MSc in Accounting and Finance
Queen's University Belfast - Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Belfast, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 24,300 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales: £8,360 | EU Other and International: £24,300
Introduction
Do you want to be able to speak “the language of business” and understand financial decision-making and financial institutions? Do you want to be taught and supervised by leading academics whilst gaining exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional examinations?
Accounting is the process of summarizing, analysing and reporting financial transactions to permit informed judgements and decisions by users of the information.
Finance looks at how company managers and investors make financial decisions, how they manage their risk and how financial markets function.
The MSc in Accounting and Finance provides students with an understanding of both the theoretical framework and practical skills necessary to work in the global financial environment.
Accounting And Finance Highlights
Accounting and Finance at Queen's is consistently ranked among the top 10 Universities in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Professional Accreditations
The programme is accredited by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the global body for professional accountants. The programme is also part of the CIMA accelerated route, which will allow students to enter via the CIMA master’s gateway route.
Students have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals and academics who regularly deliver guest lectures/talks in the Management School.
Student Experience
Students will use and have access to software such as Stata, Excel, Matlab, and databases such as Thomson One Banker, DataStream and Bloomberg.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loan system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £10,609 for taught and research Master's courses in all subject areas.
Curriculum
The programme offers the opportunity to pursue appropriately advanced studies in both accounting and finance, equipping the students for careers in financial institutions, management consulting, and the industry or government bodies.
The modules included in the programme aim to develop capacities for a critical assessment of literature and methods and the ability to communicate, orally and in writing, on topics in accounting and finance.
They provide a stimulating suite of learning activities that introduce students to contemporary theories and practices.
The contents provided during the programme will also be useful to those who wish to pursue PhD studies in accounting and finance.
Semester 1 (60 CATS)
Financial Management
This module provides a theoretical and practical understanding of core financial management issues. Topics include the role of financial management, the implications the economic environment can have on the financial management function, sources of business finance, investment appraisal, working capital management and risk.
Corporate Finance
This module analyses how corporations make major financial decisions. The theory of corporate behaviour is discussed, and the relevance of each theoretical model is examined by an empirical analysis of actual corporate decision-making.
International Financial Accounting and Reporting
This module develops an appreciation of financial accounting concepts in the construction and application of the theory and practice of international financial accounting and reporting.
Case Studies in Accounting and Financial Management
This is delivered alongside International Financial Accounting and Reporting and Financial Management.
Semester 2 (60 CATS)
Accounting and Performance Management in Public-Sector and Not-For-Profit Organisations
This module provides a theoretical and practical understanding of contemporary performance management and governance issues in public-sector and not-for-profit organisations, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
The module explores the role and application of performance management and governance in public-sector and not-for-profit organisations.
Management Accounting and Control
This module develops extended knowledge and understanding of management accounting theories and techniques in order to help management in planning, decision-making and performance control in different business contexts.
Research Methods and Techniques
This module provides a thorough background of research methods and techniques that can be applied to the field of accounting. Students will learn relevant theoretical and methodological aspects of accounting research and be equipped with knowledge on how to conduct qualitative and quantitative research projects.
Plus, choose one from:
Derivatives
This module develops theoretical and practical knowledge of derivative instruments in financial markets. It introduces typical derivative instruments, including futures, forwards, options, etc. It also covers classic derivative pricing models such as the binomial tree model and the Black-Scholes Model.
International Finance
This module details the complications and unique characteristics of finance that cross a border. It covers subjects such as foreign exchange trading, exchange rate systems, and the real economic effects of capital flows.
Money and Banking
This module examines the theory of money and banking. The module content considers the main banking and monetary institutions and monetary policy.
Semester 3 (60 CATS)
Route 1 – Dissertation
Traditional Dissertation (100%)
The aim of the dissertation is to provide students with the skills needed for conducting theoretical and/or empirical research in accounting and finance.
Route 2 – Academic Research Project
Auditing and Accountability (25%)
This element of the module provides a theoretical and practical understanding of contemporary auditing and accountability issues in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including principles and techniques of auditing.
Ethics and Governance (25%)
This element of the module provides an overall understanding of the complex and dynamic relationships between business corporations, their stakeholders (shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers etc.) and the society in which they operate.
Critical Literature Review (50%)
This element of the module requires the completion of a Critical Literature Review on a chosen/given topic. This will provide students with the skills needed for conducting theoretical and literature-based research in accounting and finance.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This Master's programme provides the basis for both profession- and research-orientated careers, as well as skills and knowledge required to progress into management careers in accounting and financial services. It opens a wide range of career opportunities in banking, accounting and auditing, government, corporate finance, investment analysis and academia.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's, you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.