MSc Accounting and Finance*

Applicants require either:

• A first or second-class honours degree from a UK university, or equivalent, in accounting, finance, banking, economics or any business-related subject with quantitative skills or
• At least a second-class honours degree in any quantitative subject such as engineering, mathematics, statistics, sciences or
• Work experience in an appropriate accounting and/ or finance environment with successful completion of CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW, CPA or CFA professional examinations up to the final stage.

Applicants for whom English is a second language require IELTS at 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each skill sub-set) unless they possess an entry qualification that was taught and assessed in English and the applicant completed the qualification within three years of entry onto the programme. You can find out more about our English Language requirement here.

Applicants may be required to pass an academic interview.

*Home student fees apply to British or Irish citizens and students who do not require a Student visa to study in the UK (e.g. EU citizens with settled or pre-settled status).

Alumni discount

If you completed your undergraduate degree with Bloomsbury Institute, you will receive a 25% tuition fee discount (i.e. the fees will be £9,000 for home students or £12,375 for international students).

Student loan

Home students may be eligible for a Master’s Loan that covers most of this course’s fees. You can read more here.

To be awarded the MSc in Accounting and Finance degree, students need to achieve 180 credit points. All modules except the dissertation module are worth 30 credits, the dissertation module is worth 60 credits.

Core modules

The following three, 30-credit modules, along with the dissertation module (60 credits), are mandatory.

Advanced Financial Reporting and Corporate Governance

This module helps you to develop a deeper knowledge and build skills in understanding corporate governance theories, principles, and mechanisms. Focusing on how to improve the governance of public companies, and how to apply and understand accounting standards the module explains the theoretical frameworks required to prepare financial statements for a number of entities, including groups. Integrated reporting, and how to analyse and interpret those financial statements, are also covered in this module.

You will learn how to implement corporate governance codes, mechanisms, and principles to develop a sound monitoring system that ensures greater transparency and accountability that safeguards the interests of stakeholder groups in public companies. The module also introduces the conceptual and regulatory framework of Financial Reporting to broaden your understanding so that you can analyse and discuss topical issues and challenges facing the profession today.

This module prepares you to deal with key accounting transactions by following International Accounting and Reporting standards. Upon the successful completion of this module, you will be able to prepare financial statements for a single entity and groups as per ISA and IFRS. You will also be capable of analysing and interpreting financial statements for internal and external purposes.

Assessment

Strategic Management Accounting

The tools and techniques used to apply strategic management accounting and decision-making theory are covered in this module. You will explore management accounting’s position within the strategic management of businesses and how these techniques can be integrated into the strategic decision-making process. The module places particular emphasis on the implementation of appropriate management accounting systems to complement different strategies. Applications, cases, and examples include multinational organisations, SMEs, non-profit and governmental organisations.

On the successful completion of this module, you will have a good understanding of how management accounting contributes to organisational strategic decision-making. You will also understand both the theoretical principles of strategic management accounting and its practical application, which assists in the analysis of management accounting data and the development and monitoring of business strategy.

Assessment

Corporate Finance and Business Strategy

Leadership, management, project management, investment, financing, and dividend policy decisions are all skills which a finance manager requires. This module covers these areas and also helps to develop a deeper understanding of firms’ financial management, long-term investment, and working capital management, which will help you to understand financial decision-making in enterprises.

Appreciating different types of leadership and management styles and their impact on performance and relationships in organisations are covered in this module. You will also consider the concepts and phases of project management, project management techniques, and management and leadership of the project.

Finally, this module will guide you on how to use corporate financial theory, project management techniques and leadership and management styles and their application in real-life scenarios encountered by entrepreneurs and decision-makers in the corporate world.

You will be able to explain capital budgeting techniques, sources of short and long-term finance and dividend policies that assist public companies to achieve shareholder wealth maximisation objectives upon the successful completion of this module. You will also understand the impact of leadership and management styles on firm performance and the project management techniques required to lead and manage projects successfully.

Assessment

Dissertation

Your MSc dissertation is an independent piece of research. You will be graded on your ability to identify a topic relevant to the programme, design and execute research and present it as a dissertation. The core integrative element of the MSc Finance and Wealth Management programme, your dissertation is the final stage of the master’s degree and provides an opportunity to demonstrate that you have gained the necessary knowledge, understanding, conceptual awareness and skills required to organise and conduct academic research.

Assessment

Optional modules

You will choose one of the following two modules that are worth 30 credits.

International Finance & Risk Management

This module enables students to understand and apply strategic financing, investment, and risk management decisions within a global context. The module covers the financial management dimensions of leading a multinational enterprise (MNE). The MNE as an organisation poses unique demands on business leaders, who are confronted with a multitude of challenges. The increased importance of the global integration of money and capital markets has created expanded opportunities for investors and organisations alike. In normal life, risk is usually regarded as something that should be avoided entirely, however, in the investment world, risk and performance are inseparable. Understanding risk and how to manage it is one of the important skills in the financial world. Volatile exchange rates have not only increased risk, but they have also created unique opportunities for both investors and firms to profit given a proper understanding of exchange rate risk management.

On the successful completion of this module students will possess a demonstrably good understanding of the international financial system, the evolving globalisation of the world economy and the strategies firms can employ to react to these changes, including hedging techniques. Students should also understand financial derivatives in an integrated manner, in their application to risk management.

Assessment

Monetary Policy & Financial Markets

You’ll take a closer look at money, monetary policy and financial markets in the globalised world in this module, offering an insight into the techniques used to decide monetary policy and how they can be applied in real-world situations. A sound knowledge in these essential areas is crucially important for finance professionals who have to grapple with the effects of monetary policy by central banks and occasional financial crises.

