Accounting and Financial Management

The MSc Accounting and Financial Management consists of the following:

• Ten compulsory modules (150 credits total)
• One compulsory Capstone Project (30 credits)

Individual modules will be available to study on a stand-alone basis (subject to module availability).

View Modules

• Download the Programme Specification
• View the Programme Regulations
• View module release and running dates

This programme has two intake dates per year: April and October.

You will explore and apply principles and ideas within accounting and finance scenarios to understand and resolve issues in financial reporting and financial management within an organisation.

The programme uses Icarus, an award-winning simulation developed by UCL School of Management academics, as an experiential learning tool in the Capstone project to analyse and explore a wide range of strategic challenges including pricing, infrastructure investment, and human resource matters.

There is no assumption that you have taken a finance/accounting degree at bachelor’s level. Each module involving quantitative elements ‘starts from scratch’.

This programme is currently not supported by any Recognised Teaching Centres. Check this page for further updates.

Online support

The programme is delivered online and there is no requirement to come to the UK as part of your studies. Our flexible online programme allows you to work around your own schedule and leads to a globally-recognised qualification.

When you register, we will give you access to the Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and other key resources including:

• The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which offers online learning support, access to the student café and discussion areas, and other study materials.
• Module subject guides for each module studied; these introduce and develop the topics.
• The Online Library provides access to over 100 million academic electronic items comprising E-books, E-journals, conference proceedings etc. In addition, students can request items which are not held in the library via the library's Inter-Library loans service with the British Library. All registered students have free access to the University of London’s Online Library.
• Senate House Library provides free reference access for all registered distance and flexible learning students.

Tutor support

All students receive tutor support and feedback while studying this programme. Tutors introduce the modules, respond to queries, monitor discussions and provide guidance on assessments.

Web-supported learning: if you register for a module as a web-supported learner, you join an online tutor group. If you register in this way, you pay the web supported learner fee.

Teaching centre supported learning: if you enrol for a module with a local teaching centre, you receive face-to-face tuition. If you enrol for tuition with a teaching centre, you pay the institution-supported fee to the University plus an additional tuition fee to the teaching centre.

Study materials

All essential resources, activities, videos, discussions and support are provided through the VLE. This allows you to fit your studies around your work commitments. There is no need to purchase additional textbooks. 

Time commitment

The flexible approach to learning allows students to complete the MSc in a minimum of one and a half years (subject to module availability) to a maximum of five years.

You can study at your own pace, either part-time or full-time, adjusting the intensity of learning to suit your needs, however assessment deadlines will need to be adhered to. 

Student support

We are committed to delivering an exceptional student experience for all of our students, regardless of which of our programmes you are studying and whether you are studying independently or with a Recognised Teaching Centre.

You will have access to support through:

• The Student Advice Centre – provides support for application and Student Portal queries.
• TalkCampus – a peer support service that offers a safe and confidential way to talk about whatever is on your mind at any time of day or night.
• Student Relationship Managers - a team of Student Relationship Managers (SRMs) are here to support and advise you throughout your studies. They aim to ensure that you are fully up-to-date with important and useful information about how best to complete your studies.

Assessment

Each module is run over a 10-week block, with the exception of the Capstone project which is run over two sequential 10-week blocks.

The following modules are assessed by two assessments: a mid-term online test (25%) and an end of term coursework assessment (75%):

• Financial Accounting Frameworks (FAF)
• Management Accounting Frameworks (MAF)
• Financial Management Essentials (FME)
• Advanced Financial Analysis (AFA)
• Advanced Management Accounting (AMA)

The following modules are assessed by one coursework assessment (100%):

• Global Issues in Finance and Accounting (GIFA)
• Corporate Governance, Audit and Assurance (CGAA)
• Analysing Risk for Decision Making (ARDM)
• Issues in Investment Management (IIM)
• Capital Markets and Global Perspectives (CMGP)

The Capstone project is assessed by two assessments: a research proposal (30%) and a project (70%).

Where a module has more than one element of assessment, the overall grade awarded will be based on both elements of assessment. Students will be required to pass the module with a weighted average of 50%.

All coursework items are submitted through the VLE.

What qualifications do you need?

