Alliance Manchester Business School - The University of Manchester
MSc in Accounting and Finance
Manchester, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
04 Jul 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
GBP 37,800 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available
** UK students per annum: £22,600| International, including EU, students per annum: £37,800
Key Summary
About: The MSc in Accounting and Finance at Alliance Manchester Business School prepares you in accounting, finance and research methods. It's recognized by the Economic and Social Research Council as postgraduate preparation for a PhD and holds partnership status with the CFA Institute. It covers accounting practice, corporate finance, financial markets and quantitative methods and suits students aiming for doctoral study or professional roles in accounting and financial services.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move into accounting, investment banking, asset management, financial analysis, corporate finance, consulting and academic research roles. Many work in the City, financial sector firms or pursue a PhD.
Develop advanced accounting and finance expertise for careers in financial services, research and related sectors.
- Build a high-level understanding of accounting and finance theory and practice for careers in accounting, financial services or related sectors.
- Study in Manchester on a course linked to The Manchester Accounting and Finance Group, one of Europe’s leading accounting and finance units.
- Benefit from CFA Institute Affiliate and ESRC status, with an accelerated route to CIMA on successful completion.
- Study at a business school ranked 7th in the UK and 26th in the world for Finance Masters courses (QS Business Masters Rankings 2026).
Special Features
Apply your learning to real strategic challenges
Choose between an academic dissertation or a supervised client consultancy project for your 60-credit capstone. The consultancy route gives you the opportunity to apply theory to real-world strategic issues through group work and individual reflective analysis, subject to your academic performance in Semester 1.
Build the skills employers value
The course is designed to strengthen your analytical, technical, digital and communication skills. You will develop the ability to diagnose business problems, interpret organisational challenges and present evidence-based recommendations with clarity and confidence.
Shape your learning around your career goals
In Semester 2, you will study one core module and three electives, with the option to take one module from another Alliance MBS MSc programme, subject to approval. This gives you flexibility to align your learning with your professional interests
Develop consultancy and strategic management capability
The programme combines strategic management, organisational behaviour, business analysis and practical application. You will explore how organisations design structures, develop capabilities and respond to complex international business issues.
Study a highly ranked course
This course is ranked 5th in the UK and 24th globally in the QS Business Masters Rankings 2026.
Original Thinking for the Next Generation
Thinking about master’s study? Join our webinar series to hear from academics, employers and alumni about the value of business education at Alliance Manchester Business School, the skills students develop, and how these can support future career goals.
Course units details
You will study a total of 180 credits during the course. The eight taught units during semester one and two total 120 credits and consist of both compulsory and optional taught units.
- BMAN70232 Advanced Management Accounting; or
- BMAN72912 Corporate Governance
must be selected as a mandatory course.
Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits
For an up-to-date list of modules, please visit the 'Course Details' section of the course page.
Coursework and assessment
Assessment is by taught examinations, coursework, assignments, group assessment and presentations and finally by a 60 credit dissertation.
Worshipful Company of International Bankers Affiliation
Our accounting and finance division courses are now affiliated with the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (WCIB). This means that every year the best dissertation out of the following four courses will receive the WCIB prize worth £300.
- MSc Accounting
- MSc Accounting and Finance
- MSc Finance
- MSc Quantitative Finance
The winner will also enter the competition for the prestigious WCIB Lombard Prize.
Ranked 7th in the UK and 26th in the world for Finance master's courses (QS Business Masters Rankings 2026).
- Offers a range of course units that allow you to specialise.
- Provides in-depth knowledge of the core subject areas.
- Creates opportunities for you to develop and apply professional skills.
- Emphasises accounting and finance theories, practices and research methods.
- Prepares you for a professional career or progression to a PhD.
Funding Opportunities for Master's Degrees
Please see our up to date funding information below. On this page, you can find funding options for UK and international students. There are also several external awards that you can apply for directly.
For more about the graduate outcomes of this course, please see the Careers Information document.
The course provides suitable training for those who wish to take up specialist positions in the accounting and financial services sector of the economy or those who wish to subsequently pursue a research and/or an academic career via a PhD in Accounting and Finance. Many students go on to work in the financial sector either in the City or across other sectors.
This course is a 12 month full-time course, based in Manchester. All our MSc courses are taught in Manchester only; they are not available to study online.