Accounting and Financial Management MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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Does the idea of managing budgets get you excited? Explore how finance and business work together and how you can manage them both.

Year of entry

2023-24

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time
Sandwich

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Variable (with prof experience)

Course code

FBLT041

Start date

September 2023
January 2024

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
Ask a question

The information on this page is for 2022-23 entry and should be used as guidance for 2023-24 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

This course is designed for those seeking a higher level of education combined with the opportunity to gain a solid foundation in functional accounting and contemporary finance topics. You will have the chance to: 

  • Improve on your existing capabilities and understanding of the business world.
  • Explore how financial markets operate.
  • Use real-life case studies to gain an insight into the financial strategies of successful businesses.
  • Apply for a ‘professional experience’ opportunity2, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
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Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
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Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

The course aims to equip you with a broad and diverse knowledge of the financial theories, management techniques, analytical tools, quantitative and research skills required in an increasingly complex and global business environment.

The modules available offer you the chance to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how global businesses use financial information for decision-making, performance evaluation and financial reporting purposes. You will also have the chance to explore the external forces that can affect financial performance, and be introduced to relevant accounting concepts and International Financial Reporting Standards. 

Accreditation and Professional Recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

The course currently includes the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited module, Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.

Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFAI)

Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFAI)

This course is currently part of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute’s University Affiliation Program (CFA), recognising that the course curriculum is closely tied to the practice of investment management and aims to help students prepare for the CFA Program exams (please note that taking CFA exams is subject to availability and additional fees apply). Students can apply for a CFA Scholarship which is awarded by the University, in accordance with the program.

Memberships 

European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the European Foundation for Management Development, a global membership organisation dedicated to management development, covering over 900 members across 91 countries.

Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, which has a membership of over 120 business schools and higher education providers, and supports its members in maintaining world-class standards of teaching and research.

Exemptions

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

This course is recognised by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), allowing students to claim 60 credits towards CII’s Diploma in Financial Planning or Insurance. Please note fees may apply.

What you'll study

This course is underpinned by practice-led learning designed to provide an overview of accounting and finance as it is actually applied in the world of business. You will have the chance to explore how financial markets operate and the financial strategies used by successful businesses. You’ll be drawing on real-life case studies of companies and their financial accounts and have the opportunity to put learned theory into practice, all set in the context of financial issues from around the world. 

Modules

  • This module also aims to link corporate and financial strategy and will explore the techniques of strategic and financial analysis and evaluation available to companies, aiming to develop their strategic options, choices and business performance. 

    Compulsory

  • This module is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the content and purpose of a company’s annual report and published financial statements. The module also considers the accounting treatment of intangible non-current assets, the problems in attaching monetary values to these and how this impacts the usefulness of published financial statements.  

    Compulsory

  • The aim of the module is to examine and critique key corporate finance issues, including financial management, risk and return, corporate financing and asset pricing, capital structure and pay-out policy. The module will take an international perspective and explore both theoretical models and empirical evidence.   

    Compulsory

  • The purpose of this module is to teach you to use an extensive range of statistical and mathematical techniques necessary to effectively analyse problems within the field of accounting. This module also aims to create the necessary mathematical foundations for the undertaking of the dissertation at the last stage of the MSc programme. 

    Compulsory

  • The module aims to develop the knowledge and understanding of carrying out the audit and assurance engagement, and the role of internal audit within a corporate governance framework. 

    Compulsory

  • This module gives you an understanding of the various ways in which management accounting can be of use to managers. It provides you with the ability to make good business decisions based on a sound understanding of financial models, whilst at the same time giving you the ability to critically evaluate the limitations of those models. 

    Compulsory

  • The aim of this module is to provide you with a framework to examine the key issues in corporate governance. These include underlying corporate governance theory and associated reporting and regulation, the role of monitors and issues of independence and ethics. It will also develop your ability to critically appraise relevant academic literature and current issues, then integrate and synthesise topics in order to participate in current debates and suggest potential insights for development.

    Compulsory

  • After successfully completing this module you should be able to apply alternative hedging methods, using financial derivatives or non-financial derivatives methods, to manage the typical financial risks that companies are facing in modern business environment.  

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategic and entrepreneurial way whatever the Master’s degree of specialisation they elect to follow. 