To qualify to register for the MSc you will need a bachelor degree which is considered at least comparable to a UK upper second class honours degree from an institution acceptable to the University. 

English language requirements

You  need a high standard of English to study this programme. You will meet our language requirements if you have achieved one of the following within the past three years:

• IELTS: at least 6.5 overall with 6.0 in the written test
• Pearson Test (Academic): at least 59 overall, with 59+ in reading and writing and 54+ in speaking and listening.
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (grade C or above).
• TOEFL iBT: at least 92 overall, with 22+ in reading and writing and 20+ in speaking and listening.
• If you do not meet the English language proficiency requirements but believe that you can demonstrate the requisite proficiency, the University may, at its discretion, consider your application.

Computer requirements

We set minimum basic computer requirements because your study resources are accessed via the Student Portal and it is vital that you can access this regularly.

More about computer requirements

For the Capstone Project, students will need one of the following supported platforms:

• Mobile platforms of iOS, Android and Windows 10 support:  
  • iOS support OS version 8+ (free download available)
  •  Android support API level 19+ Version 4.4 - 4.4.4 
  •  Windows 10 UWP version

And:

• Icarus (Professional Accountancy) App (latest version)

Other specialised software may be made available by the University if required.

Important: the table below does not include fees payable to a third party, such as tuition costs payable to a Recognised Teaching Centre or fees charged by your local examination centre, or local VAT, Goods or Services Tax (GST) or sales tax.

The 2022-2023 Programme fees are effective from 27 June 2022 and refer to the October 2022, Jan 2023, April 2023 and July 2023 sessions, except for the Application Fee which refers only to the two intake sessions in October 2022 and April 2023.

The fees depend on whether you live in a developing (Band A) or developed (Band B) nation. See the list of Band A and B countries [PDF]

Disclaimer: Currency conversion tool.

More about programme fees.

*The indicative totals given represent the amount you would expect to pay if you were to complete the MSc degree in the minimum period of time (as per when modules become available), without resits, and with a year-on-year increase of 5%. These totals do not reflect the cost of any additional tuition support you may choose to take, resits, or applications for Recognition of Prior Learning.

Additional Costs

You will also need to budget for:

• Textbooks (could extend to around £300 per year)
• Exam centre fees, which are paid directly to the venues where you sit your exams
• Tuition costs if you study at a Recognised Teaching Centre.

How to pay your fees.

Please note: all student fees shown are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students resident in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.

Further information on Sales Tax.

Your payment provider may apply additional transaction fees. (If in doubt, please check with them before making a payment.)

Further information about fee payment options can be found in the “How to pay your fees” link above.

This programme is appropriate for those wishing to develop their knowledge of and exposure to technical elements of accounting and financial management and their applications within corporate life, from both operational and strategic perspectives.

You will develop an understanding of the areas that finance managers would encounter on a daily basis, complemented by engagements with selected specialist issues. 

In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register.

This University of London degree has been developed by and is delivered with academic direction from UCL. UCL is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, ranked 10th in the world in the 2021 QS rankings.

The programme draws on the expertise of the School of Management team at UCL who have designed and delivered a range of accounting, finance, and management related courses, both on campus and online.

Programme Director 

Barry McCarthy is an Associate Professor in Accounting within the School of Management and holds degrees from the University of Essex and London Guildhall University, specialising within both degrees in Accounting, Financial Management and Performance Management.

Over a number of years, he has developed, organised, advised and lectured on courses in the areas of accounting, finance and business management at a number of UK HE Institutions including Birkbeck (University of London), London South Bank University, the Open University and the University of Hertfordshire. 

A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy he has worked closely with various professional accountancy bodies in developing vocational focused courses. With over 15 years’ experience as a management consultant in the financial services industry he has expertise in working with individuals, start-ups and SME’s to optimise business efficiency, strategic business relationships, and drive significant business growth. 

He is editor/author of two Pearson Custom textbooks and actively engages in international scholarly activity within the fields of cognitive mapping to develop visual financial decision-making tools for SME’s, performance management in the public sector and the visual analysis and interpretation of financial reports.

Without the cost of moving to London, studying for your University of London degree anywhere in the world represents excellent value for money. However, there are additional sources of support depending on where you live and how you choose to study.

More on funding your study