MSc Accounting and Finance – ACCA Fast Track Route
Attendance
Full-time, Part-time
Full-time – 9 months
Part-time – 12 months
Starts September and January
At a glance
About this course
This course is for international students who are ACCA passed finalists or qualified accountants. It is a fast track course that enables you to convert your ACCA qualification to a UK masters degree in nine months.
The course is delivered in Sheffield and at the Aventis School of Management, Singapore.
A distinctive feature of the 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
• apply and adapt techniques to improve and extend specialist knowledge in accounting and finance
• apply relevant frameworks, models and techniques of financial decision making to planning, performance measurement, and risk management
• solve problems and develop and carry out accounting and financial strategies for different types of organisations
• apply international accounting standards to corporate reporting and appropriate models to auditing
• demonstrate analytical and research skills informed by the latest developments in accounting and finance
• use models and techniques for collecting, processing, validating, interpreting and presenting information
You also gain
• transferable intellectual and professional skills relevant to the current national and international business world
• 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).
Associated careers
Graduates from this course are well equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for professional careers in accounting and finance such as • accountant • finance or accounting manager • financial controller • financial analyst • financial consultant • researcher • educator.
Course content
Core modules
Methods of enquiry
This module enables you to acquire analytical and technical research and consultancy skills. You develop knowledge and a reflective understanding of methodological and philosophical issues in research and consultancy with specific reference to finance.
Research methods
This module develops your abilities to critically evaluate and appraise published research and develop your own research skills. It provides the key steps in developing your understanding of the nature of the postgraduate dissertation and approaches to undertaking one. On completion of the module you will be able to formulate and undertake your own research project.
Dissertation
The dissertation provides an invaluable opportunity for you to undertake a major research -based project on a topic relevant to your future career development or your academic interest in a subject. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have gained on your masters course and develop research skills.
Optional modules
Choose one of the following
Financial analysis
This module develops your abilities to acquire and understand financial reports of public companies, relate the information provided by companies to information obtained from other sources. It develops your knowledge on the contestability of financial statements, the role of standard setters in reducing this and the information that drives company share prices.
Advanced portfolio management
This module develops your abilities to analyse, discuss and evaluate different approaches to risk measurement, risk modelling and risk management. It develops your knowledge on how to analyse, discuss and evaluate differing approaches to asset management and fund management. At the end of the module you should be able to synthesise the knowledge of investment and risk theories, and product knowledge to build sophisticated investment portfolios.
Assessment
• assignments • examinations • dissertation
Entry requirements
You must be a ACCA passed finalist or a qualified accountant.
Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English.
If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English qualification.
Fees
International students
2013/14 academic year
Typically £6,430 for the course, depending on local currency rates.
2014/15 academic year
Typically £6,475 for the course, depending on local currency rates.
How to apply
Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
Contact details
For more information contact Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Stoddart Building, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 2820, fax +44 (0)114 225 5268, e-mail sbs@shu.ac.uk