MSc in Accounting and Finance Oxford Brookes University

Our MSc 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 can:

• gain up to 7 exemptions from the ACCA
• acquire professional and digital skills to prepare you for your career
• develop a thorough understanding of financial and management accounting
• explore how different financial markets, banks and foreign exchange operate
• appreciate broader issues including corporate social responsibility
• engage with our guest speakers such as the Deputy Chair of KPMG and managers from Grant Thornton, ICAEW.

Our 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.

The MSc Accounting and Finance has:

• four compulsory taught modules
• one or two elective modules
• a research project.

Study modules

Compulsory modules

• Skills and Techniques for Accounting and Finance
  You will learn the essential skills you need to study accounting and finance. This includes mathematics, statistics and book-keeping skills, which will form your foundation for the rest of the programme.
• Managerial Accounting
  You will learn management accounting techniques for planning, controlling, decision-making and analysing organisational performance. You will develop technical abilities as well as critically evaluate business processes.
• Financial Accounting
  You will gain an understanding of financial accounting techniques, from basic transaction records to international financial reporting. You will learn how to prepare and interpret financial statements and debate current issues in international financial accounting.
• Corporate Finance Concepts
  You will acquire theoretical knowledge on the elements of company value, including how financial decisions contribute to meeting a corporation’s objectives. Through practical focus, this module contributes to your understanding of how financial decisions are taken by companies.

Optional modules

• Financial Modelling
• Corporate Governance
• Audit and Assurance
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Finance and Strategy
• Financial Markets and Institutions
• Financial Reporting
• International Finance
• Performance Management
• International Business In Practice: Study Trip (non-credit)

Final project

Research Project

You will incorporate research methods and a research project; key components of the master's degree. The project provides you with an opportunity to explore a specialist area in depth. You have a choice to undertake a traditional dissertation or follow a structured research project which incorporates both theoretical and applied research. You will be provided with guidance and advice throughout the process.

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.

Field trips

The International Business in Practice Study Trip module allows you to experience the 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.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

Assessment will include a range of activities including:

• examinations
• case studies
• reports
• presentations
• group projects

Research

There are two main areas of research related to this subject: Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Social Responsibility and Governance, and Applied Economics, Finance and Development.

The Accounting cluster focuses on how accountability and responsibility are 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.

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 apply for ACCA exemptions, 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 Accounting and Finance develops your ability to compete for challenging and interesting roles in the profession or general business.

Our 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.