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Accounting & Sustainability (MSc) (2025 Entry)

Acounting and Sustainability students at the University of Warwick

Postgraduate Taught

Find out more about our Accounting & Sustainability taught Master's degree at Warwick

Nurture your skills to develop your career and become part of the change you want to see with our new MSc Accounting & Sustainability.

Discover more.Link opens in a new window


Course overview

Engage with the transformative power of accounting and professional expertise. Give yourself the edge in a rapidly developing job market as the world of business works to confront the grand challenges of sustainable development. 

Whether the intrinsically linked subject areas of accounting and sustainability are familiar or new to you, this course offers you the platform to progress your expertise.

With governments and accounting bodies defining sustainability accounting standards, expertise in this area is increasingly expected by employers in financial services and related industries, but not limited to them. New roles such as chief sustainability officer are evolving across the business world and in the public sector.

The ability to account for social and environmental change figures prominently in cost-benefit analyses, the procurement of services and contracting-out, and long-term investment in infrastructures. As organisations are seeking resilience in turbulent times, they need to combine business acumen with sustainability, and decision-makers require the best available information on both counts.
 
This course has been carefully constructed to equip you with the skills, knowledge and practical experience to step straight into the professional sphere, and start making a positive impact.

Key benefits

  • Utilise dedicated careers coaching by Accounting specialists
  • Develop skills to equip you for the growing ESG job market
  • Choose between a dissertation, internship or Business in Practice
  • Recognised as an ICAEW Partner in Learning, working with ICAEW in the professional development of students.

Learn more via the WBS websiteLink opens in a new window.

Download our Master's brochure.Link opens in a new window


General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

  • 2.1 achieved at Undergraduate level
  • We do not require a GMAT or GRE score, this will not be considered as part of your application or affect your outcome.

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

Core Modules

  • Analysing Value Creation
  • Sustainability Reporting
  • Management Information and Responsible Decision Making
  • Governance and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Professional Ethics and Assurance
  • Grand Challenges, Accountability, and Professional Expertise
  • Data Analytics
  • Dissertation or self-sourced Internship or Business in Practice.

Optional modules

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

  • Business Analytics for Managers
  • Entrepreneurship and Business Venturing
  • Project Management
  • Financial Accounting: Theory and Context
  • Forecasting for Decision Makers
  • Global Challenges in Management and Sustainability
  • Alternative Investments.

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

Teaching

To complete your degree, you will have the option to choose between the Dissertation or self-sourced Internship, or Business in Practice:

Dissertation route 

This dissertation route offers the opportunity to synthesise, apply and extend your knowledge gained during the course, with a 6,000 word final dissertation.

Internship route 

You can organise a self-sourced internship over 6 to 12 weeks, after all other modules are completed. You'll conduct a critical evaluation of your experience during your placement, reflecting on challenges, development and skill acquisition.

Business in Practice route 

If you would like to develop further applied skills and specialist knowledge to suit your career aspirations, you can complete your studies with our applied Business in Practice module. You will develop deep functional and industry expertise with practical insights from our faculty and industry experts.


Typical contact hours

Students on this MSc will typically receive between 27 and 30 contact hours per module, via a mixture of virtual and in-person support.


Assessment

Assessment on the course will be comprised of a mix of exams, individual and group work, and tests.


Your timetable

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


Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

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.

Discover our graduate destinations brochure here.

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.

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.

MSc Finance

  • 6th in the UK and 21th in the world - Financial Times Masters in Finance Pre-experience Ranking 2024
  • 4th in the UK and 19th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2025

MSc Management

  • 3rd in the UK and 28th in the world - Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2024
  • 4th in the UK and 18th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2025

MSc Marketing & Strategy

  • 2nd in the UK and 9th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

MSc Business Analytics

  • 3rd in the UK and 17th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2025

MBA

  • 2nd in the UK and 3rd in the world - Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2024
  • 4th in the UK and 30th in the world - Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2024

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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.

Find your taught 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.


Department specific funding and support

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

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

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2025 opens on 2 October 2024.

Applications will close on 2 August 2025 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

Join a live chat

Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

  • Warwick hosted events
  • Postgraduate Fairs
  • Live chats
  • Talk and Tours
  • Department events

Warwick Hosted EventsLink opens in a new window

Our hosted events run throughout the year, with a mixture of virtual and in-person sessions. These events are a great way to learn more about our courses and departments, chat to current students and staff, and find out more information about accommodation, careers, and how to apply.

Postgraduate Fairs

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

Live chats

Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.