Accounting MSc



We are a top UK Modern University for Accounting and Finance (The WUR, 2023)

Overview

Our course has been developed for students who have not previously studied Accounting but are interested in a career in accountancy or performance management or who are interested in conducting academic research in accounting and business reporting. 

 

Students who have previously completed a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting may be admitted but may encounter some knowledge-based material with which they are already familiar.  We have a 100% overall student satisfaction score for our MSc in Accounting (PTES, 2023).

Typical entry points to this course are in January and September. Please enquire for more information.

Zhongdong Niu, Lecturer in Accounting Financial Services and Law is sitting listening to a woman speak

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

1 years

Start date:

Jan

Course details

We aim to provide you with the skills needed to demonstrate to employers that you have the ability to practise the craft of accounting and to gather, analyse, investigate, evaluate and communicate the essential records and numbers that businesses use in decision-making and performance evaluation.

This course will equip you with theoretical and practical learning in accounting, performance reporting, financial management and the management and governance of corporations. Our module on Accounting as a Profession will provide guidance on the practical role of the accountant and on accounting ethics, while our module on Transnational Financial Crime will provide insights into issues of such as the laundering of proceeds of crime and the financing of terrorism. Our module on Corporate Governance will further develop your communication skills in writing and in discussion in a simulated boardroom setting.

You will also complete a research methods module, followed by a dissertation, which will enable you further to develop your skills in analysing qualitative and quantitative information, as well as in the development of research questions and the presentation of the results of academic research.
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    How you’ll be taught

     This is a full-time course and you will attend weekly lectures and tutorials, as well simulated boardroom sessions. You will also spend time on independent study using our extensive library resources.
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    Assessments

     You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including contributions to simulated boardroom sessions, peer review, written papers and written examinations. You will also complete a dissertation representing 400 hours’ research work.

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

Accounting as a Profession ( ACC11121 )

Overview of Assessment Type
History of Accounting (traditional, alternative histories, issues in the development of the profession – gender etc.)
Roles of accounting in society (FA/MA/Audit/Contemporary issues and settings – environment, sport, singularities etc.)
Application of accounting and relation to management
Professional ethics (for individuals and why individuals might act as they do)
The professional bodies
The professionalisation project (establishment, maintenance, legal aspects etc.)
The future of accounting (societies, evaluation, author, figures vs numbers)

Further information

Corporate Governance ( ACC11124 )

Theories of corporate governance
Legislation, regulation and corporate governance codes
Development of UK corporate governance practices
Models of corporate governance
Corporate scandals and corporate culture
Functions of the corporate board
Board effectiveness and diversity
Board sub-committees
Accountability, audit and risk
Corporate governance reporting and disclosure
Contemporary issues of governance
The role of stakeholders and corporate social responsibility
International and transnational approaches to corporate governance

Further information

Dissertation ( TBS11130 )

Research methodologies, critically reviewing literature, research design and ethics, data collection methods (qualitative, quantitative and mixed), analysis methods, research writing and dissemination. Individual research, production of a dissertation, reflection on work undertaken.

Further information

Financial Management ( ACC11118 )

The financial environment, types of debt and equity instruments and their features, measurements of the cost of capital including WACC, capital structure theories and practices, investment appraisal techniques including NPV and IRR, appraising investment under conditions of risk and uncertainty including M&A projects; working capital management and short term financing decisions, risk management policies involving operating and financial risk

Further information

Financial Reporting and Analysis ( ACC11123 )

In this module you will learn about the financial reporting environment and the regulatory and conceptual frameworks for the preparation and presentation of financial statements, including consideration of international practices. You will study the practical problems associated with the application of accounting standards, including accounting for groups of companies. You will also learn how to interpret and analyse the financial performance, cash flows and financial position of organisations from their published accounts.
Module Content:
Overview of the international financial reporting environment
Regulatory and conceptual frameworks
Accounting for groups of companies
Accounting standards and accounting policies
Analysis, interpretation and limitations of published financial statements and annual reports

Further information

Research Methods ( SOE11131 )

Research methodologies, critically reviewing literature, research design and ethics, data collection methods (qualitative, quantitative and mixed), analysis methods, research writing and dissemination.

Further information

Strategic Performance Management ( ACC11125 )

Strategic tools and strategic positioning analysis; management accounting for competitive advantage including innovations in management accounting performance evaluation such as economic value and environmental management accounting; performance measurement systems including the balanced scorecard; performance management and its alignment with performance measures; strategic costing; behavioural aspects of performance measurement systems; risk in the management accounting process.

Further information

Transnational Financial Crime ( ACC11122 )

Financial offences: fraud, including tax evasion, bribery, theft, money laundering, terrorist financing
Facilitation of financial crime by businesses and professional persons
Money laundering and profits from illegal enterprise and organised crime.
Bribery and corruption
International conventions and co-operation in financial crime prevention and role of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and United Nations
Management of risks of financial crime
Terrorism financing and its prevention
Data security, computer security and responses to the threat of computer-enabled financial crime
Financial crime risks and the use of the internet
The role of investigators, the police, document examiners and forensic experts
Investigation of financial crime across jurisdictions

Further information

* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Accounting?

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above. We look for applicants to have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme.

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional work experience within the industry.

Can I get admission into Accounting based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BN Nursing/MSc Nursing (Pre-registration) (Adult, Mental Health, Child, Learning Disabilities)
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £8,300 tba
Overseas and EU £17,090 tba
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

On successful completion of this programme you will have the knowledge, understanding and skills to seek postgraduate-level employment in accountancy and to enter professional accountancy training. Alternatively you will be eligible to apply for progression to doctoral-level study in Accounting, Corporate Governance or Financial Management at the University or to seek entry to doctoral-level study at another higher education institution.
Zhongdong Niu, Lecturer in Accounting Financial Services and Law is sitting listening to a woman speak