(MSc) Master of Science
Accounting and Finance
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time or part-time
None
None
None
MSC N42024
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.
Admission criteria
A 2:2 degree in any discipline. Your degree must include one module in Financial Accounting, and one module in Management Accounting.
A professional qualification such as ACCA, CIMA or any other Professional accounting qualification recognised by IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) may compensate for the absence of an academic degree equivalent. To see if your professional qualification is recognised, click here: IFAC website
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
Please refer to the full time version of this course for information on Core and Compulsory modules.
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
- To provide students with the opportunity to broaden and deepen their knowledge of advanced concepts in accounting and finance.
- To provide students with the opportunity to analyse the role of accounting information and financial data in a business environment.
- To equip students with a knowledge of advanced research methodologies covering quantitative or qualitative approaches to empirical research.
- To provide students with the advanced knowledge and skills to enable them to proceed to independent, self-directed research.
- To develop students' critical and analytical skills, which will prepare them for employment in a managerial capacity in a business environment or for employment in an education environment.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: The role and nature of accounting theories and practices and financial reporting information in businesses in national and international contexts;
A2: The role and nature of management accounting information and accounting practices in businesses located in various settings
A3: Competing perspectives and associated empirical evidence relating to accounting data and corporate finance issues
A4: Epistemological and social scientific influences and interpretations of accounting and finance.
A5: An in-depth understanding of, the various research methodologies available to investigate accounting and finance issues in business organizations, and the influences of these methods on the understandings generate
A6: In-depth understanding of particular areas in which the student has chosen to specialize
Learning methods
Outcomes A1-A6 are acquired through lectures, seminars, group and individual tasks, and directed independent study.
The development of the dissertation in consultation with a supervisor provides an additional opportunity for achieving learning outcomes A1-A6.
Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understandings to facilitate students exploration the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of accounting and finance related issues, while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach.
Directed independent study and reading, along with individual and group tasks, enable the further exploration of the relevant areas Students are expected to extend and enhance the knowledge and understanding they acquire from lectures and classes by regularly consulting library materials relating to course.
Assessment methods
Informal: Outcomes A1-A6 are informally assessed via group work and oral presentations.
The associated informal feedback provided enable students to explore and enhance their understandings, and develop presentation skills Formal: Outcomes A1-A6 are formally assessed via unseen written examinations and coursework assignments
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Capacity to appraise theoretical ideas.
B2: Assimilate and synthesise advanced theories and concepts from a variety of relevant frameworks.
B3: Formulate logical and coherent arguments.
B4: Interpret and critically evaluate empirical evidence.
B5: Plan and undertake a substantial piece of independent research.
Learning methods
Skills B1-B4 are acquired and enhanced primarily through directed independent study, reading, group and individual tasks given for their courses, although lectures and seminars provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Students' independent study and preparation for tasks involves the reading, interpretation and critical evaluation of relevant accounting and finance theories and the analysis of empirical evidence.
Lecturers provide necessary feedback on student work.
Lecturers also engage students outside the classroom through office hours, appointments and email communication.
Skill B5 is acquired through the work that students do for the dissertation.
The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills B1-B4
Assessment methods
Informal: Skills B1-B4 are informally assessed via group work and oral presentations.
The associated informal feedback provided enables students to explore and enhance their understandings and develop presentation skills Formal: Skills B1-B4 are formally assessed via unseen written examinations and coursework assignments.
The MSc Dissertation provides a further opportunity to assess skills B1-B4 Skills B5 is assessed through dissertation
C: Practical skills
C1: Analyse and evaluate financial statement information and financial data
C2: Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different approaches to cost and management information
C3: Access and retrieve information from a variety of primary and secondary sources.
C4: Research and written presentation skills
C5: Plan and undertake independent research
Learning methods
Skills C1-C5 are acquired and enhanced primarily through the work that students do for their courses, although lectures provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Skill C5 is further acquired through the work that students do for the dissertation.
The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills C1-C4
Assessment methods
Informal: Skills C1-C4 are informally assessed through group work and oral presentations along with the associated informal feedback.
This further enable students to explore and enhance their understandings, and develop research and presentation skills Formal: Skills C1-C4 are formally assessed via unseen written examinations and coursework assignments.
These facilitate the demonstration of knowledge of the relevant theories of accounting and finance and of a critical and reflexive approach to empirical evidence.
Skill C5 is assessed through the dissertation and course work
D: Key skills
D1: Communicate ideas and arguments in a coherent and effective manner.
D2: Use information technology, such as word processing, databases, the web and econometric packages, to download and analyse financial and economic data.
D3: Manipulate numerical data and apply appropriate statistical or econometric techniques
D4: Problem-solving and analytical skills
D5: Time management, task prioritisation and working to deadlines.
Learning methods
Verbal communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through group tasks involving oral presentation and group discussion in the lecture.
Written communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through small group project reports and individual tasks.
IT skills (D2) are developed as individual tasks require extensive research involving web-based material, internet and various electronic medias.
Problem solving and Numeracy skills (D3-D4) are developed principally through specific problem based exercise and project given to the students.
Planning and organisation, enterprise and resourcefulness (D5) are essential to any learning process dependent on independent study and to some extent individual advice from teachers.
These skills are further developed as students pursue the learning activities associated with their courses
Assessment methods
The assessment of the majority of key transferable skills forms an integral part of the overall assessment of the accounting degree schemes; however the approach to assessment varies.
Written communication skills, problem solving, numeracy and IT skills are assessed directly throughout the degree programme.
Personal skills are assessed through coursework.
Verbal communication skills are not formally assessed although feedback on communication skills forms part of the formative feedback provided on small group tutorial presentations