International Professional Accounting (ACCA) - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Looking to study a postgraduate accounting course in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest City? Are you also looking to study ACCA to become part of a huge global network of highly skilled professionally qualified accountants? Our MSc International Professional Accounting (ACCA) degree is directly aligned with the Strategic Level professional examinations of the Association of Chartered Certified ...
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Award MSc
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location City Centre
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Looking to study a postgraduate accounting course in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest City? Are you also looking to study ACCA to become part of a huge global network of highly skilled professionally qualified accountants?
Our MSc International Professional Accounting (ACCA) degree is directly aligned with the Strategic Level professional examinations of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) professional body. The course is a professional and practice based level 7 Masters and aims to provide you with enhanced employment prospects.
This is an ideal opportunity to combine your studies towards achieving a high quality Masters level degree award whilst also studying towards the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Strategic Professional examinations.
The ACCA do not grant exemptions from their essential strategic professional papers but this course is designed to fully prepare to undertake these professional body exams. The successful completion of this Masters course does not provide you with the ACCA qualification; however, the course is designed to prepare you for the rigour of the external professional examinations.
Professional Placement option
For our International Professional Accounting 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.
View full details
What's covered in this course?
The course is aligned to the ACCA strategic professional syllabus. For this reason you will study all the essential modules, and at least two of the option modules, that you need to take to complete the ACCA strategic professional exams. In addition, you will be required to undertake a module on governance and ethics and in the summer term you will be study the integrated strategic case study or take the professional placement route.
The course adopts an international perspective across the modules including the consideration and application of international accounting and auditing standards.
Why Choose Us?
- Excellent pass rates.
- Our students achieve outstanding results, consistently outperforming the qualification’s global pass rates. Several students recently achieved top 10 world ranking results in some of the modules we taught.
- Our industry-experienced staff members mean you’ll get personal, dedicated tuition and support.
- Our fees are very competitive and include revision, tuition and mock exams, texts and exam kits, providing our students with great value for money.
- We welcome students from around the world, creating a diverse, multi-cultural learning environment.
- If you are an international student, we’re highly experienced at guiding international students throughout their studies, providing you with the opportunity to enrol onto free sessions such as improving your English language, mathematical or study skills.
- Following graduation, you will have the opportunity to apply for STEAMhouse Business Incubator membership.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 24 November 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Essential Requirements
| Essential | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Successful completion or exemption from the Applied Knowledge and Skills level ACCA examinations, OR 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. |
Additional information for EU/International students
| 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. |
|
| 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: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 Year
- £12,440 in 2025/26
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £13,685 in 2025/26
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: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 Year
- £18,600 in 2025/26
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £20,460 in 2025/26
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
This module focuses on a range of professional and technical skills that a senior manager would be expected to possess in advising or directing an organisation. You will develop new professional skills and explore new areas that are vital in the role of a ‘strategic business leader’ such as leadership qualities, ethics and corporate governance. You will also consider analysing an organisation’s strategic position, identifying and evaluating these strategic options bearing in mind the organisation’s risk management processes. You will also explore the area of information technology and data analytics and how the organisation applies security controls over its systems, especially with the ever increasing threat of cyber-attacks. Other areas that a leader needs to be competent in, is the control of the whole organisation, to ensure that the organisation is compliant within current governance guidelines and the achievement of its objectives. Also you will consider the implications of enabling success by driving innovation and how the organisation can manage its change to achieve performance excellence.
This module focuses upon the role of a senior financial executive, and the decisions involved relating to strategic business reporting decisions of an organisation. This will build on your existing knowledge and skills relating to financial reporting linking accounting issues to relevant concepts in practical situations. The module will require the exercise of professional and ethical judgement.
This module will lay the foundations for robust ethical assessment and a critical understanding of corporate governance. A group presentation with 50% weighting is the first assessment of the module. It will give the opportunity to forge a group working dynamic to synthesise an ethical approach to the scenario supplied that can be justified and supported by a critical apparatus based on extant research and scholarly works.
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. As part of a patchwork of assessments within the module you’ll be working on a case study which will require a significant element of independent research. You’ll also need to prepare business appropriate communications which whilst varying from year to year will usually include a presentation, letters, memos and briefing documents.
This module will develop your existing knowledge of taxation and extend your ability to apply that knowledge to the issues commonly encountered by individuals and businesses. On successful completion you will have the ability to interpret and analyse the information provided and communicate the outcomes in an appropriate manner, such as professional advice to individuals and businesses on the impact of the major taxes on financial decisions and situations.
This module is closely aligned with the syllabus of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The aim is consistent with ACCA’s Advanced Audit & Assurance, which is to analyse, evaluate and conclude on the assurance engagement, and other audit and assurance issues in the context of best practice and current developments.
Professional Placement Year
In order to qualify for the award of MSc International Professional Accounting (ACCA) with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete 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-week Professional 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 nowWhat if you do not wish to study for the ACCA professional exams?
There is no requirement for students on this Master’s course to sit the professional exams set by the ACCA.
If you decide that you want to focus solely on the Master’s level award then you can. If you do wish to take the strategic professional ACCA examinations then you will need to be a registered student of the ACCA and be eligible to sit those exams. Please note that the ACCA charge fees for registration and their professional examinations that not covered by your course fee to the University. To find out more about ACCA fees, and how you can start a successful career having completed this course, visit www.accaglobal.com.
The standard taught course is a 12 months in duration course but we also offer the opportunity for you to undertake Professional Placement which is an 18 month course.
Professional Placement
The Professional Placement version of the course is optional and 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 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.
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. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.
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. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
When does the course start?
The course is designed to prepare students for the December and June ACCA exam sessions and for this reason, the course starts earlier than most other Masters level courses. Our course Induction is held at the end of August and teaching commences in the first week of September. You should ensure that you are available to commence your studies at the start of the course otherwise there is a risk of academic failure.
Employability
Employability
The course is strategic, practice-led, and knowledge-applied. It will prepare and equip you for a career involving accounting, finance and/or management in commerce or not-for-profit sectors by relating your studies to the latest research led developments in business.
This course will adopt a highly practical orientation where the learning, teaching and assessment activities designed to enhance your professional knowledge and skills that can be applied directly in the workplace.
The course incorporates a range of modules exploring a variety of related disciplines, recognising that the accounting function cannot operate in isolation. You will consider both internal and external stakeholders in the decisions they make and the advice they provide.
The course aims to develop you with employability skills, attributes and attitudes relevant to the modern business world. It will provide you with an opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in workplace relevant scenarios. You will work on real world case studies requiring postgraduate skills enabling you to experience the workplace environment. Employment will be enhanced due to option modules that will build up your technical knowledge and professional skills in areas such as Audit and Assurance, Taxation, Accountancy, Finance, Management and Governance.
The course will consider the study of accounting and finance from an international perspective including the use of international accounting and auditing standards as appropriate. You will also be able to participate in international business games. All students on the course have the opportunity to undertake a 6 month Professional Placement that extends the course to 18 months to further enhance your employability. The flexibility built into the proposed course will enable you to build a course that best suits your skills, interests and aspirations.
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