Course Overview
| Level of study: | Postgraduate degree |
| Tuition fees 2021/22: | UK/Home: £9,150
International: £18,250
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| Entry requirements: | A 2:2 (second class) honours degree, or equivalent, in Accounting and passed or gained exemption from all papers in the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills modules of the ACCA qualification
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| English language requirements: | IELTS 6.0 with no component less than 5.5, or equivalent
Other English language tests are accepted, click here to find out more.
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| Mode of study: | Full-time |
| Duration: | 18 months |
| Assessment method: | Coursework and exams |
| Student finance: | Available |
| Location: |
London
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| Start dates: |
September |
| Application deadline: | Next application deadline
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Response to Covid-19
Response to Covid-19: Our focus is on providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for our students. We have taken every measure, in line with Government guidance, to ensure continued access to learning.
As part of our response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we plan to deliver this course combining face-to-face, on-campus learning, with online learning activities, continuing to follow Government guidance and social distancing measures as required. As restrictions ease, face-to-face opportunities will be increased as appropriate and it is safe for us to do so. Our plans are based on public health advice and robust risk assessments and will be regularly reviewed and updated in that context. More information about our response to Covid-19 and FAQs are available here.
About this course
The MSc in Strategic Accounting combines preparation for ACCA Membership with the development of essential skills for accounting in a global context with consideration to the findings of the research paper ‘Professional Accountants – the future: Drivers of Change and Future Skills’ (ACCA 2016).
Not only will you study modules that are 100% aligned to the ACCA syllabus there will be an opportunity for you to develop highly valued skills in the areas of Cyber Security and Data Analytics. This programme therefore helps prepare you both to become a professional accountant and to prepare you for the future challenges and opportunities that the profession will face.
The ACCA predict that the landscape in which accountants work will be impacted by ‘drivers’ – of regulation and governance, digital technology, expectation and globalisation – and that accountants who are able to integrate their technical and leadership competences with these drivers will be highly valued by organisations worldwide.
In the final stage of this programme, you will choose to either complete a Dissertation, investigating an accounting issue of your choice, or a Strategic Business Project, where you work on a project relevant to the financial services sector in a work-based context. Completing the Strategic Business Project will cover part of ACCA’s 36 month Practical Experience Requirement.
The programme will develop a high level of accounting, leadership, business and professional skills, which are required for success in a career as a Chartered Certified Accountant. It will also ensure that students obtain a deeper understanding of the contemporary challenges and issues faced by accounting and business professionals.
ACCA
The ACCA’s strategic professional papers are embedded into the structure of the MSc.
The teaching and learning in the ACCA related modules (Strategic Business Reporting, Strategic Business Leader, Advanced Performance Management, Advanced Audit and Assurance, Advanced Taxation and Advanced Financial Management) will prepare you to take the ACCA exams in these papers.
During lectures you will be taught the relevant knowledge for each of these subject areas and papers. In seminars, you will practice a wide range of exam style questions of increasing complexity through a combination of tutor led and self-led exercises to create a portfolio of evidence of your understanding and application of the subject area.
Students will be required to pay separately for the ACCA student membership, exemptions and external examination fees, please visit their website for more details.
By completing this programme, you will achieve an MSc in Strategic Accounting and complete all of the Strategic Professional ACCA exams. However, please note you will need to sit the ACCA exams outside of the MSc Strategic Accounting to obtain the ACCA accreditation.
If you have an Accounting undergraduate degree you may already have exemptions to the ACCA Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers required to study this programme. Please see our entry requirements for more guidance.
Teaching methods
- You will be taught using a variety of teaching methods across the modules including lectures, seminars, case studies, computer simulations and group learning activities based on real-life data, totalling around 15 hours per week.
- In addition to your time in class, you will be expected to engage in approximately 30 hours of self-study time per week.
- You will have access to Blackboard, our online learning environment, where you can access module resources and reading lists that will assist your preparation for classes and self-study.
Assessment
Assessments are based on coursework, in-class tests and presentations.
