Finance and Accounting MSc

Course in brief

Our Finance and Accounting MSc will help you develop an in-depth knowledge of financial theory and practice, research methods, financial markets, financial accounting and management accounting.

The course has been designed to help you develop the skills necessary to advise on financial accounting standards, solve complex business problems and address the latest issues in financial theory and practice.

This course is part of our Finance MSc programme. All students complete the same core finance modules, then from the end of the first term you will be able to tailor the course to your individual strengths and career aspirations through option modules and the option to specialise in one of five areas.

The other specialisms offered are:

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year

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Please make sure that you meet the entry requirements before applying. If you have any questions the course team will be happy to help.

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Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2018. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

Degree and experience
Normally a good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject is required. Work experience is useful but not essential. Applicants with non-standard entry qualifications may be considered. If you are unsure whether you meet the entry requirements then please contact us.

International students who need help meeting the academic entry requirements should contact our International College.

Applicants who hold an HND or foundation degree equivalent can take our nine-month Business BSc top-up degree and then progress onto this masters degree.

For non-native speakers of English
In order to benefit from, contribute to and enjoy the course, a good command of spoken and written English language is required. If English is not your first language, you will need English language proficiency equivalent to an overall IELTS score of at least 6.5, with 6.0 in the written test and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through the Extended Masters programme at the university's Language Institute.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

The course is composed of three phases:

Phase 1 teaches the core subjects of finance, economics and research methods

Phase 2 introduces specialist modules in finance and accounting

Phase 3 is the dissertation that draws together the learning from the whole of the programme, allowing you to develop your research skills and capacity for critical analysis while creating a specialisation in a particular field of finance and accounting

All modules on the course involve both taught sessions and guided independent study. For a typical module, approximately 30% of the total hours comprise taught activity, 10% is guided study and supervision, and the remainder is independent study.

Syllabus

Core modules will give you practical background knowledge in key finance subjects. From term 3 you will be able to tailor your course through a choice of specialisms and option modules. The specialisms currently offered are banking, accounting, investment, economics and risk management.

Core modules

Economics of Financial Markets
Financial Theory and Practice
Research Methodologies for Finance and Economics
Dissertation

Mandatory specialism modules

Issues in Financial Accounting
Issues in Management Accounting

Option modules (choose one)

Advanced Financial Mathematics
Applied Econometrics and Financial Time Series Analysis
Banking and Financial Institutions
Emerging Financial Markets
Financial Derivatives
Financial Regulation: Economic Principles and Institutional Frameworks
Financial Risk Management
International Portfolio Management
Market-making and Investment Strategies
Money, Interest Rates and Banking

Modules in focus

Issues in Financial Accounting

This module provides an international perspective on the theory and practice of financial accounting. It explores the move towards global harmonisation of accounting standards, the impact of leading standard-setting authorities, the reasons for national differences, the tendencies towards harmonisation, and the problems of multinational companies.

Setting the scene: causes and examples of international differences and international harmonisation
Transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
International accounting and segmental reporting
Evaluating financial reporting quality and earnings management
International accounting and risk reporting
International accounting and fair value accounting
International accounting and consolidation
International accounting and multinational operations
International accounting and corporate social responsibilities

Issues in Management Accounting

This module introduces contemporary issues in management accounting. It will extend your critical understanding of the role of accounting and encourage you to develop your own research interest in the area.

Introduction to developments in theory of management accounting
The changing role of the management accountant
Research on contemporary approaches to costing
Strategic management accounting: developments in technique
Developments in performance measurement frameworks
Management control systems and contingency theory
Management accounting in network/hybrid settings
Management accounting in the public sector and NPM reforms
Integrated reporting and environmental/social reporting

Dissertation

In the final phase of the course, you will complete a dissertation relating to finance and accounting.

The dissertation will be 10,000–15,000 words long. It will address an accounting problem that requires you to undertake research leading to practicable recommendations based on sound analysis and judgement. You will finalise the topic in consultation with the course leader and other specialists in accounting research.

You will receive help from your dissertation supervisor, who will monitor and support your progress. The dissertation is submitted in October.

Real-time trading room

As part of your course you will have access to modern computing facilities and specialist computing packages, for students on the Market-making and Investment Strategies module this includes access to our real-time trading room, fed by up-to-the-minute data from Reuters.

One of a handful of such facilities across the UK, our trading room sessions are supervised by guest traders and provide you with the opportunity to apply your skills to real markets and real data, and make use of simulation software to recreate the pressure of a trading floor.

We also invite guest traders to discuss curriculum topics, pass on their trading experience and supervise trading sessions.

Student trading society

We highly recommend students join our thriving Student Investment and Trading Society, which is established and run by students for the purpose of organising social and networking events, arranging talks by visiting industry experts and facilitating annual trading competitions against other universities.

Learning support

Experienced, professionally qualified lecturers and small class sizes will ensure your learning needs are supported. Online learning tools and libraries also ensure academic journals, e-books, business articles and other resources are available to you 24/7, both for use at the university and at home.

You will also have access to our Careers Service, including CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business.

Staff profile

Robert Hayward, Course Leader

Robert has 15 years' experience of working in the financial services sector, with responsibility for producing economic forecasts and capital market strategies for traders and bank customers.

He has an MSc in Economics and a PhD on Speculation in the Foreign Exchange Market. He joined the University of Brighton in 2011 and his main interests are capital markets, foreign exchange and behavioural finance.

Meet the rest of our finance team on our blog.

Robert Hayward, Course Leader

Careers and employability

Graduating with a Finance and Accounting MSc from the University of Brighton will help you to specialise and meet the growing demand for finance professionals with strong research skills.

The course prepares you for a range of careers in financial institutions, accountancy firms, consultancies, and finance departments in businesses or government.

According to Michael Page’s 2015 annual Banking & Financial Services Survey, employment is expected to grow across the sector, with 45% of respondents expecting an increase in their team’s headcount.

The course is also ideal preparation for continuing your studies at MPhil or PhD level, or working as a professional researcher in finance.

Careers advice and support
Careers Service provides help and advice from the very start of your studies, on subjects including careers counselling sessions, CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business. Find out more on our careers service website.

Careers counsellor
The Business School's career development advisor, Christina Keiller is available to help you to write your CV, prepare for interviews and plan your career. She also works closely with tutors to ensure that our courses teach vocational skills as well as academic ones.

Entrepreneurship network
Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project. Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business. By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more information visit beepurple.

Mentoring scheme
Momentum is our award-winning mentoring scheme. It pairs students with professionals who wish to share their experience. Students and their mentors meet regularly to exchange ideas. The scheme helps students to develop new skills and enhance their career prospects.

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 12,085 GBP

International (full-time)15,660 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, a nursery, fitness facilities and Students’ Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build
A major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus began in summer 2018. By the time the Big Build is complete, there’ll be new halls of residence, academic building, and Students’ Union and fitness facilities – all created with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

As the development grows it will provide many exciting learning opportunities for our students, ranging from live projects, placements and internships with the companies involved to guest lectures and site visits. Find out more...

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Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We have halls of residence across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Eligible students can apply for any of these options. Find out if you are eligible…
You’ll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Varley Park and Moulsecoomb Place halls.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms and catering options. Varley Park is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are catered and are located on campus.

We also offer Unihomes and Unilets, student houses that we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option provides the most choice and flexibility and can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other commitments.

There’s plenty of support if you choose private rented accommodation. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. And we run our housemates service over the summer for students, new and returning, looking for a place to live.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages.