Accounting and Finance - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry
Accredited by Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and taught by professionally qualified academics with a wealth of industrial and professional experience, this CIMA accredited Master's course focuses on the practical application of accountancy in the real world and theoretical aspects of related research with a clear objective of preparing you for a career in accountancy, finance or management.
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Award MSc
- Start date January 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location City Centre
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Looking to study a postgraduate accounting and finance course in Birmingham? Our MSc Accounting and Finance degree is accredited by Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Taught by professionally qualified academics with a wealth of industrial and professional experience, this CIMA accredited Master's course focuses on the practical application of accountancy in the real world and theoretical aspects of related research with a clear objective of preparing you for a career in accountancy, finance or management. You can maximise your CIMA exemptions by choosing particular modules, and get prepared for the remaining final (external) CIMA exam(s) at the end of the course.
The international focus of the course is derived through a variety of means including the study of international accounting standards, student body, the teaching team and the use of international teaching materials.
Professional Placement option
For our MSc Accounting and Finance degree, you will have the opportunity to take the Professional Placement version of the course, which is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course.
This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability and transferable skills. The placement experience will allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study, with support from our Careers+ team as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Please note that placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course.
For full details, please click here.
Accredited By
This course is accredited by:
Why Choose Us?
- Our accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) helps boost your postgraduate qualification even more, giving you professional qualifications employers would be hard pressed to ignore.
- Our accreditation allows us to offer an extensive list of CIMA exemptions, including all Management and Strategic level CIMA papers (excluding the case studies). We automatically offer tuition for the Final Strategic Case Study upon completion of your MSc (in November / December).
- We also boast close links with CIMA, who offer our students reduced registration and exam fees, as well as full access to their support content, which includes webinars and online support.
- The course offers a high level of flexibility in terms of your module choices.
- Maximise your CIMA exemptions by choosing particular modules, and take only two external CIMA exams at the end of the course. Preparation for this (final case study) exam is included in the course.
Find out more
OPEN DAY
Join us for a virtual Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail. Booking isn't open yet for this event, register your interest and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Event: 5 February 2025
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
You will need to demonstrate academic ability and technical capability in accounting and finance to be able to study on this programme. Consequently the entry requirements for the programme are as follows:
Essential Requirements
| Typical Offers (UK Students) | ||
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A first or second class degree in Accountancy, Accounting and Finance or business related area with significant accounting related content from a UK institution or international equivalent. |
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OR ACCA Papers F1-9 / CIMA Operational and Management Levels (or equivalent). |
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OR A full professional accountancy qualification (APEL may be available). |
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OR A pre-Master’s programme approved by Birmingham City University |
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Additional information for EU/International students
| Essential | ||
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Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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| English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
| IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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| Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page | |
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 Year
- £12,075 in 2024/25
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £13,285 in 2024/25
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 Year
- £17,710 in 2024/25
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £19,485 in 2024/25
Top-Up to a Full MSc Degree
If you hold an ACCA, CCAB or CIMA qualification you may be eligible to be accredited 120 level 7 credits based on your previous learning. This means that you would be awarded this MSc Accounting and Finance qualification by successfully completing only the final 60 credit dissertation, via our MSc Accounting and Finance (Masters Stage) course.
This is charged at £3,300 for Home/EU students and £4,000 for International students. For more information and to find out if you are eligible to apply, please contact our Admissions team.
Course in Depth
Modules
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
This module primarily focusses upon how businesses operate within the long term and how they can be effectively managed and controlled. Content will build upon basic management accounting and costing techniques with which you will already be familiar from prior studies, taking a more strategic viewpoint and developing a critical appreciation for the subject area.
This multi-faceted module requires you to explore the concept of managing strategic change through the use of a range of project management and leadership techniques. The module adopts a theory-led approach which considers both the hard and soft skills required by a project manager when managing organisational change.
Initially the topic of project management will be presented within a global environmental context, prior to integrating and focussing industry recognised project management techniques within an organisational setting. The theoretical and practical approach of this module illustrates the complexity that students can expect to find within a work-place setting. In order to help students unpick this uncertainty, theories around notions of change, systems thinking, leadership, relationship management and stakeholder theory will be explored.
This module will provide an introduction to the systems view of management and will support the application of systems concepts and techniques to analyse complex situations. The module will cover the key areas of the Systems Approach Such as Inputs/Outputs, Feedback Mechanisms, IControl, Intended and Unintended Consequences, Emergent Properties, Holistic Approach, Systemic and Systematic Analysis Approaches, Information Systems.
The purpose of the Strategic Management Project is to require you to investigate a significant business or management issue and to make recommendations for improvements in practice. It provides the opportunity for a progressively higher level of understanding, critical awareness, application and practice in relation to issues in strategic management. At the same time it requires the integration of concepts, models and techniques associated with strategic decision making in organisations.
