Accounting and Finance MSc
Subject and course type
- Accounting, Finance and Banking
- Postgraduate
Kingston University’s MSc in Accounting and Finance will give you the in-demand analytical and leadership skills needed to make an immediate impact in the workplace. You'll be able to follow in the footsteps of previous graduates, who have progressed to roles such as accountant, trader and investment banker.
You are reading:
Develop in-demand skills for a fast-evolving industry
Deepen your understanding of the financial world.
Studying this MSc in Accounting and Finance will equip you for a successful career in a wide range of sectors and organisations. During the course, you’ll learn from research-active staff, get to grips with cutting-edge knowledge and study modules that align with professional bodies.
You’ll explore the latest developments in the accounting and finance sector and work on real-life cases and financial data platforms such as Bloomberg and Thomson DataStream Advance.
You’ll build knowledge of fundamental accounting areas, including reporting, management accounting, corporate finance and financial modelling.
This course is accredited by the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) and offers exemptions from its professional exams. The programme also has accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) which will grant you accelerated entry to the CIMA Masters Gateway when you graduate.
On completion of this masters, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for exemptions from Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) exams.
As an ACCA affiliate, I believe Kingston University provided me with the best academic experience under the guidance of their esteemed faculty in a thriving community and vibrant campus life.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only is Kingston University Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework, Kingston Business School is also in the 6% of business schools in the world to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.
As part of Kingston Business School’s Department of Accounting, Finance and Informatics, you’ll tap into a learning powerhouse with global partnerships. Our courses are accredited by professional bodies like ACCA, CIMA, ACT, RICS and ICAEW.
Kingston is one of the few UK universities with a Bloomberg Trading Room. Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to this state-of-the-art trading simulator, which has 12 dual screen terminals with Bloomberg Professional® service and Bloomberg Terminal®. It’s the perfect way to refine your practical skills and progress towards Bloomberg certification.
Accreditations
This course is accredited by the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT). Upon completion of module International Money & Finance (BA7020) you will gain exemptions from the Certificate in Treasury units: Unit 1: The context of treasury; Unit 2: Cash and liquidity management; and Unit 3: Corporate finance. You would then be required to complete two further units to complete the CertT. This accreditation is renewed on an annual basis.
The course is accredited by CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) giving you entry into the CIMA Masters Gateway, an accelerated entry route. You can choose to independently organise and fund taking the CIMA Self-Tailored Pathway. Upon successful completion you will be granted 11 exemptions. This accreditation is ongoing.
Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 6% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.
Ready for business
At Kingston Business School, we believe that professional success is shaped by honing your personal capacity and skillset, supported by the academic framework of knowledge. Through vocationally rich, employer-engaged and research-informed courses, we work alongside our students to help them meet personal goals and career ambitions.
Course content
This course is underpinned by the latest research and best practice. Modules have been developed to provide you with up-to-date and relevant knowledge of accounting, finance and research methods. Year 1 is made up of six core modules and one optional module. Year 2, the Professional Placement Year, is optional and offers a full year of work experience.
Please note, this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Year 1
Core modules
15 credits
This module will enable you to understand and prepare management information to support the decision making in an organisation. You will be able to calculate the costs associated with the production of products and provision of services, and determine their price and you will be able to understand budgeting approaches and how budgets are produced. Effective performance management systems including performance measures, to assist management decision making, are also covered.
30 credits
This module offers a combination of practical ‘know how' and deeper theoretical underpinning.
You will explore the principles for constructing key financial statements for individual businesses and groups of companies, developing your ability to produce financial statements from transaction records, applying a variety of financial reporting standards.
You will also learn how to analyse and interpret financial statements. The interactive sessions take an active-learning approach combining lectures, activities, exercises, and discussions.
30 credits
This module will develop your knowledge of a unique combination of important topics that are considered critical to managerial decision making, whilst understanding the core theories and concepts in the field of corporate finance.
You will learn about investment, financing and profit distribution decisions, discussing relevant research findings on debates between theory and practice, and ethical and governance failures.
You will have access to our very own Bloomberg Trading Room, where you will analyse financial data from Thomson Reuters Refinitiv Eikon, Bloomberg, FAME and more.
15 credits
This module provides an underpinning and understanding of the numerical techniques used in the business and finance world to aid strategic decision-making.
You will be equipped with the accounting, mathematical and statistical foundations that are necessary in the areas of accounting and finance and highly valued by employers.
