MSc Accounting and Finance

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

We require a UK bachelor degree with first or upper second class honours or the overseas equivalent, with excellent results in accounting and finance subjects. 

When assessing your academic record, we take into account your grade average, position in class and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification. 

You need to have studied or be studying a degree in accounting or finance. We can also consider exceptional candidates with degrees in economics or mathematics.  You must have taken a significant number of courses in accounting and finance during your degree, and a major or specialisation in accounting and/or finance in your final year, with top level results in final year accounting and finance subjects.  You must also demonstrate a solid background in quantitative skills, econometrics or maths.

We can consider applicants studying degrees in business administration or commerce who can demonstrate a very strong background in accounting and finance throughout their degree and a final year major or specialisation in accounting or finance, and strong quantitative skills. Due to competition for places, we give preference to applicants with a bachelor degree in accounting or finance.

A GMAT/GRE is not required to apply for this course but in some cases The Admissions Team may request this after the initial review of your application if your degree does not contain enough relevant quantitative modules.

Full entry requirements

How to apply

Apply online

NOTE: There is a non-refundable application fee of £60. You should be prompted to pay this within the application portal before you can submit your application. We cannot consider applications until you have paid the application fee. 

Applying to multiple programmes  

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y N N N

Course description

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Amplify Trading BootCamp 2019

MSc Accounting and Finance will help you to take your skills and knowledge to the next level. Whether you want to further your professional career, or go on to study for a PhD , this course gives you the qualification you need to succeed.  A career in accounting, financial services or related sectors of the economy requires a high level of understanding of both the theory and practice of accounting and finance. This course is designed to give you a broad-based understanding of the core subject areas with an emphasis on empirical research methods and on accounting and finance practice.

Our wide range of modules allows you to specialise and during the course you have the chance to build on your growing knowledge and expertise by completing a dissertation on a research area of your choice. This, coupled with the support you get from our staff, ensures a first class learning experience.   

The MSc Accounting and Finance is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council as postgraduate preparation for a PhD. It holds the award of partnership status from the CFA Institute, the global association for investment professionals. It also allows you to join the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the global professional management accounting body.

CFA training  

We're pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Kaplan Schweser to facilitate student preparation for the CFA exams. Students attending our finance-related Masters - MSc Accounting , MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance and MSc Quantitative Finance - who perform well in Semester one and show a strong interest in CFA, will get free access to Kaplan's online training materials for CFA Part One.  

Kaplan is a global firm offering professional training and helping individuals and organisations obtain financial certifications and designations. They will support our students by giving them access to tuition material, online question banks and progress tests, as well as mock exam runs. They will also offer tutor support and 1-2-1 sessions.  Students enrol in the CFA Program to build a strong foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills. Preparing for the Level I exam is the first step toward earning the Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA) credential, the most respected and recognised investment designation in the world.  

CIMA accreditation  

The MSc Accounting and Finance is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the global professional management accounting body based in the UK. On successful completion of our MSc in Accounting and Finance, you will be able to join the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) though an accelerated route. This route allows you to get 11 exemptions from CIMA's certificate, operational and management level exams.

Find out more here >>

Find out more about the Management level exam >>

Please contact Alison Zimmer ( alison.zimmer@manchester.ac.uk ) if you need further information. 

Trading BootCamp Week  

Each year, Alliance MBS runs a five-day Trading BootCamp for all current students studying MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance and MSc Quantitative Finance. These trading simulations provide students with experience of real world trading and the opportunity to engage with contemporary financial markets, enabling them to apply their classroom theory in practice. To deliver the Trading BootCamp, the School has teamed up with Amplify Trading to provide those looking to enter the financial industry with a crucial skill-set. Amplify Trading are a global financial trading and training firm, which offers training to some of the world's largest financial institutions, such as HSBC, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank. They have developed specialist software that enables students to experience a live trading floor and two experienced traders will deliver the week-long training.  

Each day there will be four hours of classes in the morning followed by four hours of trading practice in the afternoon. Engaging in live breaking news, economic data and geo-political events, students will be able to apply their understanding, technical expertise and risk management practises in trading different asset classes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for accounting and finance students at Alliance MBS and is another way in which we prepare students for successful careers after graduation.  

The Finance Zone    

The Finance Zone in Alliance Manchester Business School gives you access to one of the UK's most comprehensive collections of specialist financial and business databases that are used by top researchers around the world. These include Bloomberg, Datastream, Thomson ONE, Compustat, WRDS, Capital IQ and many more. Read more about the specialist financial and business databases >>

Open days

Meet us at an event to find out more about our master's degree courses.

