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Accounting and Finance

MSc

Find out more about our courses by joining a live master's webinar

Start dates: September 2025 / January 2026 / September 2026

Full time: 1 year or 2 years in sandwich mode which includes one year's full-time paid supervised work experience (a work placement). Sandwich mode is only available for September entry.

Part time: 24 months

Location: Headington

Department(s): Oxford Brookes Business School

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

Do you aspire to be the brains behind the money management of major organisations? Our MSc Accounting and Finance can put you on the fast-track; you'll graduate with up to 6 exemptions from the 13 papers required to become a qualified accountant.

This course is designed for graduates of any non accounting and finance subject. Many of our students have studied business before, but we also have students from history, music and even Japanese studies.

You'll learn how accounting and finance teams fit into a small, medium or large organisation and utilise your soft skills in problem solving, teamwork, and communication to have a rigorous and professional approach to managing important financial data. Our teaching team have worked in industry and academia – they’ve written textbooks, but they’ve also worked for international companies like Unilever.

You can join us for guest lecturers from businesses like Harley-Davidson and get involved in Business Challenge Week where cross-faculty student teams work with local companies to address real-world business challenges.

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Accredited course

    You’ll gain up to 6 exemptions from the papers required to become a qualified accountant with ACCA (this usually takes 2-3 years).

  • Inspiring guest lecturers

    Engage with our speakers, such as an analyst from Pictet Asset Management and the CEO of Melrose Industries. 

  • Digital know-how

    Apply theoretical knowledge in real-world applications, including our new Bloomberg Trading Suite which will offer you the opportunity to use this industry-standard tool to evaluate investment opportunities.

  • Expand your expertise

    Take advantage of student societies, including the Economics and Finance Society (EFS), which aims to bring together like-minded people, and share knowledge whilst discussing economic issues and events in the financial market.

  • Industry insight

    Pick optional modules from the areas of accounting, analytics and/or finance.

  • Accreditation(s)

    Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

    • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Course details

Course structure

We’ve designed this course to cover the three key areas of accounting education: financial reporting, management accounting and finance. You’ll also build the digital skills you need to use Excel and other software used in industry.

You’ll master management techniques that help plan, control and analyse performance, and develop the technical abilities to evaluate business processes. Understanding how financial decisions contribute to organisations’ objectives will also be key.

We’ll cover financial accounting techniques, from basic transaction records to international financial reporting. You’ll learn to prepare and interpret financial statements and debate current issues in international financial accounting.

You get the chance to do a project that investigates a topic of particular interest to you or your future career. Some students investigate areas like the benefits and drawbacks of Environmental Social Governance reporting, while others examine the best ways to measure success at the organisation where they already work.

Student completing assignment

Learning and teaching

During the course you’ll strengthen your practical analysis and decision-making skills. Lectures, discussions, role-play exercises and seminars link with selected case studies and assessments.

Much of the teaching takes place in interactive workshops. Our teaching staff have in-depth knowledge of accounting practices and issues. We also invite visiting speakers from business and research bodies to share their insight and provide further input.

This is a demanding yet highly worthwhile course because it takes you from knowing very little about accounting to having exemptions form professional examinations, at the same time as gaining a Master's qualification.

You can also opt to take the Business in Practice study trip module.

Assessment

Assessment will include a range of activities including:

  • examinations 
  • case studies 
  • reports
  • presentations 

Field Trips

The International Business in Practice Study Trip module allows you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will: attend presentations from local management executives and experts go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. This study trip is voluntary and you will need to fund all costs associated with the trip. It is not linked to university assessments in any way.

If you successfully complete this non-credit bearing module, it will be recorded on your transcript as International Business in Practice: Study Trip.

Start this course in January or September

You can start this course in January if a September start doesn't suit you or is not currently offered for this course.

If you start in January you will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.

Find out more about January entry

Study modules

Be industry ready when you graduate

By undertaking an optional work placement you can gain valuable and relevant industry experience and develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, networking and problem solving. A work placement can help you decide on your long-term career objectives and may lead to a job offer after graduation (would require visa sponsorship for international students).

The WAVES (Work and Voluntary Experience Service) or Careers Office will provide you with support and advice to get ahead in your career, and help you with your CV and applications. The team has access to a wide range of small, medium and large employers that offer postgraduate student work placements.

If you wish to pursue a placement at a particular company, our WAVES team can support you in making an approach to the company. Our Careers Office can also provide you with advice on how to use professional social media channels to pitch yourself to prospective employers.

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Management Accounting

    You will be able to contribute to the planning, decision-making and control within organisations. Equipping you with management accounting techniques, you will be able to calculate, analyse and present financial and non-financial information, while developing your ability to critically evaluate these techniques.

  • Financial Accounting

    You will gain an understanding of financial accounting techniques, from basic transaction records to international financial reporting. You will learn how to prepare and interpret financial statements and debate current issues in international financial accounting.

  • Corporate Finance

    You will be introduced to the principles and practice of corporate financial management.  You will learn how organisations manage their finances, how they decide what investments to undertake and what dividends to pay. You will learn the core techniques used to measure the creation of value and, at the same time, develop a critical
    perspective in evaluating corporate finance theory.