You are encouraged to read articles from academic journals and discuss your findings during the interactive sessions, and you will also be able to make use of the Bloomberg Trading Room to analyse financial data.
15 credits
This module will develop your critical knowledge and understanding of accounting principles and enable you to analyse financial statements and reports using financial ratios and other metrics.
You will learn how undertake an in-depth analysis of firms' strategic capabilities, risk and growth potential, financial and operating performance.
This module is relevant to those who are interested in a career in the corporate or financial services sector. Professionals such as accountants and corporate lawyers can also benefit and enjoy broader career development opportunities through the skills and knowledge that this module offers.
60 credits
This module will introduce you to methods and procedures for identifying, investigating and analysing a research problem, and an opportunity to apply these tools in the development of a dissertation. You will be expected to be familiar with the theory and research in your chosen area of study, and to demonstrate your ability to review and apply concepts and techniques critically.
Optional modules (choose one)
15 credits
This module offers an intuitive analysis of the international financial management environment.
You will study the role and functions of international financial markets (FX, capital markets) and institutions, and assess the tools that can be employed by firms' managers to assess and control for risk in these markets.
You will learn about international economic linkages, monetary systems and parity conditions in international financial markets. Several real-world examples and journal articles are used to bring together theoretical considerations and practise.
15 credits
This module explores the interrelationship between capital markets and accounting information.
You will be introduced to key issues in empirical accounting research, applying fundamental concepts from accounting and finance in capital market contexts.
Building on knowledge from both 'Financial Accounting' and 'Corporate Finance', the module equips you with essential skills for success in both the accounting and finance professions.
15 credits
This module will introduce you to the concept of auditing. It covers the theoretical frameworks as well as practical processes and techniques. Current regulation, legislation, corporate governance and ethics will also be covered. The module is assessed with one piece of coursework, a presentation and an examination.
Year 2 (optional)
The professional placement year is optional. It takes place after the full-time year. It allows students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The work placement is an assessed part of the course and is therefore covered by a Student Route visa. Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
Modules
120 credits
The Professional Placement module is a core module for those students following a masters programme that incorporates an extended professional placement that follows completion of the first 180 credits of taught modules and project or dissertation. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment, and to develop and enhance key employability skills and subject specific skills in their chosen subject.
It is the responsibility of individual students to locate and secure a suitable placement opportunity; this will normally involve one placement which must be completed over a minimum period of 10 months and within a maximum of 12 months. The placement must be approved by the module leader prior to commencement to ensure its suitability.
Career opportunities
You’ll complete this course with the skills you need for a successful career in the financial services, corporate finance, treasury or banking sectors. Recent graduates have progressed to roles like accountant, trader, financial analyst, investment banker, portfolio/fund manager and more. Others now work in Moody's Analytics, the NHS, Accenture and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Experience the pathway to employment and get personalised development feedback through our Assessment Centre Experience. You’ll learn more about the job market, exploring current trends and opportunities, recruitment processes and how to identify relevant roles. The Assessment Centre Experience also gives you access to webinars on top tips, employer expectations and best practice.
Teaching and assessment
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 17% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 79%; exams 20%; practical 1%
- Professional placement: Coursework 100%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Each student receives a personalised timetable. This is usually available after you have completed your online enrolment, which typically accessible one month before the start of your course.
You will be part of an intimate cohort of students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice and the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes; therefore you will be taught alongside students who are on these courses within the Business School.
Fees and funding
| Fee Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | Full Time £13,500 |
| International | Full Time £19,700 |
| Fee Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | Full Time £12,900 |
| International | Full Time £18,900 |
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying Accounting and Finance MSc at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
Apply for a £5,000 bursary to support your day-to-day life at university. You’ll need to have an undergraduate degree in accounting or finance and an annual household income of under £25,000. Apply now, or email development@kingston.ac.uk to find out more.
Receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in your first year of study. Find out more.
Receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in your first year of study. Find out more.
Get a 15% reduction in tuition fees. Find out more.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full- and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni. Visit our alumni discount page to find out more.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
You’ll need to buy a specific type of calculator, which should cost between £10 and £20.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Please note: If you’re from a country outside the EU or EEA that’s classified as overseas fee-paying, you won’t be eligible to apply for a part-time course because of visa regulations in the UK. For information about exceptions, please visit the UKCISA website or email our CAS and Visa Compliance team.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
During my first phone call to arrange an interview with my present employer, it quickly became apparent that without my Accounting and Finance MSc it was very unlikely that such a large investment bank would respond to my application.
