Accounting and Finance

MSc

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Key facts

Start dates

September 2023

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: 12 months

Part time: 24 months

Accreditation(s)

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Overview

Our MSc Accounting and Finance balances technical accounting and finance knowledge with practical skills. You are taught in small interactive groups by experts from the professions as well as leading researchers in the field. 

Throughout this course, you can:

  • gain up to 7 exemptions from the ACCA 
  • acquire professional and digital skills to prepare you for your career 
  • develop a thorough understanding of financial and management accounting
  • explore how different financial markets, banks and foreign exchange operate
  • appreciate broader issues including corporate social responsibility
  • engage with our guest speakers such as the Deputy Chair of KPMG and managers from Grant Thornton, ICAEW. 

Our students have gone on to work with prestigious global organisations such as PwC, Deloitte, Oxfam, UK Civil Service and Huawei, and have careers such as accountant, auditor, tax official, banking operational officer and financial analyst.

students studying together

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

A minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution or equivalent professional or other qualification.

Applicants who possess a diploma rather than a good degree may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development.

This course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. Applications are welcome from those in work and seeking continuing professional development

​​Entry will also be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference).

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to have the following level of English language competency:

  • minimum 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking).
  • if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£10,800

Home (UK) part time
£5,400

International full time
£16,800

Home (UK) full time
£11,350

Home (UK) part time
£5,675

International full time
£17,650

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£10,800

Home (UK) part time
£5,400

International full time
£16,800

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£11,350

Home (UK) part time
£5,675

International full time
£17,650

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

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.

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Learning and assessment

The MSc Accounting and Finance has:

  • three compulsory taught modules
  • one or two elective modules
  • a research project. 
Student completing assignment

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

Managerial Accounting

You will learn management accounting techniques for planning, controlling, decision-making and analysing organisational performance. You will develop technical abilities as well as critically evaluating business processes.

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 Concepts

You will acquire theoretical knowledge on the elements of company value, including how financial decisions contribute to meeting a corporation’s objectives. Through practical focus, this module contributes to your understanding of how financial decisions are taken by companies.

Optional modules

Financial Modelling

Corporate Governance

Audit and Assurance

Corporate Social Responsibility

Finance and Strategy

Financial Markets and Institutions

Financial Reporting

International Finance

Performance Management

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

Final project

Compulsory modules

Research Project

You will incorporate research methods and a research project; key components of the master's degree. The project provides you with an opportunity to explore a specialist area in depth. You have a choice to undertake a traditional dissertation or follow a structured research project which incorporates both theoretical and applied research. You will be provided with guidance and advice throughout the process.

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.

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 an intensive course. Many of your modules will include two taught classes each week.

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

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.

We also run a study trip to Chengdu, China. If you choose the study trip (which runs in July), we will give you all the details by March so that you can make your decisions ahead of the trip in July.

If you successfully complete this non-credit bearing module, it will be recorded on your transcript as P58335 International Business in Practice: Study Trip.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

Assessment will include a range of activities including:

  • examinations 
  • case studies 
  • reports
  • presentations 
  • group projects.

Research

There are two main areas of research related to this subject: Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Social Responsibility and Governance, and Applied Economics, Finance and Development.

The Accounting cluster focuses on how accountability and responsibility is achieved, explored from a range of perspectives and methodological approaches.

The Economics cluster comprises applied macro- and microeconomics as well as finance, environmental sustainability and development.

After you graduate

Career prospects

This course helps you develop both academically and professionally providing you with a strong foundation for a career in accounting and finance. You will be able to apply for ACCA exemptions, once you have completed your programme. It offers you an opportunity to create global business links with fellow students, teaching staff and professionals you may meet during your time at Brookes. You will develop the following skills, which are embedded into the programme:

  • quantitative analysis
  • digital literacy
  • communication
  • presentation 
  • team working. 

The MSc in Accounting and Finance develops your ability to compete for challenging and interesting roles in the profession or general business.

Our students are attractive to employers both in the UK and internationally and have gone to work in prestigious corporations such as:

  • 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.

Read more about Asuka

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.