    The module enables students to reflect critically on their personal learning and development needs and how they work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint to encourage their continuing professional development.  

    Compulsory

  • In this module, you will carry out a substantive piece of individual research into a business or financial management issue. 

    You will be expected to draw upon the knowledge acquired, and the intellectual, technical and analytical skills developed during the course.   

    Compulsory

  • The professional experience opportunity enables you the opportunity to apply for optional professional experience in semester 1, which, upon successfully securing an opportunity, will extend the duration of your master’s to either 16, 20 or 24 months. The professional experience provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability.  

    *Professional experience may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the professional experience option.   

    Optional

With professional experience option

The professional experience opportunity2 enables you the opportunity to apply for optional professional experience in semester 1, which, upon successfully securing an opportunity, will extend the duration of your master’s to either 16, 20 or 24 months. The professional experience provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability. 

Please note that the optional professional experience modules incur an additional tuition fee, for which 1 semester of professional experience is £1,333.33, for 2 semesters of professional experience is £2666.67, and for 3 semesters of professional experience is £4,000.

Professional experience may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the professional experience option.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching methods include:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Presentations
  • Group projects
  • Workshops 

This course can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time. 

Teaching contact hours

The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week in the taught semesters.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study, depending on the demands of individual modules.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessments

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include reports, tests, exams, practical coursework and presentations as part of individual assignments or group work elements. 

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes. 

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a good honours degree 2.2 or above in a relevant academic discipline, such as finance, accounting or economics.  Applications from candidates with relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international pre-master's. Upon successful completion our International Pre-Master's - Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this postgraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Applicants should hold a good honours degree 2.2 or above in a relevant academic discipline, such as finance, accounting or economics. Applications from candidates with relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis.

English language requirements

  • IELTS:  6.5  overall (with at least  5.5 in each component area) 

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 Tuition fees

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £15,400 | £19,400 (with prof. experience) per year Request fee information
International £20,050 | £24,050 (with prof. experience) per year Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4.

A student using a computer at a desk wearing glasses next to a tutor pointing at the screen

The Trading Floor

The Trading Floor is an invaluable facility which allows you to get hands-on with industry-standard software. Housing 42 dual-screen Bloomberg terminals, the facility can add a dynamic practical element to your course.

 

 

 

People at the Talent team fair on the balcony and on the ground floor

Talent Team

Employability is at the forefront of all our accounting and finance courses. Our dedicated Talent Team are also on hand to help. They can assist you in applying for work placements, graduate level jobs and offer skills development workshops, and also organise networking events to introduce you to potential employers and industry contacts.

A female student sat at a desk holding a pen and looking at a laptop.

sigma Centre

The sigma Centre is housed in our Lanchester Library and offers maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions and bookable appointments. It is the ideal place to help you navigate any issues you might have while studying an accounting and finance degree.

 

 

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate critical thinking on the accounting and financial management conceptual, theoretical frameworks and assumptions behind them.
  • Exercise sound judgments in the selection of different methods and approaches available to deal with complex accounting and financial management problems in modern business world.
  • Develop logical and coherent arguments.
  • Demonstrate diagnostic and decision-making skills in dealing with accounting and financial management problems.
  • Work out the implications of emerging accounting and finance issues and debates.
  • Use advanced mathematical and statistical techniques for financial and investment analysis. 
  • Select, retrieve and analyse relevant data and information from finance-related databases to solve practical problems, such as ratio analysis.
  • Design and conduct research in accounting and financial management using appropriate methodologies to advance knowledge in these areas.  

This course is designed to prepare you for all types of personal and professional financial management and could be a catalyst to future careers in financial services as professional accountants, financial analysts and financial consultants.

It provides the opportunity to confirm your passion for this field before committing to study more intensive professional accounting and finance qualifications. 

You could also benefit from a wide range of desirable professional skills including, team working, critical evaluation, problem-solving, action planning and organising, written and oral communication, questioning and listening. 

You will have the opportunity to further develop your transferable skills in areas such as, achievement orientation, initiative and creativity, decisiveness, adaptability and flexibility.  

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have chosen to pursue further postgraduate study and gone on to work for companies in the banking sector such as China CITIC Bank and in aviation, with Xin Xiang Aviation Industry Group. 

How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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