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Accounting and Finance (MSc) (2023 Entry)

Accounting and Finance students at the University of Warwick

Explore our Accounting and Finance taught Master's degree.

On our Accounting and Finance MSc you will explore current theories and cutting-edge techniques. Warwick Business School, ranked 6th most targeted University by top employers (The Graduate Market in 2022 Report), offers you specialist guidance as you explore how accounting and reporting decisions affect markets and companies.


Course overview

Enhance and develop your background in accounting, while exploring theories and cutting-edge techniques in finance on our MSc Accounting and Finance course.

Study accounting in its wider social context and examine how accounting and reporting decisions affect markets and companies. The course is designed to give you all the accounting and finance tools needed to step into a wide range of financial and accounting careers in an international environment.

Skills from this degree

  • Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful accounting or finance professional
  • Develop your industry acumen by accessing our CareersPlus service with specialist careers coaches
  • Become a specialist via your elective modules

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

First Class Honours degree or a high 2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.


Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

  • Financial Markets
  • Corporate Financial Management
  • Financial Reporting and Financial Statement Analysis
  • Management Accounting and Control
  • Financial Accounting: Theory and Context
  • Research Methods in Accounting
  • Dissertation

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

  • Derivate Securities
  • Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting
  • Judgement and Decision Making
  • Financial Risk Management
  • Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Control
  • Auditing and Assurance

Read the module descriptions for this course on the Warwick Business School website.Link opens in a new window

Teaching

You will study six compulsory modules and two optional modules of your choice, one of which must be from Accounting. Finance modules are taken from our very successful MSc in Finance – one of the UK’s top finance courses, as ranked by the Financial Times’ Masters in Finance Pre-experience Ranking 2022.


Class sizes

The class size for this course is around 60 students.


Typical contact hours

Students on this MSc will typically receive between 26 and 30 contact hours per module in the form of lecture, seminars, and lab sessions.


Assessment

Assessment is a mix of exams and coursework with your 12,000 word dissertation bringing all your learning together at the end.

Your dissertation

A 12,000 word dissertation gives you the opportunity to develop, test, practice and apply the techniques and theories you have gained through your studies. You will be supervised and supported throughout by one of our academic staff or teaching associates and will usually submit your dissertation in early September.


Reading lists

Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web pageLink opens in a new window.


Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

There may be events taking place in the evenings. Classes may run up to 7pm and other events, such as careers presentations may take place later or on weekends. Occasionally, classes and exams may be held on weekends. We will notify you in advance if this is the case.

This is a full-time course, so there are no holidays as such. However, the two weeks covering Christmas and New Year are guaranteed to be free from lectures. There may also be weeks free over the Easter period (check with your programme team). Resit exams may take place outside of standard teaching periods.

Your career

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including:

  • Accenture
  • Amazon
  • Arup
  • BAE Systems
  • BNP Paribas
  • CitiBank
  • Deloitte
  • Delphi
  • European Central Bank
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • IBM
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Nielsen
  • Rolls-Royce
  • Shell
  • UBS
  • Unilever

They have pursued roles such as:

  • Management Consultants
  • Actuaries
  • Business and financial project management professionals
  • Chief executives and senior officials
  • Economists, estimators, valuers and assessors
  • Finance and investment analysts and advisers
  • Investment/merchant bankers
  • Taxation experts

Helping you find the right career

We have our own dedicated careers team at Warwick Business School called WBS CareersPlus. You will have access to one-to-one career guidance appointments, CV checks and tailored mock interviews.

Personalised support

The WBS CareersPlus team will support you and help you to understand yourself and your strengths. They can help you to identify possible career paths, and to set and achieve your career ambitions. This helps to boost your employability and helps you prepare for your career.

You can take advantage of personalised careers coaching and advice. Our one to one careers appointments can help you if you have a question about writing applications, wish to explore your career options, or need to prepare for interviews and assessment centres.

Warwick Business School

If you’re interested in the bigger picture, comfortable challenging assumptions and want a degree that will open doors, then WBS is the place for you. We will give you the foundation for change and prepare you for your future career. Are you ready to make your mark in the world of business?

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window

The vision of WBS is to be Europe’s leading University-based Business School, developing transformational ideas and people that shape how we do business. We recognise that rankings are one way to profile our progress towards fulfilling this vision, and are proud to participate in the major global business education rankings.

QS Business Master's Rankings 2022

  • Master's in Business Analytics – 12th in the world, 3rd in the UK
  • Master's in Marketing – 7th in the world, 2nd in the UK
  • Master's in Management – 19th in the world, 4th in the UK
  • Master's in Finance – 20th in the world, 6th in the UK

Financial Times Master's in Management Ranking 2021

  • 15th in the world, 3rd in the UK

Financial Times Master's in Finance Ranking 2022

  • 12th in the world, 3rd in the UK

Financial Times’ Online MBA ranking 2022

  • 1st in the world for our Distance Learning MBA

Economist/Which? MBA 2022

  • 1st in the UK for our Full-time MBA

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

MSc courses

MBA

Executive Diplomas

Our Postgraduate Research courses

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Taught course fees  Research course fees


Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Taught course applications

Here is our checklist on how to apply for taught postgraduate courses at Warwick.

Research course applications

Here is our checklist on how to apply for research postgraduate degrees at the University of Warwick.

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

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Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Our Postgraduate Virtual Open Day will help you find out more about your course of interest, as well as general topics like applying to Warwick, accommodation, careers and funding.
Please register your interest to be the first to hear when booking opens.

Postgraduate fairs

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in the UK. These events give you the chance to learn about our Master's and PhD study routes, and the wider context of postgraduate study.

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Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

See our online departmental events

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