Alliance Manchester Business School - The University of Manchester
MSc in AccountingManchester, United Kingdom
DURATION
12 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 36,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* UK students per annum: £21,500 | International, including EU, students per annum: £36,000
Key Summary
Introduction
Study for our specialist MSc Accounting course and boost your career prospects by developing an advanced knowledge of accounting theory and practice, and prepare for a leading role in the accountancy profession.
The course will help you develop an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of accounting as well as your critical thinking. You will be introduced to different aspects of accounting research, and provided guidance in conducting the research.
Curriculum
CFA training
We have teamed up with Kaplan Schweser to facilitate student preparation for the CFA exams. Students attending our finance-related Masters - MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance and MSc Quantitative Finance - who perform well in Semester one and show a strong interest in CFA, will get free access to Kaplan's online training materials for CFA Part One.
Kaplan is a global firm offering professional training and helping individuals and organisations obtain financial certifications and designations. They will support our students by giving them access to tuition material, online question banks and progress tests, as well as mock exam runs. They will also offer tutor support and 1-2-1 sessions.
Students enrol in the CFA Program to build a strong foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills. Preparing for the Level I exam is the first step toward earning the Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA) credential, the most respected and recognised investment designation in the world.
Trading BootCamp Week
Each year, Alliance MBS runs a five-day Trading BootCamp for all current students studying MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance, and MSc Quantitative Finance. These trading simulations provide students with an experience of real-world trading and the opportunity to engage with contemporary financial markets, enabling them to apply their classroom theory in practice.
To deliver the Trading BootCamp, the School has teamed up with Amplify Trading to provide those looking to enter the financial industry with a crucial skill-set. Amplify Tradings are a global financial trading and training firm, which offers training to some of the world's largest financial institutions, such as HSBC, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank. They have developed special software that enables students to experience a live trading floor and two experienced traders will deliver the week-long training.
Each day there will be four hours of classes in the morning followed by four hours of trading practice in the afternoon. Engaging in live breaking news, economic data and geopolitical events, students will be able to apply their understanding, technical expertise and risk management practices in trading different asset classes.
This is a fantastic opportunity for accounting and finance students at Alliance MBS and is another way in which we prepare students for successful careers after graduation.
Special features
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.
Coursework and assessment
Assessment is by taught examinations, coursework, assignments, group assessment and presentations and finally by a 60 credit dissertation.
Course units
During the course, you will be taking 180 credits in all. The eight taught units during semesters one and two total 120 credits and consist of both compulsory and optional taught units. Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits.
Summer period
Dissertation (60 credits)
- Apply what you have learned in the taught part of the course.
- Normally consists of a literature review followed by a piece of work based on qualitative or statistical research
Examples of recent accounting and finance dissertation project topics :
- Performance reporting by UK listed firms under IFRS
- Audit practice and professionalization
- Management control systems in organisations
- Field-based qualitative research on management accounting innovation and change
- Audit markets in emerging economies
- Corporate governance and quality of earnings
Program Outcome
Our specialist MSc Accounting course will help you develop an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of accounting as well as your critical thinking. You will be introduced to different aspects of accounting research and provided guidance in conducting the research. You will advance their thinking and debate about contemporary issues in financial reporting, management account, auditing and governance. These skills are not only valued by employers but also prepare students for a research career in academia.
Many of our accounting academics have a close connection with the accountancy profession, allowing you to benefit from these links.
Scholarships and Funding
Funding Opportunities for Master's Degrees
There are a number of Master's funding options for our courses and these will vary depending on whether you’re a student from the UK, or EU, or an international student from outside the EU.
Please note: if you are successful in receiving more than one scholarship award, the total scholarship amount must not exceed 50% of your course tuition fees.
Master's student loan for UK students
If you are a prospective Master's student from the UK there are potential sources of funding available. The UK Government has confirmed that Postgraduate Loans will be offered to UK students starting a master's course in the 2024/25 academic year.
Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme
The Master's Scholarship is offered to students and alumni of The University of Manchester enrolling on one of the Business School's taught master's courses.
BAföG funding
German applicants can apply for BAföG funding in the form of a grant, subsidy, state or bank loan.
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (CSFP) General Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission supports around 750 awards annually at universities around the Commonwealth.
Master's scholarships for Accounting and Finance programmes
We are offering five scholarships across the four Accounting and Finance courses with a value of £10,000 towards the cost of the tuition fee.
Gallery
Accreditations
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities
This course will help to enhance your abilities, skills and knowledge. It will prepare you for a career with top firms in the accountancy profession. In addition, if you have overseas professional accounting qualifications, successful completion of the course can boost your career.
The Finance Zone
The Finance Zone in Alliance Manchester Business School gives you access to one of the UK's most comprehensive collections of specialist financial and business databases that are used by top researchers around the world. These include Bloomberg, Datastream, Thomson ONE, Compustat, WRDS, Capital IQ and many more.