Optional modules

Performance Management

This module builds on the understanding of management accounting techniques acquired in the compulsory Management Accounting module. It extends your abilities in applying planning, decision making and control techniques. You interpret the performance of organisations and critically discuss the role ofmanagement accounting within different contexts.

Financial Reporting

This module builds on the accounting techniques and principles covered in Financial Accounting and you are challenged to evaluate the financial performance and position of companies using financial statements. You will also gain insight into the development of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the context of global financial reporting history, and will engage with current International Financial Reporting issues such as sustainability.

Finance and Strategy

You will be able to place financing and investment decisions into the context of the wider environment, corporate strategy and performance. By using case studies throughout the module, you will appreciate how corporate strategy is formulated, linked to business and functional strategies and how management control is exercised and performance is measured.

International Finance

In this module you will adopt two perspectives: first that of an analyst of the international system, examining the
operation of foreign exchange and derivative markets, and theories of exchange rate determination; second that of the financial manager within a multinational enterprise (MNE) facing issues of currency risk management and international investment. You will demonstrate both critical evaluation and practical application of theoretical and empirical developments in the field of international finance.

Sustainable Finance and Investment

This module is particularly relevant for students who aspire to work in asset management, banking, treasury, financial reporting or for rating and verification agencies. You will developing expertise in the rapidly evolving field of sustainable finance - both of the financial instruments that organisations issue and investors buy, and of the systems of accountability and governance that are associated with them. You will develop practical skills in the use of Bloomberg Terminals to support your analysis of sustainable finance and investment.

Investment and Asset Management

You will gain hands-on experience of building a diversified portfolio, hedging using derivatives, and analysing its performance and risk using the Bloomberg Terminal. The fundamentals learnt in this module will be particularly beneficial for a career in asset management, investment banking, wealth management, etc. The module will be of interest to anyone pursuing or planning to pursue Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1.

The Practice of Data Analysis

You will learn how to examine data and use statistics to help businesses, to formulate strategies and make decisions. You will learn essential concepts that underpin areas such as business analytics, data mining, data analytics, big data and artificial intelligence. you will work with diverse datasets, learn how to prepare these and test basic models of analytics.

Business Analytics

You will learn how to conduct data preparation, pre-processing, reduction, visualisation and modelling  before you interpret and gain further insights from the data. You will learn how to use several analytical tools and software, such as Microsoft PowerBI, Tableau, Python and RStudio

International Business In Practice: Study Trip (non-credit)

You will meet with leaders of global firms, receive presentations from global academic experts, and tour company facilities. This study trip is voluntary and all costs associated with the trip will need to be funded by you. It is not linked to university assessments in any way.  As the destination and therefore precise costs vary from year to year, the programme fee of the study trip will be communicated well before the application deadline.

Final project

Compulsory modules

  • Research Project

    You will undertake an independent project, relevant to the area of Accounting and Finance. You can choose between a research project, a consultancy project or a guided project.  The ability to carry out independent research, analyse both qualitative and quantitative data and then to communicate their findings orally and in writing are key skills required by the accounting and finance professions.

Work Placement

Optional modules

Enterprise Work Placement

You'll expand your enterprise skills in the context of the workplace. The focus will be on building your intrapreneurial mindsets during your placement, helping you to develop the curiosity, creativity, vision and resilience to be successful in a variety of organisations. You'll draw on the OBBS Golden Thread and Brookes attributes embedded within your degree, for you to be a change agent on your placement, so you drive innovation in one or more of the following areas: ethical business behaviour, inclusivity, responsible management, sustainability, digitalisation and internationalisation. Drawing on on your research skills you'll propose evidence based innovative solutions to your placement organisations’ challenges.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

Lecturers on this programme are typically members of the Sustainable Development, Accounting and Applied Economics research cluster.  Recent work has included an investigation of the relationship between financial development and economic growth and an exploration of sustainability accounting and reporting.

Careers

All businesses need accountants, it’s a global profession with opportunities from America to Australia to Africa opening up for qualified professionals. You'll be part of a new generation of accountants equipped with the latest skills and insight.

Once you’ve completed this course, you’ll be able to apply for ACCA exemptions. You’ll also have sought-after skills in quantitative analysis, communication and presenting which are valued in a range of areas from banking to consultancy.

Our students are attractive to employers in the UK and beyond. You’ll leave Oxford Brookes with global business links with students, teaching staff and professionals.

You’ll find our graduates at prestigious corporations such as:

  • BNP Paribas
  • Accenture
  • Deloitte
  • PwC
  • UK Civil Service
  • Huawei.

Our Staff

Asuka Wakatsuki

I have developed a new specialist course on personal and professional development, focusing on improving employability prospects for students.

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Asuka Wakatsuki

I have developed a new specialist course on personal and professional development, focusing on improving employability prospects for students.

Read more about Asuka

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Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£11,350
Home (UK) part time
£5,675
International full time
£17,650
Home (UK) full time
£11,950
Home (UK) part time
£5,975
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,200
International full time
£18,950
International sandwich (placement)
£2,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£11,350
Home (UK) part time
£5,675
International full time
£17,650
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£11,950
Home (UK) part time
£5,975
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,200
International full time
£18,950
International sandwich (placement)
£2,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.