Master of Science in Accounting and Finance
Southampton, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
GBP 36,300 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU and international students pay
Key Summary
About: This MSc in Accounting and Finance at The University of Southampton covers auditing, corporate governance and tax, with a focus on international accounting and taxation. You’ll apply technical accounting and finance methods to real cases, use Bloomberg terminals and research databases, hear guest lectures, and choose electives in reporting, governance or sustainability. The university offers merit and competitive scholarships to help fund studies.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move into auditing, tax advisory, corporate finance, investment analysis and international accounting. The program builds skills in financial markets, mergers and acquisitions, auditing, governance and sustainability reporting, preparing you for roles at firms, banks, regulators and consultancies.
This Master of Science in Accounting and Finance is designed to make you an expert in auditing, corporate governance, and tax. What makes this program distinctive is its rare focus on international accounting and taxation, where you'll learn how a country's social, economic, legal, and political environment shapes its tax regulations and impacts company behaviour. Throughout the course, you'll evaluate and apply core technical accounting and finance methods to real-world situations, gaining detailed understanding of global financial markets and accounting systems. You'll have access to Bloomberg terminals for live financial data and key databases for research. Your studies cover equity markets, investment decisions, management and financial accounting, mergers and acquisitions, internal and external auditing, and behaviour. Beyond core content, you can choose from emerging areas like corporate governance, which provides insight into high-profile corporate collapses and financial crises, plus reporting and markets or sustainability accounting. Specialists give regular guest lectures sharing current research and industry insights, giving you genuine networking opportunities and enhancing your career prospects.
Full-time 1-year course divided into 3 semesters with exams in January and May. Taught modules delivered in semesters 1 and 2. Semester 2 includes research methods module supporting dissertation research proposal. Semester 3 dedicated to dissertation. Core modules include: Contemporary Issues in Financial Accounting (building on financial accounting theory nationally and internationally) and Equity Markets (practical knowledge of equity markets). Additional study options include corporate governance, reporting and markets, and sustainability accounting. Guest lectures from specialists provide insights into current research and industry issues. Precise modules may vary based on staff availability, research interests, new topics, timetabling, and student demand.
What graduates are qualified to do
Graduates are prepared for a variety of careers in accountancy and other sectors. You'll become an expert in auditing, corporate governance, and tax with understanding of international accounting systems. You'll be equipped to evaluate and apply technical accounting and finance methods to real-world situations and understand global financial markets. The program develops your ability to understand corporate governance issues, financial crisis dynamics, sustainability accounting, and reporting/markets analysis.
Career paths and typical employers
Careers in accountancy and related sectors. The program prepares you for roles involving auditing, corporate governance, tax advisory, international accounting, investment analysis, and corporate finance.
This program is ideal if you have studied accounting, business, mathematics, or economics. It's also suitable if you have relevant professional experience in accounting and want to improve your career opportunities. The program welcomes those with ACCA, ACA, or CIMA qualifications (assessed case by case) and considers accounting work experience as compensation for unrelated degree subjects or lower grades. You should be interested in gaining expertise in auditing, corporate governance, international taxation, and financial markets.
On-campus at Highfield campus, University of Southampton. Full-time delivery across 3 semesters (September to September). Teaching combines lectures, research methods instruction, and access to Bloomberg terminals and key databases. Guest lectures from specialists and industry practitioners. Dedicated business study spaces available for independent and group study, including MBA suite.