Careers and postgraduate opportunities
The programme provides a sound foundation for students wishing to commence or continue a career in the accounting profession whether in professional practice, industry, the public sector, the charity sector, financial services or professional services.
Aspirational career opportunities for ACCA qualified accountants would be senior positions that require individuals to apply technical financial knowledge with that of leadership, stakeholder management, creative and innovative thinking. The successful completion of the MSc in Strategic Accounting alongside ACCA membership will demonstrate these competencies and capabilities and how you as a professional can contribute to organisational performance.
Related reading
Accounting and Finance reading:
Modules
All modules are core and 20 credits unless specified.
You will choose two from the ‘Advanced’ series of modules and one of either Data Analytics or Cyber Security.
Strategic Business Leader (40 credits)
This module aims to develop students’ range of professional skills that are required by effective leaders within organisations. Students will learn how to evaluate an organisation’s strategic position in whichever market it operates in, whilst investigating how to use IT and data analytics to analyse factors effecting an organisation or identify any opportunities.
Students will also explore best-in-class strategies in addressing disruptive technologies in the management of change and project management.
Strategic Business Reporting – 20 credits
This module aims to discuss, apply and evaluate the concepts, principles and practices that underpin the preparation and interpretation of corporate reports in various contexts including the ethical assessment of management’s stewardship and the information needs of a diverse group of stakeholders.
Introduction to Research
The module will provide students with an understanding of the research process when conducting applied research within the accounting and finance profession. It underlines the role that applied research can play in helping to define and ultimately resolve key strategic business issues. This will involve consideration of the development of appropriate research questions, undertaking a literature review, identification and justification of an appropriate research methodology, data collection and analysis, reporting findings in an effective manner.
Advanced Performance Management (optional)
The module will develop students’ appreciation of strategic management accounting in the context of organisational strategy, business planning and development. Through case studies, practical examples and academic journal articles, the module will enable students to critically appraise and apply advanced practices and theories of the discipline.
Advanced Taxation (optional)
This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive study of the main areas of taxation. It investigates further the UK tax system and specifically stamp taxes whilst equipping students with the ability to identify and evaluate the impact of relevant taxes on various situations.
The module also develops students’ ability to communicate with potential clients, HM Revenue and Customs as well as other tax professionals in the appropriate manner. Finally, this module enhances students’ ability in providing advice on tax liabilities by the use of standard tax planning measures.
Advanced Audit and Assurance (optional)
This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of audit and assurance services. It combines audit and assurance concepts with their application to professional practice. It also highlights the responsibilities and ethical dilemmas faced by auditors and assurance providers.
Advanced Financial Management (optional)
The module examines the investment and financing decisions facing large multinational corporations, with the emphasis moving towards the strategic consequences of making such decisions in a domestic, as well as international, context. Connected to this, the module then focuses on developing advisory skills in planning strategic acquisitions and mergers and corporate re-organisations.
Finally, the module examines the risks associated with international business and provides a broad analysis of the sophisticated strategies which are employed in order to manage such risks.
Cyber Security (optional)
This module aims to discuss, apply and evaluate the concepts, principles and practices that underpin the relationship between information governance and cyber security underpinning the management of an organisation’s information assets.
The module also covers cyber security risk assessment and management strategies.
Data Analytics (optional)
This module provides students with the knowledge and practical skills for applying business intelligence and data analytics principles to support management decision making in a business context. The module also helps develop students’ quantitative analysis and data visualisation skills to derive valuable insights from the data in a business context. The module will help students to design, develop and deploy a performance dashboard as part of their performance management system case organisation.
Strategic Business Project (40 credits; optional – or Dissertation)
The module integrates and further develops the knowledge and skills acquired within the taught element of the programme. The module specifically allows the student to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to undertake a project relevant to the financial services sector and of interest to the student. The project topic will vary, depending on the requirements of the financial services organisation that instigates the project.
The Strategic Business Project allows the student to complete some of the 36 months of the ACCA’s Practical Experience Requirement, helping you on your way to becoming a qualified ACCA member.