Successful completion of this module will enable you to confidently evaluate the impact of monetary policy on businesses, households and other economic agents. You will also develop a deeper analysis of the money creation process, general equilibrium theory, inflation, portfolio theory, monetary policy objectives and instruments, interest rates, central bank independence, and many other topics related to monetary policy. In addition, the content in this module should complement the other modules in the MSc programme to ensure students have the necessary knowledge, understanding and application to work as competent practitioners in the financial industry.

Assessment

Professional Body Accreditations

We are seeking accreditation from CIMA for the MSc Accounting and Finance degree. It is our intention that our graduates receive an additional three exemptions to the eight which are already included with a BSc Accounting and Finance course awarded by Bloomsbury Institue. The three extra exemptions are Advanced Financial Reporting, Advanced Management Accounting, and Managing Performance; these are against the three core modules of the CIMA qualification, namely; Advanced Financial Reporting & Corporate Governance, Strategic Management Accounting, and Corporate Finance & Performance Management.

Careers

Future career prospects are excellent as the demand for both accountants and financial professionals is destined to increase over the next 10 years. An MSc Accounting and Finance degree can provide an array of employment opportunities in various sectors such as banking, accounting, investment management, insurance, and consulting.

Graduates with an MSc in Accounting and Finance can work as financial accountants, management and cost accountants, forensic accountants, accountants in accounting firms, and consultants, offering accounting and financial services to clients as well as providing financial advice.

Similarly, within the banking sector, MSc Accounting and Finance graduates can work as financial analysts, investment bankers, or research analysts. They can help clients with mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and other investment-related activities. They can work in the insurance industry as underwriters, brokers and claim inspectors.

Overall, an MSc Accounting and Finance degree can open a wide range of employment opportunities in various sectors, making it a valuable degree for those interested in pursuing a career in the accounting and finance profession.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Once you have completed the MSc Accounting and Finance course, you could continue your studies in applied finance leading to a PhD or a Professional Doctorate in Business (DBA).

Teaching facilities

You will be taught at our Central London (Zone 1) Campus. You will have full access to the library at Birkbeck College (University of London), including the right to borrow books.

Terms

You will complete the MSc Accounting and Finance degree over three Terms.
Two 30-credit modules take place in Term 1 and another two 30-credit modules take place in Term 2. In the second term, you will also complete the audit dissertation module with a view to writing your dissertation proposal.

In Term 3 you will complete writing your 60-credit Dissertation module.

Classes

Classes take place 3 days per week, averaging 8 hours per week. Your classes will be scheduled Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

You will experience a variety of teaching methods. Most modules are delivered through lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Lectures provide a broad outline structure for each topic to be covered. Lectures offer an excellent way of covering a lot of information and conveying ideas to many people at once. Seminars enable you to complete directed self-study and to answer questions and solve problems which are set by the lecturer. You will discuss your answers and solutions within the seminar group. Seminars will enable you to explore further the topics introduced in the lectures. Workshops follow on from lectures and seminars. They are designed to enable you to work within a small group to perform set tasks (e.g., working on an exercise or case study).

As a small higher education Institute, we pride ourselves on supporting each and every student, ensuring that your journey with us is rewarding and life-affirming.

Wellbeing

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is a priority. It’s so important for us all to find effective ways of coping. Our wellbeing programme offers you the opportunity to take time out and reflect on how your life could be enhanced by finding that sense of calm and finding grounded which lies at the heart of a balanced, fulfilling life.

Disability

Disabilities, long-term medical conditions, or specific learning difficulties are never barriers to success here at Bloomsbury Institute. We‘re committed to providing a level playing field and empowering everyone to study as independently as possible during their time with us.

Specially trained staff are on hand to advise and support you. And we’ll work with you and liaise with academic departments to agree any adjustments that might be needed (including exam arrangements) to make sure your needs are met.

Learning Enhancement

Learning Enhancement is here to provide every student with develop their academic skill set.

Whether you’re struggling with your studies or simply want to go from good to great, our workshops and sessions on academic language and academic skills tap into the power of small-group learning to really help you develop the tools you need to succeed as a student. You can also book a one-to-one appointment with a LE Leader to talk through any issues or questions.

Employability (Let’s Grow)

Our Let’s Grow programme provides you with personal, academic and career development opportunities. Embedded within your course and taking place through extra-curricular activities, the programme prepares you for life after graduation, including:

• Enabling you to communicate your skills and experiences effectively to a range of audiences from employers to investors.
• Actively encouraging you to take on opportunities, provided by the Institute, to develop and apply a wide range of employability skills.
• Provide you with a global outlook, international opportunities and up-to-date analysis of the UK and international job market.
• Promoting, encouraging and rewarding work-related learning.
• Rewarding you by taking ownership of your career development.
• Our Centre for Community Engagement and Learning connects the Institute (and staff and students) with local communities and global partners through experiential learning, research and civic engagement.

Personal Tutoring

Our Personal Tutoring (PT) scheme provides additional guidance and support to students. Students have the opportunity to regularly meet with their peers and staff members in a less formal atmosphere than in the classroom. PT includes a combination of group and one-to-one sessions in which students discuss their course, and their experiences at Bloomsbury Institute, raise issues, ask questions and receive pastoral support.

Bloomsbury Institute Student Guild (BISG) aims to inspire and empower all Bloomsbury Institute students, providing you with a valued experience that extends beyond the classroom. The Guild is the official representative of students here at Bloomsbury Institute, providing a range of services and opportunities during and after your studies.

From ensuring that the student voice is heard, to running societies and clubs, students are at the heart of all that the Guild does.

You can learn more on BISG’s website.

Wrexham University is the awarding body for this course.