Overview
A fast-paced and highly practical ACCA-accredited master’s degree programme, ideal anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of accounting in the global context.
This master’s programme demands a great deal from its students, so it’s ideal if you want to cover a lot of ground in a short time. You’ll learn to operate effectively within the global marketplace, enabling you to pursue a career in accounting or to further your knowledge of accounting standards. You may have just graduated in accounting or a related subject, or perhaps you’re already an accountant but want to develop into broader management roles. What’s more, both MSc Professional Accounting and MSc Professional Accounting with Extended Professional Practice have been awarded nine ACCA exemption accreditations.
This master’s course is linked to SAP. You’ll also learn using Bloomberg terminals and S&P Capital IQ – which are routinely used in major organisations around the word. And where better to study accounting than in the heart of London’s financial district?
Extended Professional Practice
This MSc course is now available with Extended Professional Practice. This 18-month option is aimed at students who are looking to develop a deeper understanding of business in a very practical way. You will undertake two Professional Practice modules which will take the form of either an internship with a host organisation, or a campus-based professional experience. Students are expected to spend twenty-two weeks at one (or more) work setting(s) and will have the opportunity to apply theory to practice. After completing the extended professional practice students are required to produce a substantial problem-based piece of individual written work.
Why Coventry University London?
We believe that there is no better place to learn about business than to study in the heart of one of the most successful business and financial centres in the world. Launched in 2010 and located in the City of London, we are minutes away from the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange, and are surrounded by several blue chip companies.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityHeart of the City
Minutes from the Bank of England and Stock ExchangeCourse information
Gain exposure to a technology-rich, fully simulated trading floor – mirroring that of a top investment bank – including Bloomberg trading software.
This master’s course offers all the flexibility of both full-time and part-time study, as well as 2 start dates – making it easier for you if you choose continue working while you study.
With the support of our helpful, experienced tutors, you’ll develop advanced analytical skills, clarity of perspective on global business, the ability to think more strategically, and communication and research skills. These are all in high demand among employers in the private, public, and third sectors.
The curriculum for this course is aligned to major accounting bodies, such as ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA. Choose this course and you’ll be well on your way to qualifying as an accountant – or, if you’re already qualified, to reaching higher and wider in your career.
Course Specification
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Modules
In more detail...
The course has been devised in close collaboration with industry experts and informed by the advice of senior practitioners in this field. You’ll enhance your accounting skills while also developing into a strategic thinker – the consummate professional, ready to take your place as an accountant or a business leader in industry.
SAP
This is the only master’s course in the UK linked to SAP, the market leader in enterprise application software. Two course modules are delivered 100% using SAP, which will provide you with an excellent grounding in industry-standard software – helping to ensure you’re workplace-ready. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to qualify more quickly as an SAP practitioner, if you chose to pursue this.
London
You’ll study at our campus in the heart of London, one of the world’s busiest and most successful financial centres. You’ll be a stone’s throw from world-famous institutions such as the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange, and you’ll be within easy reach of Britain’s second financial centre, Canary Wharf. You’ll soak up the atmosphere on a daily basis, enjoying countless opportunities for events, exhibitions and tours to enhance your learning.
Technology
You’ll spend time working on our simulated trading floor. We’re one of very few universities to train students to use Bloomberg terminals, which bring together real-time data and research on all the markets plus powerful analytic tools. You’ll become proficient with S&P Capital IQ, enabling you to research and analyse publicly traded companies and develop your overall market awareness. These platforms are used routinely in many organisations around the world, so you’ll add a distinctive and innovative edge to your skills.
Applied
The learning on this course is applied, which is to say that you’ll test out what you learn either in the workplace or in workplace simulations – which might include our trading floor, seminars, client case studies, or software-based projects and exercises. You’ll have plenty of exposure to business, with field trips (one of which will be overseas), networking, guest lecturers, and the opportunity to do work experience with an employer, or a consultancy project with a real client, in your final term.
Tutors
You’ll be taught by supportive, highly qualified tutors who have substantial career experience in accounting and finance. Some are research-active; others are well-published; some speak at international conferences; and some have strong links with the professional associations. All of them will use their wide network of contacts to create opportunities for you to have regular contact with industry.
- You’ll take a major step towards qualifying as an accountant, if that’s what you choose.
- There are plenty of opportunities to network with and hear from industry experts, both in and out of the classroom
- You’ll have the opportunity for field trips within the UK (perhaps the Bank of England or Canary Wharf) and an overseas visit
- This is the only master’s programme in the UK linked to SAP – so you’ll become proficient with the world’s leading enterprise platform
- Course content is aligned with the requirements of the leading professional associations for accounting, including the ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA
- This new programme is right up to date with what employers are looking for, because the curriculum was designed in collaboration with industry experts
- You’ll use our fantastic simulated trading floor, featuring the latest technology used in finance and accounting, including Bloomberg Terminals and S&P Capital IQ.
