Strategic Professional Accounting and Finance
MSc
Key facts
Start dates
September 2023
Location
Course length
Full time: 12 months
Part time: 24 months
Department
Overview
Our MSc Strategic and Professional 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 will:
- prepare for 4 Strategic Professional ACCA papers
- acquire professional and digital skills to prepare you for your career
- complete a Research Project developing your independent research skills into a topical issue
- appreciate broader issues within accounting such as corporate social responsibility
- engage with our guest speakers such as the Deputy Chair of KPMG and managers from Grant Thornton, ICAEW.
Our accounting masters’ 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.
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 must have passed or have exemptions from all Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills ACCA papers.
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.
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
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
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.
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.
Optional costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
International Business in Practice Study Trip module (inc. accommodation for seven nights, insurance, company visits and group transportation for all activities). This fee did not include international airfare, visa application fee (if relevant), dinners and activities during your free time. |
£350-1500 |
The programme qualifies graduates for exemptions from professional body examinations - the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). To claim these exemptions, graduates will need to pay registration fees to ACCA then a fee per exemption granted (between 4 and 7 depending on options taken in the programme). |
Typically £135 |
International Business in Practice Study Trip module (inc. accommodation for seven nights, insurance, company visits and group transportation for all activities). This fee did not include international airfare, visa application fee (if relevant), dinners and activities during your free time. |
£350-1500 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
| You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £8 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
The MSc Strategic Professional Accounting and Finance has:
- four compulsory taught modules
- one or two elective modules
- a research project.
Study modules
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.
Students on our Accounting, Finance and Economics courses can gain certification and experience of trading on the financial markets by making mock transactions using real-world financial market data. Read our in-depth news story to find out more.
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.
Research
There are two main areas of research related to this subject:
- Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Social Responsibility and Governance
- 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 sit some Strategic Professional ACCA papers externally, 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 Strategic Professional Accounting and Finance develops your ability to compete for challenging and interesting roles in the profession or general business.
Our postgraduate accounting 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.
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.