Accounting and Finance MSc
Why choose this course?
This programme provides you with a thorough understanding of fundamental areas of accounting, including financial accounting and reporting, management accounting, corporate finance and financial modelling.
You will develop the in-demand analytical and leadership skills that are required for a successful career in the accounting or finance function across a wide range of sectors and organisations.
Aligned with professional bodies, our modules will equip you with the necessary knowledge to make an immediate impact in the workplace.
| Mode | Duration | Attendance | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 1 year | 1–4 days per week |
January 2025 September 2025 |
| Full time | 2 years including professional placement | 1–4 days per week plus placement year |
January 2025 September 2025 |
| Main Location | Kingston Hill |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- This course is taught by research-active staff and provides cutting-edge knowledge regarding the latest developments in the accounting and finance sector.
- This course is accredited by the ACT and offers exemptions from its professional exams, along with providing entry to the CIMA Master's Gateway. It also covers aspects of the ACCA professional examinations, giving you the opportunity to apply for exemptions.
- Access to a Bloomberg trading room, offering hands-on skills and the opportunity to apply for Bloomberg certification.
- You will gain practical experience, working on real-life cases and financial data platforms, such as Bloomberg and Thomson DataStream Advance.
- Kingston Business School is one of only 5% of the world's business schools to be accredited by AACSB International.
- Free car parking at the Kingston Hill campus is available for students of this course. The campus can also be easily accessed by public transport. Halls accommodation is just a walk away from the classrooms.
About the Department of Accounting, Finance and Informatics
The Department of Accounting, Finance and Informatics delivers high quality degrees in accounting, banking, finance, investment, financial technology, risk management and real estate. Our courses are accredited by professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, ACT, RICS and ICAEW.
We are located on the doorstep of London - one of the world's largest financial hubs - where our partnerships with global organisations give you access to meaningful opportunities. We are one of only a few UK universities to have a Bloomberg Trading Room.
Kingston Business School Accreditations
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 5% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.
At Kingston Business School we lead
Accreditation
Association of Corporate Treasurers
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.
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
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.
Specialist careers support
You will take part in an Assessment Centre Experience, providing the opportunity to experience the pathway to employment with tailored feedback to help develop your employability skills for the world of graduate employment.
- Develop your understanding of the jobs market, including current trends and opportunities, different recruitment processes and how to identify relevant roles
- Receive personalised feedback reports to help you to improve and progress
- Access additional webinars on top tips, employer expectations and best practice
What our graduates say
What you will study
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 that 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.
Year 1
Year 2 (optional)
Core modules
Management Accounting
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.
Financial Accounting and Reporting
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.
Corporate Finance
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.
Financial Modelling and Data Analytics
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.
Financial Statement Analysis
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.
Dissertation and Research Methods
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)
International Money and Finance
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.
Market-based Accounting
15 credits
Market-based accounting deals with the interrelationship between capital markets and accounting information. This module familiarises students with important issues in empirical accounting research and applies the concepts underlying accounting and finance, as applicable in capital market settings. The module builds on the knowledge gained in both ‘Financial Accounting' and ‘Corporate Finance' and provides skills necessary in both the accounting and finance profession.
Auditing and Control
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.
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
Professional Placement
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.
Please note
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.
Kingston Business School: be who you want to be
After you graduate
This course can help lead to careers in financial services, corporate finance, treasury or banking sectors. Typical roles may include accountant, trader, financial analyst, investment banker, portfolio/fund manager and other finance positions.
Recent graduates work in Moody's Analytics (UK), the NHS (UK), Accenture (Netherlands) and Bank of America Merrill Lynch (UK).
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Who teaches this course
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on this course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. The following group of staff members are currently involved in the delivery of different elements of this course. This pool is subject to change at any time within the academic year.
Fees for this course
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs not covered by tuition fees. Students will need to consider these costs when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
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. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
