.”
He said the camaraderie of the experience stood out most.
“Everyone’s in the same boat, and you really support each other through it. We’d study together, but also make time to go out and celebrate after exams,” he said.
Proven results
The outcomes speak for themselves. Last year, 90 per cent of Ivey Graduate Diploma in Accounting students passed the CFE, underscoring the strength of the program’s preparation and teaching. Most participants enter the program having already secured full-time roles, with many employers covering the fees.
For graduates of the most recent cohort, the Ivey GDip program was more than a credential – it was a summer of learning, friendships, and confidence-building that set them up for the next step.
“Having finished the program now, I feel 100 times more confident for both starting full-time work and writing the CFE next year,” said Dale.
Bain added that the program made him feel prepared heading into his CPA journey, and Al Zadjali said the experience gave him the technical foundation to “not feel lost” when he began work at KPMG.
“You could pretty much talk to a CPA after this course and hold your ground,” Al Zadjali said.
Growth and confidence
As for Simmons, the summer she once thought she’d lose turned out to be one of her most rewarding.
“It was hard work, but it was also a great summer,” she said. “I didn’t feel like I missed out – I gained the preparation and the confidence I needed for the next step in my career.”
For Simmons and her classmates, the GDip wasn’t just a credential – it was a meaningful step between Ivey and the professional world, preparing them to start their careers with confidence.
(Photos above: Jenna Dale, Stewart Bain, Khalid Al Zadjali, and Kennedy Simmons)
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