Meet us >>

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £21,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £34,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

Refund Policy

Due to the competition for places and limited availability, our courses require a deposit of £2000 to cover non-recoverable costs and secure your place. The deposit will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

The deposit is non-refundable, except in the following situations:

  • you fail to meet the conditions of your offer (see below for further information); and/or
  • you are refused a visa or entry clearance to enter the UK (proof must be submitted)

If an offer has been made specifying an English Language condition which you do not meet, the Admissions Team will require the official certificate of an English Language test taken after the date of offer as evidence that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions for a refund to be approved. The English Language test certificate provided with your application documents will not be accepted as proof that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions as such a certificate will predate the offer.

If an offer has been made specifying an academic condition, the Admissions Team will require the official university documentation showing that you have not met this academic condition from the institution at which you have studied, as evidence for a refund to be approved.

The Admissions Team reserves the right to refuse to refund of any deposit that does not meet with the requirements outlined above.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Contact us for further information about the new Accounting and Finance scholarship for UK/EU students and other scholarships available.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School
Contact name
Master's Admissions Office
Email
Website
https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-accounting-and-finance/
School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School was established in 1965 as one of the UK's first two business schools. Today, we are the UK's largest campus-based business and management school, and 'Original Thinking Applied' is at the heart of everything we do. Find out more .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK bachelor degree with first or upper second class honours or the overseas equivalent, with excellent results in accounting and finance subjects. 

When assessing your academic record, we take into account your grade average, position in class and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification. 

You need to have studied or be studying a degree in accounting or finance. We can also consider exceptional candidates with degrees in economics or mathematics.  You must have taken a significant number of courses in accounting and finance during your degree, and a major or specialisation in accounting and/or finance in your final year, with top level results in final year accounting and finance subjects.  You must also demonstrate a solid background in quantitative skills, econometrics or maths.

We can consider applicants studying degrees in business administration or commerce who can demonstrate a very strong background in accounting and finance throughout their degree and a final year major or specialisation in accounting or finance, and strong quantitative skills. Due to competition for places, we give preference to applicants with a bachelor degree in accounting or finance.

A GMAT/GRE is not required to apply for this course but in some cases The Admissions Team may request this after the initial review of your application if your degree does not contain enough relevant quantitative modules.

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements see entry requirements for your country .

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply online

NOTE: There is a non-refundable application fee of £60. You should be prompted to pay this within the application portal before you can submit your application. We cannot consider applications until you have paid the application fee. 

Applying to multiple programmes  

Advice to applicants

Your statement of purpose should answer the specific questions outlined below.

  1. Please tell us your current overall average, the average for your accounting and/or finance major / specialization, and if possible your position in class.
  2. Please list any other accounting and finance courses or qualifications you have taken in addition to your undergraduate degree.
  3. Please tell us why you are interested in the MSc Accounting and Finance course at Alliance MBS and how the course will impact on your future.
  4. It is very competitive to gain a place on this course.  Please tell us what makes you stand out as an exceptional applicant compared to others.

How your application is considered

Applications cannot be processed without the following:

  • valid English language qualification
  • first and second year transcript (scanned copies are accepted at the time of application)
  • list of final year modules (where possible this should be included within the same document as your first and second year transcript)
  • statement of purpose (this is included as part of your application form, you do not need to email your statement of purpose directly to the Admissions Team)

Deferrals

To defer your offer to the following year, you must contact your admission officer to get a copy of the deferral form. You can only defer your offer for one year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

MSc Accounting and Finance will help you to take your skills and knowledge to the next level. Whether you want to further your professional career, or go on to study for a PhD , this course gives you the qualification you need to succeed.  A career in accounting, financial services or related sectors of the economy requires a high level of understanding of both the theory and practice of accounting and finance. This course is designed to give you a broad-based understanding of the core subject areas with an emphasis on empirical research methods and on accounting and finance practice.

Our wide range of modules allows you to specialise and during the course you have the chance to build on your growing knowledge and expertise by completing a dissertation on a research area of your choice. This, coupled with the support you get from our staff, ensures a first class learning experience.   

The MSc Accounting and Finance is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council as postgraduate preparation for a PhD. It holds the award of partnership status from the CFA Institute, the global association for investment professionals. It also allows you to join the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the global professional management accounting body.

CFA training  

We're pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Kaplan Schweser to facilitate student preparation for the CFA exams. Students attending our finance-related Masters - MSc Accounting , MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance and MSc Quantitative Finance - who perform well in Semester one and show a strong interest in CFA, will get free access to Kaplan's online training materials for CFA Part One.  

Kaplan is a global firm offering professional training and helping individuals and organisations obtain financial certifications and designations. They will support our students by giving them access to tuition material, online question banks and progress tests, as well as mock exam runs. They will also offer tutor support and 1-2-1 sessions.  Students enrol in the CFA Program to build a strong foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills. Preparing for the Level I exam is the first step toward earning the Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA) credential, the most respected and recognised investment designation in the world.  

