MSc in Accounting and Financial Management

This MSc enables students to engage with and contribute meaningfully to financial decision making within their current or future organisations, and understand from a financial management perspective wider corporate governance issues and the responsibilities of company directors.

This online programme provides students with an opportunity to acquire, develop and apply master’s level knowledge, understanding and skills within accounting, financial management, and strategic contexts.

The programme draws on the expertise of the School of Management team at UCL who have designed and delivered a range of accounting, finance and management-related courses, both on-campus and online.

By studying this programme, students will:

• develop an understanding of financial ideas, models and techniques appropriate for solutions to management challenges.
• understand and apply financial ideas and frameworks within the sphere of financial reporting, the arena of management accounting, and the field of financial management.
• understand the strategic dimension when applying specific financial models and techniques to support both decision making and routine operations.
• understand the complex internal and external relationships for organisations when managers make decisions.
• develop an analytical, critical, and reflective mindset relating to matters financial.

How you study

You will explore and apply principles and ideas within accounting and finance scenarios to understand and resolve issues in financial reporting and financial management within an organisation.

The programme uses Icarus, an award-winning simulation developed by UCL School of Management academics, as an experiential learning tool in the Capstone project to analyse and explore a wide range of strategic challenges including pricing, infrastructure investment, and human resource matters.

There is no assumption that you have taken a finance/accounting degree at the bachelor’s level. Each module involving quantitative elements ‘starts from scratch’.

This programme is currently not supported by any Recognised Teaching Centres. Check this page for further updates.

Online support

The programme is delivered online and there is no requirement to come to the UK as part of your studies. Our flexible online programme allows you to work around your own schedule and leads to a globally-recognised qualification.

When you register, we will give you access to the Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and other key resources including:

• The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) offers online learning support, access to the student café and discussion areas, and other study materials.
• Module subject guides for each module studied; these introduce and develop the topics.
• The Online Library(Opens in new window) provides access to over 100 million academic electronic items comprising E-books, E-journals, conference proceedings etc. In addition, students can request items that are not held in the library via the library's Inter-Library loans service with the British Library. All registered students have free access to the University of London’s Online Library(Opens in new window).
• Senate House Library provides free reference access for all registered distance and flexible learning students.

Tutor support

All students receive online tutor support while studying this programme. Tutors introduce the modules, respond to academic queries, monitor and facilitate discussions and anchor students each week of their studies to help them stay on track.

Web-supported learning: if you register for a module as a web-supported learner, you join an online tutor group. If you register in this way, you pay the web supported learner fee.

Teaching centre supported learning: if you enrol for a module with a local teaching centre, you receive face-to-face tuition. If you enrol for tuition with a teaching centre, you pay the institution-supported fee to the University plus an additional tuition fee to the teaching centre.

Study materials

All essential resources, activities, videos, discussions and support are provided through the VLE. This allows you to fit your studies around your work commitments. There is no need to purchase additional textbooks.

Time commitment

The flexible approach to learning allows students to complete the MSc in a minimum of one and a half years (subject to module availability) to a maximum of five years.

You can study at your own pace, either part-time or full-time, adjusting the intensity of learning to suit your needs, however, assessment deadlines will need to be adhered to.

Assessment

Each module is run over a 10-week block, with the exception of the Capstone project which is run over two sequential 10-week blocks.

The following modules are assessed by two assessments: a mid-term online test (25%) and an end of term coursework assessment (75%):

Financial Accounting Frameworks (FAF)

Management Accounting Frameworks (MAF)

Financial Management Essentials (FME)

Advanced Financial Analysis (AFA)

Advanced Management Accounting (AMA)

The following modules are assessed by one coursework assessment (100%):

Global Issues in Finance and Accounting (GIFA)

Corporate Governance, Audit and Assurance (CGAA)

Analysing Risk for Decision Making (ARDM)

Issues in Investment Management (IIM)

Capital Markets and Global Perspectives (CMGP)

The Capstone project is assessed by two assessments: a research proposal (30%) and a project (70%).

Where a module has more than one element of assessment, the overall grade awarded will be based on both elements of assessment. Students will be required to pass the module with a weighted average of 50%.

All coursework items are submitted through the VLE.

This programme is appropriate for those wishing to develop their knowledge of and exposure to technical elements of accounting and financial management and their applications within corporate life, from both operational and strategic perspectives.

You will develop an understanding of the areas that finance managers would encounter on a daily basis, complemented by engagements with selected specialist issues.

The MSc Accounting and Financial Management consists of the following:

• Ten compulsory modules (150 credits total)
• One compulsory Capstone project (30 credits)

Individual modules will be available to study on a stand-alone basis (subject to module availability).