Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £12,440 for the course
International/EU: £20,100 for the course -
How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2026
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Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Study literature, worldwide events, case studies and financial accounts to learn how real organisations operate and the strategies they implement.
- Focus on business awareness, proactive and logical thinking, research and critical analysis to help managers make sound strategic financial decisions.
- Examine present-day national and global developments in business strategy, management, accounting and finance.
Designed for the personal and professional development of graduates who want to work in accounting, strategy, finance and management fields, this course has a real-world focus whilst developing your critical capacity. Your studies benefit from strong links to professional bodies such as the ACCA and CIMA.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Sheffield Business School accreditation
Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and has been awarded the Business School Impact System label by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
How you learn
You complete in-depth research into various industries when producing presentations, coursework, assessments and dissertations. This real-world focus provides immediate value to your present or potential employers. 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).
You learn through
- lectures
- seminars
- research
- computer simulations
- practical sessions
- assignments
- examinations
- dissertation
This course is delivered face-to-face over three semesters - teaching is scheduled based on the length of your course and the academic calendar.
Applied learning
Live projects
In your first semester, the 'Understanding markets' module requires you to manage strategy development, marketing, finance and human resources as you compete against other teams in looking at all aspects of a virtual company in a virtual marketplace.
Work experience
You’ll have the opportunity to source a work placement for up to 12 months, where you’ll apply academic theory and your skills in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience will enhance your professional development and help you to make informed career choices after graduation. Throughout your placement, you’ll be supported to reflect on your experience and contribution to the organisation you work for. You'll also share your progress and achievements with your Placement Academic Supervisor as part of your final assessment.
Work placements are competitive and will require you to make formal applications to employers and be successful in securing an opportunity. The application process for placements takes place while you are a student with us. To support you in applying for placements, you’ll complete an additional placement preparation program that introduces you to the UK employment landscape and prepares you for the recruitment and assessment activities you will experience during that process. We also maintain a large database of placement offers that you can search to find opportunities most relevant to your course that you can apply for.
Course leaders and tutors
Ifedapo Francis Awolowo
Senior Lecturer in Financial and Management Accounting/ ASPIRE Project LeadIfedapo Francis Awolowo
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
This module introduces advanced portfolio theory and fund management strategies, including the use of AI in investment analysis.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Risk and return in portfolio theory
- Asset allocation and diversification
- Portfolio optimisation and the efficient frontier
- Mutual funds, ETFs and hedge funds
- Active and passive investment strategies
- Performance measurement and attribution
- Behavioural finance and market anomalies
- Factor investing and smart beta strategies
- Risk management and derivatives
- ESG investing and sustainable finance
This module equips learners with advanced knowledge of corporate finance and data analytics, focusing on strategic value creation. You will learn to integrate financial theory with analytical techniques to support executive-level decision-making in complex business environments.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Portfolio Theory and Capital Asset Pricing Model
- Advanced sources of finance (e.g. leases and convertibles)
- Financing strategy and capital structure
- Dividend policy and theory
- The valuation of companies, overseas projects and foreign direct investment
- Risk and investment appraisal techniques
- Data analysis techniques to identify trends
- The possibility of false-positive results in data and their consequences
- Introduction to a data science approach
This module introduces students to the interpretation and use of publicly available financial and enterprise data, including the role of artificial intelligence in financial analysis.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Financial statements and their key components
- Accounting policies and reporting standards
- Advanced sources of business finance
- Capital structure and financing strategies
- Corporate governance and executive reward
- Financial statement manipulation and fraud
- Share price reactions to financial information
- Data analysis and trend identification
- False positives and data misinterpretation
- Introduction to AI and data science in finance
The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of, and reflection on meaningful work experience.
A work experience will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will:
Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course.
Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc.
Grow their student network and relationship building skills.
Provide students with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs.
Help student make informed graduate careers choices.
In this module, students will undertake a work experience (minimum duration and expectations as per HESA regulations – clarified on assignment brief/Blackboard) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies and appropriate for their level of study.
Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their work experience and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.
To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work.
This module explores how management accounting supports strategic and sustainability-driven decisions across organisations.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Strategic management theories and practices
- Links between environment, strategy and accounting
- Organisational accountability and decision-making
- Sustainability accounting tools and techniques
- Strategic management accounting and control systems
- Application of tools in real-world contexts
Final year
Elective modules
This module develops your consultancy skills through a live project with a real client. You’ll investigate a specific organisational issue, apply research methods, and deliver practical insights. Alongside the project, you’ll reflect on its broader relevance to professional practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Defining project scope with your client
- Applying relevant theoretical frameworks
- Choosing appropriate research methods
- Addressing ethical research considerations
- Conducting a focused literature review
- Analysing and interpreting research data
- Drawing evidence-based conclusions
- Communicating findings clearly and professionally
- Managing your project effectively
- Reflecting on consultancy in professional practice
This module strengthens your critical research skills as you explore a current issue within your discipline. You’ll design and carry out an independent research project, generating insights that contribute to both academic knowledge and professional practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Defining your research question and focus
- Applying theoretical frameworks effectively
- Selecting appropriate research methods
- Addressing ethical research considerations
- Conducting a structured literature review
- Analysing and interpreting research data
- Drawing meaningful, evidence-based conclusions
- Managing your dissertation timeline
- Writing clearly and persuasively
- Reflecting on research in professional contexts
This module will enhance your critical research and analysis skills as you explore and reflect on a specific issue in relation to your work experience. You will investigate an organisational issue and provide valuable insights for organisational stakeholders, and you will also consider wider relevance to professional practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Working with stakeholders to formulate research purpose and focus
- Theoretical frameworks to inform research design
- Research methods including ethical considerations
- Literature review
- Analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of data
- Writing up/managing your research project
Future careers
Successfully completing this course equips you with financial management knowledge and skills sought by organisations worldwide. It prepares you for a career in
- finance management
- financial controlling
- business strategies
- financial analysis
- strategic accountancy
- consultancy strategy or financial journalism
- research
- education
Equipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- virtual marketplace
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
You normally need one of the following in a relevant subject
• a good honours degree
• a recognised postgraduate qualification
• an equivalent recognised professional qualification
Relevant subjects include
- accounting
- banking
- business management
- business administration
- economics
- finance
- financial services
- global trade/business
If you don't have such academic qualifications we may consider your application individually, based on your personal, professional and work experience and other formal qualifications. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
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.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2026/27 is £12,440 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2026/27 is £20,100 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
Scholarships and financial support
Find information on scholarships, bursaries and postgraduate student loans.
International scholarships up to £3000 ›
Alumni scholarships up to £2000 ›
Postgraduate loans for UK students ›
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 278.4KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
