MSc Accounting and Finance

This established programme has enabled many students to progress into an accounting or finance career. It has now been radically revised for 2013/14 to give students the opportunity to take a professional qualification within the course, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Certificate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), during the course. The intention is that, along with the MSc, this will both prepare students for a financial role within a company and show potential employers that the student not only has theoretical, but also practical professional knowledge. Those students who do not wish to take the IFRS certificate have an alternative research-based programme whilst their colleagues are working on the IFRS material. We are currently negotiating potential accreditation from a number of accounting bodies including ACCA, CIMA, IAI and ICAEW.

The academic programme is up-to-date and provides a high level of understanding of both theoretical and numerical material. The university has market-leading financial databases (the Thomson-Reuters Eikon suite) to support both the teaching and the individual study of students. All students finish their programme with a dissertation, giving them the opportunity to show their ability to address and answer a research issue under the supervision of academic staff.

Bringing together faculty interests, knowledge, experiences and a strong commitment to graduate employability prospects, the programme consists of eight modules and a dissertation/project which is designed to enable you to prosper in what is a complex and competitive and continually changing market place or to prepare for further study if that is your career aim. 

Stage One

• Corporate Finance; Economic Analysis; Accounting; Quantitative Methods

Stage Two

• Financial Analysis and International Accounting; Management Accounting; Portfolio Analysis and Management; Professional Accounting (IFRS study and exam) or Studies in Accounting (academic-led research skills course).

Final Stage

• Dissertation

Assessment

Our programme employs a variety of assessment methods which are designed to assess knowledge, competencies and skills that are required in the modern financial world. This means you will be required to prepare reports, group and individual presentation etc as well as traditional exams and academic essays.

This programme has been designed to prepare you for a successful career in a wide range of accounting and finance –related roles – training as an auditor, working for a company within their accounting function or in a variety of other financial roles. Alternatively, if you choose not to take the professional accounting (IFRS) module, the course can lead to further academic study.