Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Accounting and Finance at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
This Accounting and Finance MSc programme has been designed around the ACCA accreditation system.
- A full conversion programme that may be completed in a single year
- Does not require accounting, finance or any quantitative study to be completed at undergraduate level
- All modules on the Accounting and Finance programme are taught by our world-class faculty who have a breadth of industrial and academic knowledge
- Swansea is joint 1st in Wales for international ranked research (REF 2014)
- Access to the School of Management investment and trading simulation room to support in-depth understanding of finance in practice
- 93% of Swansea students in employment six months after graduating
- High contact time – our modules come with a lecture (in class sizes capped at approximately 150 students) and seminar/tutorial (in class sizes capped at 30) every single week
- Fully refurbished facilities – we have invested half a million pounds in a recent refurbishment to our student facilities
- Scholarships available for outstanding students
- Swansea is 1st in Wales for world-leading impact - 60% at 4-star level (REF 2014)
The MSc Accounting and Finance is designed specifically to enhance employment prospects by offering students the opportunity to acquire an advanced and in-depth understanding of key accounting and finance topics (without any requirement of having previously studied accounting or finance).
Modules on the MSc in Accounting and Finance typically include:
• Principles of Finance
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Modelling
• International Financial Markets
• Management Accounting
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Quantitative Financial Analysis
• Principles of Law for Accounting and Finance
The MSc Accounting and Finance has been awarded the following ACCA exemptions:
F1 - Accountant in Business
F2 - Management Accounting
F3 - Financial Accounting
F4 - Corporate and Business Law
F5 - Performance Management
F7 - Financial Reporting
F9 - Financial Management
This means that graduates of our MSc Accounting and Finance will be exempt from six out of nine of the ACCA ‘Fundamentals’ examinations. Students graduating from the Accounting and Finance programme can now leave Swansea as part-qualified accountants and just have to sit the remaining six.
We have an excellent track record of placing our graduates including those from the Accounting and Finance programme with major multinational companies and our graduate employment rate is 92%.
From the moment you arrive at the School of Management as a student on the MSc in Accounting and Finance programme we will work with you to help you build your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you’ll have the chance to:
- Undertake a work placement or internship through the Swansea Paid Internship Network (SPIN) or ‘Week of Work’ initiative
- Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme
- In conjunction with the International Development Office, undertake an Internship in India, with a company such as GE, Thomson Reuters, 3M, Private Equity or Kanvic Consulting
- Boost your skills and meet employers during our biannual Employability Week
- Complete the Swansea Employability Award
- Participate in one of our student challenges and competitions, such as the Branding Challenge, and CIM student competition ‘The Pitch’
Accounting and Finance students will be based in a state-of-the-art building and will benefit from the applied research, innovation and employment opportunities offered by this exceptional working environment on the Bay Campus.
Accounting and Finance students will have access to high-tech teaching and research spaces, that together with collaborative working and practice areas will ensue the School is able to deliver its commitment to offer an engaging and innovative student experience.
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Strategic Accounting at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
*Formally MSc Professional Accounting.
Our MSc in Strategic Accounting is one of the first MScs of its kind in the UK. This postgraduate degree in Strategic Accounting allows students to gain a master’s qualification in one year and graduate as a professionally qualified accountant. This will benefit students and employers alike as the Strategic Accounting student enters the world of work with all the qualifications they need to hit the job running; avoiding any additional study costs or time off for studying or examinations.
Graduates of the MSc Strategic Accounting programme will be able to concentrate fully on their career and could therefore have opportunities for promotion before colleagues on a more traditional study support package.
- Students who graduate from this MSc in Strategic Accounting and pass all the ACCA professional papers will require no further study and will be able to concentrate fully on their career.
- All modules on the Strategic Accounting programme are taught by our world-class faculty who have a breadth of industrial and academic knowledge
- Swansea is joint 1st in Wales for International Ranked Research (REF 2014)
- 93% of Swansea students in employment or further study within six months of graduating
- High contact time – each module includes a 2 hour lecture followed by a 1 hour seminar/tutorial every single week
- Scholarships available for outstanding students
- Students experience a range of benefits by becoming an ACCA member:
- Improved career progression opportunities
- Ability to work internationally due to the ACCA world-class reputation
- Flexibility in career choice - students can work in any business sector from the financial services and public practice to the public and corporate sectors
- Part of a global professional body with a reputation for driving global standards of professionalism, ethics, integrity and accountability
- Access to a range of world-renowned technical materials and research, and comprehensive resources designed to support continuing professional development (CPD) including:
- free access to accounting jobs adverts posted by top employers
- free access to accounting and auditing standards
- technical updates
- access to exclusive online and face-to-face learning
- further accountancy qualifications from ACCA and other reputable academic and professional partners
Our MSc Strategic Accounting programme aims to improve career progression and opportunities for students to earn a high salary. It will give the students the opportunity to be able to work anywhere they choose, internationally because of the ACCA world-class reputation. Strategic Accounting students will be part of a global professional body with a reputation for driving global standards of professionalism, ethics, integrity and accountability while also having flexibility in their career choice. Strategic Accounting students must work for 3 years post-qualifying before they are able to use the ACCA letters after their name. Graduates of the Strategic Accounting programme will find opportunities to work in a wide range of sectors from the financial services and public practice to the public and corporate sectors.
In September 2015 Swansea University became one university with two stunning campuses; located in acres of tranquil parkland and on the majestic sweep of Swansea Bay. All programmes delivered by the School of Management including the MSc in Strategic Accounting are now taught at the Bay Campus both new and continuing students.
