MSc (Accounting And Finance)

Do you want to be able to speak “the language of business” and understand financial decision making and financial institutions? Do you want to be taught and supervised by leading academics whilst gaining exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional examinations?

If the answer is yes, the MSc in Accounting and Finance in Queen’s Business School is the programme of choice for you.

The programme provides students with an understanding of both the theoretical framework and practical skills necessary to work in a global financial environment.

A range of modules covering financial reporting, finance, management accounting and performance management, research skills and business technologies/analytics will give you the technical skills for the contemporary workplace.

Accounting And Finance Highlights:

• Professional Accreditations
• The programme is accredited by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the global body for professional accountants.
• The programme is also part of the CIMA accelerated route, which will allow students to enter via the CIMA master’s gateway route.
• Students have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals and academics who regularly deliver guest lectures/talks in the Business School.

Course Structure:

The programme offers the opportunity to pursue appropriately advanced studies in both accounting and finance, equipping the students for careers in financial institutions, management consulting, and industry or the public sector.

The modules included in the programme aim to develop capacities of critical assessment of literature and methods, and the ability to communicate, orally and in writing, on topics in accounting and finance.

They provide a stimulating suite of learning activities that introduce students to contemporary theories and practice.

The contents provided during the programme will also be useful to those who wish to pursue PhD studies in accounting and finance.

• Semester 1 (60 CATS)
• - Financial Management
• - Business Technologies and Analytics
• - International Financial Accounting and Reporting
• - Case Studies in Accounting and Financial Management
• Semester 2 (60 CATS)
• - Accounting in Society
• - Management Accounting and Control
• - Research Methods and Techniques
• Plus choose one from:
• Derivatives
• This module develops theoretical and practical knowledge of derivative instruments in financial markets. It introduces typical derivative instruments including futures, forwards, options, etc. It also covers classic derivative pricing models such as the binomial tree model and the Black-Scholes Model.
• International Finance
• This module details the complications and unique characteristics of finance that crosses a border. It covers subjects such as foreign exchange trading, exchange rate systems, and the real economic effects of capital flows.
• Money and Banking
• This module examines the theory of money and banking. The module content considers the main banking and monetary institutions and monetary policy.
• Semester 3 (60 CATS)
• Route 1 – Dissertation
• Traditional Dissertation (100%)
• The aim of the dissertation is to provide students with the skills needed for conducting theoretical and/or empirical research in accounting and finance.
• OR
• Route 2 – Academic Research Project
• Auditing and Accountability (25%)
• This element of the module provides a theoretical and practical understanding of contemporary auditing and accountability issues in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including principles and techniques of auditing.
• Ethics and Governance (25%)
• This element of the module provides an overall understanding of the complex and dynamic relationships between business corporations, their stakeholders (shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, etc.) and the society in which they operate.
• Critical Literature Review (50%)
• This element of the module requires completion of a Critical Literature Review on a chosen/given topic. This will provide students with the skills needed for conducting theoretical and literature-based research in accounting and finance.