- You’ll do a final major project which offers your choice of a significant piece of work, including a consultancy project with a real client or an internship with an employer
- Our London campus is located within the iconic Square Mile, so you’ll be surrounded by historic institutions and all the buzz of one of the world’s busiest financial districts
Your main study themes are:
- Technology – You’ll learn how technology underpins and supports the work of the accountant, using industry-standard applications throughout your studies for research, analysis, planning and presenting
- Decision-making – You’ll develop a deep appreciation of how the accounting role gathers and analyses information to help make supremely well-informed decisions, both within the financial realm and in support of other functions within the business, including at the most strategic levels
- Internationalisation – All aspects of this course are taught with a global perspective, covering essential topics such as international accounting standards but also looking at global issues and strengthening your skills in cross-cultural working
- Professionalism – The course will develop in you a deep appreciation of professional ethics and the standards of behaviour expected among members of the accounting profession and business leaders.
Coventry University was awarded ‘Gold’ for teaching excellence in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, so you can be sure you’ll benefit from an exceptional education here at our London campus.
Our approach to teaching is highly practical, designed to apply and contextualise your learning – so you’ll have a lot of exposure to the world of work both within and beyond the classroom. By the time you graduate, you’ll have had plenty of hands-on experience and you’ll have developed proficiency with the world’s leading IT systems for finance and accounting.
You’ll mix with industry through visits to businesses and institutions in the UK and overseas, business networking, guest lectures, and real work-experience and consultancy opportunities. Even in the classroom, you’ll focus on practical tasks such as case studies, report-writing, planning, presentations and debates.
This is an intensive course, and we expect students to be highly motivated for independent learning, too. You’ll be encouraged to explore all that London’s financial district has to offer, including tours, museums, exhibitions and conferences. You’ll need to dedicate a significant proportion of your time outside of the classroom to personal study and research – developing lifelong skills which will serve you well throughout your career.
Teaching methods include:<br> Lectures, seminars, textbooks, workshops, debates, case studies, consultancy projects, simulations, business plans, online collaborations.
Your tutors will assess your work throughout your course, using practical assessments which will reflect the tasks and appraisals you’re likely to encounter in your future career. This will help you to embed all of your learning in practice and to become more critically aware of your own performance.
Regular assessments enable your tutors to ensure that they – and you – always know how you’re progressing. This means identifying your particular talents as well as where you may need a little extra support.
Typically, you’ll be assessed via case-study work, the writing of business reports and plans, presentations; group work, and discussion and debates. Of course, your final major project will be a significant assessment piece.
On successful completion, you should be able to:
- Apply management accounting techniques in order to generate information to support planning, controlling and decision-making
- Evaluate factors which impact on the accounting profession, such as legal and regulatory systems; ethical, economic, environmental, social and technological change; international developments; and corporate governance
- Analyse the uses of a range of research methods and techniques, both qualitative and quantitative, and understand their strengths and weaknesses
- Use leading software applications for accounting and finance within the context of an international, knowledge-based economy
- Understand the major contexts within which accounting operates, both within and outside of organisations
- Use, evaluate and share the major current technical languages and practices of accounting
- Work effectively, collaboratively and cross-culturally on the operational and strategic positions of organisations
- Assess the policies and strategies which managers and leaders may use when adapting organisations to respond to complex internal and external contexts.
There will be a global perspective to everything you learn on this course, so you’ll be well-equipped to work overseas, or for a multi-national, or for a firm which trades internationally. You’ll have the opportunity of an international field trip, and you could arrange to do an internship or an individual consultancy project with a business overseas.
The course covers international accounting standards and practices, and follows the ACCA and ICAEW curricula (which are professionally respected around the world). You’ll also study alongside students from all over, learning other perspectives on business and developing your ability to work cross-culturally.
Entry Requirements
Career prospects
Jobs in accounting and finance are competitive, so this degree is designed to provide the edge you need to secure a great career in accounting or strategic management.
That’s because this course is fully connected to the workplace – for example, it’s been designed with the help of industry experts and is aligned with the requirements of the major professional associations (such as ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA). Graduates have well-developed powers of analysis, clear perspectives on strategy, and highly effective communication and research skills. These are very much in demand from employers in private, public and third-sector organisations around the world.
You’ll have access to career-building support including entrepreneurship, CV-writing and interview skills. As a postgraduate student, you’ll be eligible to apply for our ‘High Flyers’ programme, designed to develop particularly talented students.
Where our graduates work
If you haven’t yet qualified as an accountant, this course will offer significant exemptions from the qualifying exams with the leading professional bodies. From there, you could take up a role with an accountancy firm (including the big global consultancies) or you could work in-house for a business or become self-employed. Not all students may want to qualify as an accountant, but will have obtained an excellent grounding for a career in finance, management or leadership. You might work for an investment company or in raising corporate finance, for example.
If you’ve already qualified as an accountant, your higher-level qualification could accelerate your career – whether in accounting or in strategic leadership roles. You’ll have broadened your understanding of a wide range of aspects of accounting and deepened your knowledge of international accounting standards.
Disclaimer
Graduate Immigration Route visa – Based on current information from the UK Government, students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
