MSc International Accounting and Finance (with internship)

All modules are assessed by a mix of coursework, individual and group presentations and written exams. A typical 20 credit taught module involves a total of 200 study hours (52 contact hours and 148 group and private study hours).

The use of Bloomberg is embedded within modules.

Modules

• Creativity Enterprise and InnovationThe module focuses on the rapidly changing world around us, it is imperative that students are able to think creatively, problem solve and create advantage for themselves (be entrepreneurial) and for the businesses they may work for (be intrapreneurial). The module encourages students to question what they see and experience around them with an aim to enhance their creativity and to discover new and improved ways of doing things.
• Curiosity, Creativity and Research
  This module introduces students to the research process, the mindset of the researcher and in particular to the idea of creativity in research and what it means to be a ‘creative researcher’.  In this module, students will identify potential topics for their practice-based dissertation and explore these with the aid of creative thinking techniques.   In this way their research ideas can be refined and expressed in terms of clear research questions and objectives making use of the relevant literature and theoretical concepts.
• Research in Action
  The module focuses on the nature, approaches, methods, tools and techniques of research within relevant disciplines from the business environment.  In doing so it attempts to develop the skills and knowledge required to complete Master’s level research where the emphasis of the research is in improving  aspects of business process and business practice. Thus the module is practically oriented towards the completion of a research proposal that will form the basis of the final practice-based project module.
• Management Consultancy in a Global Environment
  This module is designed to develop professional consultancy skills by studying organisational structure and culture, situational analysis and diagnosis, communication strategies for consulting and group dynamics. Focusing on the development of business research; client handling and project management skills, completion of this module will  enable students to prepare  a succinct, clear, evidence based, persuasive consultancy led project plan , aligned to the strategic vision of an organisation and  which they are able to effectively pitch to a client.
• Audit Risk
  This module equips students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the process of carrying out the assurance engagement and its application in the context of the professional regulatory framework. This module will make students critically evaluate the nature and purpose of internal audit and describe its role as part of overall performance and its relationship with external audit. In addition, this module will explore the evaluation of information systems, internal controls, audit evidence, audit planning and the audit report.
• Corporate Financial Management
  The module deals with the theory and techniques of making value-maximising investment and financing decisions based on key factors such as cash, risk and time. It also incorporates the study of the economic environment in which such decisions are taken, and addresses other specialised areas such as the profit distribution decision, merger and acquisition strategy, management of working capital and international financial management. It applies concepts and theories that are central modern financial management.
• Theories & Issues in Accounting and Finance
  The purpose of this module is to develop the higher level cognitive skills required at postgraduate level, and the inquisitiveness about current issues in the subject area that is required from the reflective practitioner. This is achieved through emphasis on scholarly reading and research, introducing students to current developments in the theories of accounting and finance, including the major approaches to financial management and environmental accounting.
• Financial Reporting
  This module develops skills in the comprehension and application of accounting standards as related to the preparation of financial statements. The module covers the preparation of financial statements for individual reporting entities. Key technical aspects of corporate reporting are addresses, theoretical issues such as earnings management and the arguments for and against regulation of corporate reporting.
• Capstone Business Project
  This capstone, independent research project draws upon the students’ skills and knowledge gained thus far enabling application of learning to a scenario resulting in added value to an organisation and creating real world impact. This student driven project must address a current issue or opportunity in an organisational or industrial context.  Projects can relate to a student’s current role or students can use this opportunity to deepen their knowledge of different sectors or organisations thus make connections utilising the project as a vehicle to impress future employers creating a possible stepping stone to their next job. Alternatively they may wish to investigate possible entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Internship
  All students will study for a 20 credit internship (instead of taking two 10 credit optional modules). This module allows students to gain valuable work experience while studying their master's degree. The student is supported in finding the internship by the Employment Team.

Take an internship

All students have the option to study for a 20 credit internship (instead of taking two 10 credit optional modules). This module allows the student to gain valuable work experience while studying for a master’s degree. Responsibility for securing the work placement lies with the student. However, the student is supported during the search process and when the student is actually working. The work placement should have some direct bearing on what the student is studying - a student studying MSc Inernational Accounting and Finance would be expected to secure an internship with some connection with aspects of accounting or finance within the business community.

Types of careers

Graduates who possess a combination of an LSBU Masters degree and a professional accounting qualification are likely to be highly employable in senior positions in accounting and finance, not only in the UK but throughout the world. Excellent career opportunities exist in accounting and finance. Recent graduates have secured positions in accounting firms, industry, banking, finance and commerce.

Past employability skills events held by the Department include:

"My Employability event"

My dream job
Preparing CVs and cover letters
Using databases to research the company
IT qualifications for your CV
Preparing for interviews
Managing expectations
Internships

ACCA and CIMA exemptions

On completing this course, you will be on a fast track to becoming ACCA qualified, and exempt from the following exams:

F1 - Accountant in Business
F2 - Management Accounting
F3 - Financial Accounting
F4 - Corporate and Business Law

With the completion of the modules:

F5 Performance Management, Management Accounting (BAF-7-MAC)
F8 Audit and Assurance,  Audit Risk (BAF-7-AUR)
F9 Financial Management, Corporate Financial Management (BAF-7-CFM)

CIMA Exemptions:

Graduates are eligible for the master’s gateway route or direct entry to the operational level objective tests

Subjects

BA1 Fundamentals of Business Economics
BA2 Fundamentals of Management Accounting
BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
BA4 Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law

Academic progression

This masters degree also prepares you for research and further study in this area which can lead onto a PhD qualification.

Employability Service

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment for the second year in a row - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, 2019.

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

Lectures cover concepts which underpin and facilitate informed participative approaches to learning. Workshops, seminars, case studies and student led discussion facilitate more active modes of learning. You'll also benefit from excellent learning materials and small class sizes and receive training in the use of Bloomberg and Thomson-One Banker, and specialist software (SPSS and N-Vivo).

Assessment is by written coursework and exams. Lecturers offer a rich profile of academic and professional qualifications backed by professional teaching and/or research experience. An academic is appointed as your Dissertation/Business Project Facilitator, to offer guidance and constructive advice on the preparation of your dissertation/report.

Personal Tutoring

As a postgraduate student in the Business School, your personal development and wellbeing is very important to us, so we have developed a personal tutoring system that is tailored to your individual and group needs.

Firstly, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will be available to you on a 1:1 basis as well as facilitating group personal tutoring sessions, designed to enhance your academic and personal development within your postgraduate degree programme.

In addition to an allocated personal tutor, there will also be a personal tutor available ‘on call’ in a designated room, called ‘Talk’, for confidential 1:1 pastoral care meetings every day of the academic semester from 9am to 8pm. This personal tutor can be seen by appointment or within a few minutes in order to assist you with any concerns that you may have.

Our personal tutoring motto is that we want you to "Achieve, Succeed & Excel".

• A 2.1 degree in any subject from the UK or Bachelors degree equivalent to a UK Second Class Upper Division; or
• A 2.2 honours degree in a relevant subject area; or
• Other qualifications plus demonstrably relevant business experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Accreditation of Prior Learning:

Required English language skills to undertake this programme IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) 6.5 or equivalent.

For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 160 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 102 KB).

Possible fee changes

The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.

The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.

Postgraduate loan (PGL) for Masters study

If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.

Scholarships

We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.

Fee status

Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.