The module assumes that students have the basic knowledge of risk management concepts. It is design to review the risk management process and risk governance in organisations. It will provide the skills to identify and evaluate company’s or portfolio’s exposures to financial and non-financial risk factors in the business environment.
Numerical skills in the calculation and evaluation of value-at-risk (VaR) and other credit risks of investment positions or financial derivatives such as forward contracts, swaps and options. The module will also provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills of risk budgeting, the use of risk-adjusted return on capital, the use of credit derivatives in managing credit risk, Sharpe ratio and other methods of managing market risk.
This module focuses upon the formulation and implementation of financial strategy to support the overall strategy of organisations. In addition to evaluating the financing requirements of differing organisations, you will consider the relative merits and drawbacks of alternative financing solutions and value investment opportunities for corporate entities including mergers and acquisitions.
This module will immerse you in the business world developing your competencies in core accounting and finance skills, business acumen, leadership and people skills. You’ll recognise the need for all of these competencies at this strategic level.
Professional Placement
In order to qualify for the award of MSc Accounting and Finance with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above, totalling 180 credits, as well as the following Level 6 module:
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing,20-weekProfessional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree.
The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Download course specification
Download nowThe course and its pathways are aligned with the CIMA.
Alignment ensures our course remains fresh and relevant, while also providing valuable industry insight.
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
CIMA is the largest professional body of management accountants in the world. We offer the most relevant accounting qualification for a career in business; something our 229,000 students and members in 176 countries are proud to be a part of.
Management accountants aren’t number crunchers – they are quite the opposite. You’ll find them in all types of organisations, in top positions, analysing trends and behaviours to make informed business decisions.
Every top 100 global brand employs CIMA students and members. They know the CIMA qualification equips people with the skills and knowledge they need to be truly successful in business. CIMA has the power to enhance your degree and improve your earning potential.
CIMA is the natural progression for people with finance and business degrees. If students have a degree in a relevant subject, they could be entitled to exam exemptions.
Find out more about the University to CIMA route.
CIMA's Grad Club
CIMA’s Grad Club is open to all UK students from any degree discipline and free to join. Grad club members will be the first to know about the latest graduate jobs and employer events and will also get exclusive access to industry updates, salary surveys, interview tips and more.
CIMA's My Jobs
CIMA works with a huge range of employers who will sponsor graduates to study the CIMA Professional Qualification. You can find the latest job vacancies on CIMA MY JOBS.
Employability
You will have the opportunity to go on relevant trips such as visiting the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange. In the past, students have also visited established companies, such as Sadler’s Ales.
You’ll also gain valuable experience through our Employability Challenge Weeks, as well as our Leadership Challenge programme. Both give you the chance to apply your skills to innovative and exciting projects, industry talks and workshops. You’ll also receive guidance on how to complete application forms and how to write effective CVs.
International
Welcome to Birmingham City University, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Our Business programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
International ServicesOur international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £400 million on new learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law and Business students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
- Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point
Our staff
Scott Pargetter
Senior Teaching Fellow
Teaching is a particularly rewarding and privileged experience. In an ever changing environment, there are always new challenges and new opportunities to discover and conquer.
More about ScottMohamed Albergley
Senior Lecturer in Management Accounting
Mohamed Albergley has PhD, Master and BSc (Honour) all in accounting. He also has a Postgraduate certificate in academic practice and HEA fellowship. Mohamed has over 10 years of teaching in higher educational institutions in the UK (University of Salford 2016-2020) and internationally (Misurata University 2006-2012).
More about MohamedPaul Withers
Senior Teaching Fellow
Paul Withers is a Senior Teaching Fellow with over 30 years global industry experience, gaining specialist knowledge in project management methods, business operations, strategic leadership, manufacturing processes and new product development for award winning audio products.
More about PaulDr Issahaku Salifu
Lecturer in Accounting
Issahaku is a Lecturer in Accounting and is passionate about teaching and learning in Higher Education. Over the years, he has gained significant teaching experience in HE in Ghana and the UK. Prior to his appointment, he has been studying a PhD programme with Birmingham City University, which has shaped his research orientation and perspectives....
More about IssahakuVijay Ramachandran
Senior Lecturer
Vijay Ramachandran has vast professional practice experience dealing with different types of business sectors and entities including small medium enterprises, charities, trusts, mainstream sporting organisations, public and private schools, synagogues and medium-sized enterprises.
More about VijayProfessor John Fenner
Associate Professor in Accounting and Finance
John is an Associate Professor specialising in the field of Taxation. He is the College Academic Lead (Accreditations) for the College of Accounting Finance and Economics.
More about John