Dissertation (40 credits; optional – or Strategic Business Project)
The dissertation module integrates and further develops the knowledge and skills acquired within the taught element of the programme.
The module specifically allows the student to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to undertake a research dissertation investigating a topic relevant to the financial services sector and of interest to the student
The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2021/22. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons.
Academic requirements
Applicants must have passed or gained exemption from all papers in the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills modules of the ACCA qualification by having gained:
- A 2:2 (second class) honours degree in Accounting or better from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
- An equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification in Accounting;
And
- Have completed enrolment as a student of ACCA
Non-standard entry
- In exceptional circumstances, if you do not meet the entry requirements above but have substantial and significant experiential learning, you may be able to apply as a non-standard applicant.
If you have previously studied an undergraduate degree in Accounting it is possible you may already have exemptions to the ACCA’s Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers.
Please use their online calculator to find out if you hold these exemptions.
The exemptions to look out for are:
Applied Knowledge:
- Accounting in Business
- Management Accounting
- Financial Accounting
Applied Skills:
- Corporate and Business Law
- Performance Management
- Taxation
- Financial Reporting
- Audit and Assurance
- Financial Management
To find out more about the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills ACCA papers please visit their website.
For country-specific entry requirements, please visit the entry requirements page.
If you’re not sure about your qualifications, contact us and one our team will contact you to discuss your options.
English language requirements
- IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent
If you do not have the required IELTS, you may be eligible to study on our Pre-Sessional programmes.
- If you have IELTS 5.5, with a maximum one score of 5.0, you may be eligible to study on our Pre-Sessional Standard programme.
- If you have IELTS 5.0, with a maximum one score of 4.5, you may be eligible to study on our Pre-Sessional Plus programme.
Tuition fees for 2021/22
This course is eligible for postgraduate government funding. Please contact us for details.
- International students: £18,250
Tuition fees for 2022/23
This course is eligible for postgraduate government funding. Please contact us for details.
- International students: £18,500
Please note: UK/Home students who are financing their studies through the postgraduate loan, you will be required to make a deposit payment of £250 at enrolment, this amount will be deducted from the total tuition fee. This does not apply to progressing students who are currently studying at the undergraduate level with us.
Please note that the fees outlined are for your tuition only and do not include the cost of any course books that you may choose to purchase, stationery, accommodation etc. As an Ulster University London and Birmingham branch campus student you will also have access to our on-campus libraries and a range of e-learning resources.
The modules you will study may require you to purchase additional course textbooks and you should be prepared to buy some additional texts, we recommend allowing an additional £450 for the duration of your course.
In the modules that are aligned to the ACCA syllabus you will receive study materials to support your exam preparation however, you may wish to purchase additional professional texts and practice books which are approximately £70 per paper.
Students will be required to pay separately for the ACCA student membership, exemptions and external examination fees, please visit their website for more details.
What does my tuition pay for?
- Your teaching in class – this includes seminars, lectures and tutorials
- Access to facilities including computers, Wi-Fi, printers, lockers, multi-faith rooms, quiet study space and social areas. To learn more about available facilities please visit our London or Birmingham branch campus pages
- Our library service – both on-campus and an extensive online catalogue of resources
- Careers and Employability Service which provides help with CVs, applications and interview preparation through workshops, drop-ins and 1-2-1 appointments
- The ACE Team (Academic Community of Excellence) who are here to support you with your studies and assignments
- Students Activities Association (SAA) – who organise events on campus, discounted sightseeing trips and help students create and run societies
Scholarships and discounts
To support you in financing your studies, we offer a range of scholarships and fee discounts that you may be eligible for.
How to find out more
To find out more about this course, we recommend that you complete our enquiry form and one of our team will contact you to discuss your options.
How to apply
UK and International students can apply directly to study MSc Strategic Accounting via our online application form below.
APPLY FOR SEPTEMBER 2022
If you’re not sure or have any questions about studying with us, please contact us and one of our team will be able to help.
