Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024.
Page last updated 23 September 2024
Introduction
With a strong practical focus, access to the industry-standard Bloomberg Professional system, and ACCA, CIMA and IFA exemptions, our MSc in Accounting and Finance will act as a springboard into a wide range of finance and accounting-related careers.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Today's business managers need to be able to analyse and interpret financial information and use this to inform business strategy. This course will help you develop this expertise, as well as giving you an indepth understanding of the contemporary issues encountered by financial managers.
The underlying practical focus ensures that the skills and knowledge you gain are highly relevant to the workplace whichever area of accounting or finance you are seeking to engage in.
Strong practical focus
You will develop your knowledge and understanding of accounting and finance, while also enhancing your critical thinking, research and analytical skills. During the year, you will:
- analyse and solve complex problems relating to financial reporting, performance measurement and management, corporate strategy and financial management
- be encouraged to think critically and creatively about problems requiring a multi-disciplinary approach
- develop in-depth knowledge in a specialist topic you have chosen for your dissertation
- enhance your key personal skills in time management, information accessing, analysis and interpretation
- develop your interpersonal, communication and management skills through team working, making presentations and writing reports.
Industry links and facilities
As a student at Bristol Business School, you will get to hear from inspiring speakers from the business world. You will also have access to our state-of-the-art trading room, built around the Bloomberg Professional system, the main financial platform used by the large investment banks.
Find out more about our New Course Connect Partnership with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, by visiting our Bristol Busness School blog.
Accredited by the ACCA, CIMA and IFA
The course is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA). This means you will gain exemptions from several of their professional examinations, giving you a useful head start in your professional studies. Read more about the professional exemptions on the course in the features section.
Watch: The learning and teaching experience
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
The Postgraduate Certificate is made up of five of the seven core modules detailed below.
Core modules
- Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance
- Corporate Governance and Strategy
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Corporate Financial Strategy
- Strategic Management Accounting
- Advanced Corporate Reporting
- Project and Research Methods - Accounting and Finance.
The Postgraduate Diploma is made up of the remaining compulsory modules and one additional optional module, allowing you to specialise in an area relevant to your career plans.
Optional modules
- Financial Investments in Practice
- Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance
- Forensic Accounting
- Consultancy Project in Accounting and Finance.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.
Learning and Teaching
You will learn through formal classes and seminar sessions, as well as group work and independent study. The course will include assignments, exercises, case studies and presentations, with an emphasis on independent learning to develop your analytical and problem solving skills.
We operate an 'open door' policy, so you will have regular access to your tutors to discuss any aspects of the course. We can also offer you careers advice specific to the financial sector through the faculty's careers consultants and we organise guest speakers and employer events, where you can hear, and learn, from individuals working in various accounting and finance roles.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Assessment
Assessments will be a mix of written assignments, supervised mini-projects, role playing, presentations and examinations.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
Features
Professional accreditation
The course is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA).
On successful completion of the programme, MSc graduates are eligible for exemption from a range of ACCA and CIMA professional examination papers, depending on their module choices. Please refer to the Programme Leader for further information.
Study facilities
In our new £55m Bristol Business School, you'll have access to cutting-edge learning spaces.
Designed with student input, the Business School offers learning spaces for individual and group study, interactive learning environments and conference rooms you can book. It's a space for students and businesses to come together, collaborate and form new partnerships.
You will have access to our trading room. Built around the Bloomberg Professional system, this state-of-the-art financial platform is the same as that used by the large investment banks and provides a commanding view of global financial data, news and company information.
As well as using the Bloomberg system in several modules, you can choose to study for a Certificate from Bloomberg, to enhance your employability.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Meet leaders of industry
As a student at Bristol Business School, you will have the opportunity to hear about the challenges, issues and decisions being made at the highest level of strategic leadership through our Bristol Distinguished Address Series.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Accounting and Finance facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
Life
Postgraduate support
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
The skills and knowledge developed on this course provide you with a wide range of opportunities in finance and accounting-related careers.
Many of our graduates choose to specialise further by going on to study for the CIMA or ACCA qualifications and becoming chartered accountants.
A proficiency in accounting and financial management, as well as an appreciation of the contemporary issues faced by financial managers, can enable you to progress to senior positions, such as business analyst, finance director, investment analyst, financial reporting manager, chief accountant and head of risk management.
Fees
Entry
Entry requirements
You will need:
- an honours degree of 2:2 or above in Accounting and Finance; or
- an honours degree of 2:1 or above in Economics, Mathematics or a Business related subject.
If you do not meet the above grade requirements but have at least 12 months relevant professional experience and/ or equivalent qualifications, we will consider you on an individual basis.
UWE Bristol's International College
International students who do not meet the academic or English language requirements to study this course can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
English language support
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
English Language Requirement
If English is not your first language, you will be required to meet the UK Border Agency and Universities minimum English Language requirements, such as:
- the International English Language Test (IELTS) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all components
See further details of our English Language requirements.
How to apply
Apply now
Read about postgraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333