CIMA accreditation  

The MSc Accounting and Finance is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the global professional management accounting body based in the UK. On successful completion of our MSc in Accounting and Finance, you will be able to join the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) though an accelerated route. This route allows you to get 11 exemptions from CIMA's certificate, operational and management level exams.

Find out more here >>

Find out more about the Management level exam >>

Please contact Alison Zimmer ( alison.zimmer@manchester.ac.uk ) if you need further information. 

Trading BootCamp Week  

Each year, Alliance MBS runs a five-day Trading BootCamp for all current students studying MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance and MSc Quantitative Finance. These trading simulations provide students with experience of real world trading and the opportunity to engage with contemporary financial markets, enabling them to apply their classroom theory in practice. To deliver the Trading BootCamp, the School has teamed up with Amplify Trading to provide those looking to enter the financial industry with a crucial skill-set. Amplify Trading are a global financial trading and training firm, which offers training to some of the world's largest financial institutions, such as HSBC, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank. They have developed specialist software that enables students to experience a live trading floor and two experienced traders will deliver the week-long training.  

Each day there will be four hours of classes in the morning followed by four hours of trading practice in the afternoon. Engaging in live breaking news, economic data and geo-political events, students will be able to apply their understanding, technical expertise and risk management practises in trading different asset classes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for accounting and finance students at Alliance MBS and is another way in which we prepare students for successful careers after graduation.  

The Finance Zone    

The Finance Zone in Alliance Manchester Business School gives you access to one of the UK's most comprehensive collections of specialist financial and business databases that are used by top researchers around the world. These include Bloomberg, Datastream, Thomson ONE, Compustat, WRDS, Capital IQ and many more. Read more about the specialist financial and business databases >>

Special features

Worshipful Company of International Bankers Affiliation

Our accounting and finance division courses are now affiliated with the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (WCIB). This means that every year the best dissertation out of the following four courses will receive the WCIB Prize worth £300.

  • MSc Accounting 
  • MSc Accounting and Finance
  • MSc Finance
  • MSc Quantitative Finance

The winner will also enter the competition for the prestigious WCIB Lombard Prize. The Lombard Prize consists of a solid silver Armada dish, a cheque for £1500, one-year honorary membership to the Company and attendance at the Annual Banquet to collect the prize.

Read more about the WCIB Prize >>

Coursework and assessment

Assessment is by taught examinations, coursework, assignments, group assessment and presentations and finally by a 60 credit dissertation.

Course unit details

You will study a total of 180 credits during the course. The eight taught units during semester one and two total 120 credits and consist of both compulsory and optional taught units. BMAN70232 Advanced Management Accounting or BMAN72912 Corporate Governance must be selected as a mandatory course.

Summer period

Dissertation (60 credits)

Apply what you have learned in the taught part of the course. Normally consists of a literature review followed by a piece of work based on qualitative or statistical research.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Cross Sectional Econometrics BMAN70211 15 Mandatory
Corporate Financial Reporting BMAN70241 15 Mandatory
Asset Pricing BMAN71111 15 Mandatory
Corporate Finance BMAN71152 15 Mandatory
Qualitative Research Methods BMAN71282 15 Mandatory
Current Issues in Empirical Finance BMAN70162 15 Optional
Advanced Management Accounting BMAN70232 15 Optional
Mergers & Acquisitions: Economic & Financial BMAN70432 15 Optional
Time Series Econometrics BMAN71122 15 Optional
Financial Statement Analysis BMAN71132 15 Optional
Portfolio Investment BMAN71171 15 Optional
International Accounting Practice and Regulation BMAN71291 15 Optional
Corporate Governance BMAN72912 15 Optional
Behavioural Finance BMAN74112 15 Optional
Sustainable Finance and Accounting BMAN74551 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 15 course units

Scholarships and bursaries

Masters scholarships for Accounting and Finance programmes for UK/EU students

We are delighted to be able to offer five scholarships available across the four Accounting and Finance programmes with a value of £10,000 towards the cost of the tuition fee. The scholarships will be awarded in line with our scholarship deadlines so early application is advisable.

Read more >>

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The course provides suitable training for those who wish to take up specialist positions in the accounting and financial services sector of the economy or those who wish to subsequently pursue a research and/or an academic career via a PhD in Accounting and Finance. Many students go on to work in the financial sector either in the City or across other sectors.

Recent recruiters

BDO LLP UK, Brammer UK, China CITIC Bank, Co-operative Auditing Department, Deloitte Enterprise Consulting, General Electric, IBM,KPMG, Lenovo, Mercedes-Benz, Nordea ASA, PwC, RBS and SME Development Bank.

Read more about graduate career destinations >>

Read more about the Postgraduate Careers Service >>

Latest information on visa changes and opportunities in the UK for international students.

Accrediting organisations

The course conforms to the present ESRC guidelines for Masters degrees and has ESRC recognition as a postgraduate training year in preparation for undertaking a PhD

The course has partnership status with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.