The Bay Campus is situated in an outstanding location on the eastern approach into Swansea, with direct access onto the beach and its own seafront promenade. The campus features modern and bright student accommodation, including standard, premium, twin and wheelchair accessible rooms.
Strategic Accounting students benefit from facilities in Bay Campus including:
- Central support services for students housed within the Tower Information Centre
- State of the art library and resource centre
- Students’ Union
- The Great Hall – incorporating the Stanley Clarke Auditorium, lecture theatres and a cafe offering magnificent views across Swansea Bay
- Extensive catering and grocery provision including cafeterias, bar, supermarket, launderette and cash points. All of this will be in addition to recreational sporting facilities and a beach for all to enjoy.
We have an excellent track record of placing our graduates including those from the Accounting and Finance programme with major multinational companies and our graduate employment rate is 92%.
From the moment you arrive at the School of Management as a student on the MSc in Accounting and Finance programme we will work with you to help you build your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you’ll have the chance to:
- Undertake a work placement or internship through the Swansea Paid Internship Network (SPIN) or ‘Week of Work’ initiative
- Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme
- In conjunction with the International Development Office, undertake an Internship in India, with a company such as GE, Thomson Reuters, 3M, Private Equity or Kanvic Consulting
- Boost your skills and meet employers during our biannual Employability Week
- Complete the Swansea Employability Award
- Participate in one of our student challenges and competitions, such as the Branding Challenge, and CIM student competition ‘The Pitch’
The course meets the growing demand for masters level professionals in finance and accounting. It is suitable if you
A distinctive feature of this course is its focus on present-day national and global developments in systems, regulations and general practices of accounting and finance. By studying updated literature, international accounting standards, worldwide events, case studies and companies’ financial accounts, you learn how real organisations operate and the accounting and financial strategies and decisions they implement.
You complete in-depth research into various industries when producing presentations, coursework, assessments and the dissertation. This real world focus provides immediate value to your present or potential employers. Helping an organisation compete more successfully through better accounting and financial management and systems can be a rewarding career, in the UK or internationally.
After successfully completing the course, you are able to
You also gain transferable intellectual and professional skills relevant to the current national and international business world, and problem solving, communication and information technology skills
The team delivering the course has strong links with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA),the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT).
ACCA fast track route
International students who are ACCA passed finalists or qualified accountants can convert their ACCA qualifications to a UK masters on our MSc Accounting and Finance – ACCA Fast Track Route.
ACCA has granted the following exemptions from their examinations to students graduating from this course
September start – typically 12 months
January start – typically 15 months but it can be completed in 12 months
Semester one - Postgraduate Certificate
Semester two - Postgraduate Diploma
Semester three - MSc
Graduates from this course are well equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for professional careers in accounting and finance such as
Businesses and governments rely on sound financial knowledge to underpin their strategies for success.
This popular course has been ranked among the world’s best, placed Top 60 worldwide and Top 15 in the UK (Financial Times Masters in Finance Pre-experience rankings 2017). The rankings also recognise the career progression of our graduates, placing us 2nd worldwide and 1st in the UK for salary increase after graduation. This course will kick-start your professional career, providing you with advanced knowledge of modern financial theories, accounting practices and controls, as well as an understanding of the organisational context.
You’ll cover fundamental topics such as corporate finance and financial analysis, and can specialise your knowledge with optional modules, from international business finance to forensic accounting or corporate governance. The course also allows you to apply your learning to practical case studies and simulations to test your knowledge in genuine business scenarios.
Academic Excellence
You’ll learn from academics who are experts in their field, with extensive teaching, research and consultancy experience of international standing. At the same time, you’ll collaborate with graduates from diverse international backgrounds for a challenging, rewarding and rounded learning experience.
As a student, you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Accounting and Finance; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.
You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a Masters that is relevant to the contemporary environment.
You’ll explore the essentials of corporate finance and the relationship between accounting information and organisational performance. At the same time, you’ll build advanced skills in handling quantitative data and examine how modern finance theories are applied to solve complex finance problems.
You will gain an understanding of important research methods in finance and their impact on current practice, and explore topics such as financial analysis, reporting and regulation.
Beyond these core modules, you’ll be able to specialise in areas that suit your career plans with your choice of optional modules. You’ll take at least one of Corporate Governance or Information and Organisation Design, but you could also study topics such as forensic accounting, behavioural finance or international investment.
A professional skills module runs throughout the year to help you develop the critical skills that will allow you to take your knowledge into the workplace. By the end of the year, you’ll be prepared to design and carry out your own research dissertation on a related topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.
Compulsory modules
You’ll study eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.
Optional modules
You’ll also take two optional modules. One of these must be either Information and Organisation Design or Corporate Governance.
For more information on typical modules, read Accounting and Finance MSc in the course catalogue
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials. In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops.
Thanks to our links with major companies across the business world, you can also gain a practical understanding of key issues. For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading. Read more about professional development activities for finance students.
You’ll be assessed using methods such as exams, project work, presentations, reports and essays. This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.
Career opportunities for graduates of this masters course are vast. You will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of core accounting and finance principles, and the numerical and analytical skills to succeed in this rapidly changing complex environment.
Graduates have gone on to work as management accountants, management consultants, audit managers, finance managers, equity managers and credit risk officers.
We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the Masters programme. You benefit from our dedicated Professional Development Tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.
We’re also committed to offering a wide range of development and training events and activities. Recent activities and events have included field trips to corporate headquarters, CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness networking events.
Read more about our careers and professional development support.
The University of Leeds Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.
