Finance and Accounting MSc drafted

Program Overview

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This MSc program in Finance and Accounting is designed to equip students to become critical members of an organization's core management team, develop a strong core knowledge of accounting and financial modelling frameworks, explore the operation of markets, major participants, and the regulatory environment, and build a firm understanding of corporate finance, basic accounting, and financial analysis.

Program Outline

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What you’ll study

At NBS you can create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique Masters degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want. Each of the modules will be delivered over a four week period, with teaching delivered in three weeks and the fourth week left clear for assessment work. This enables you to focus on one subject at a time, whilst allowing time for preparation and assessment work.

Modules

Placement Opportunities

Professional Development

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Semester One

Global Financial Markets (20 credits)

This module considers the key aspects of financial management of corporations in a multinational environment. This module deepens the analysis of the major markets, participants and instruments in a global context. This provides you with a detailed understanding of key finance theories and an opportunity to apply these theories to further develop your skills or critical analysis.

Financial Statement Analysis (20 credits)

The aim of financial statement analysis is to aid decision making processes, in an ethically acceptable manner, of internal and external stakeholders that ensures sustainability of organisational development. This module develops students’ critical understanding of financial reporting and ethical and sustainable issues through in depth application and evaluation of a range of analytical techniques and theoretical bases.

Corporate Finance (20 credits)

This module is designed to give you a deeper knowledge of theory and practice in the key aspects of corporate finance, and allows you to explore how various aspects of corporate finance are interrelated. You will assess the impact of financial decisions with respect to investments, financing and the management of risk and develop skills in critical analysis and evaluation.

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Semester Two

Strategic Management Accounting (20 credits)

This module introduces the main concepts and techniques employed by management accountants, and how management accounting fits within the context of the accounting field and in the work place.

Comparative Corporate Reporting (20 credits)

The aim of this module is to develop students’ critical understanding of corporate reporting in the United Kingdom and the United States of America and compare these with the approaches in alternative countries. Focus will be placed on the underpinning drivers and framework which demonstrate the importance of corporate reporting and students will be required to consider country’s cultural, societal and institutional pressures drive development in corporate reporting.

Corporate Governance and Accountability (20 credits)

Corporate governance has become one of the most debated topics around the world driven mainly by the many instances of corporate frauds and failures, scandals, excessive compensation and financial crises. Many of these failures, scandals and crises have been blamed on weaknesses in corporate governance. The aim of this module is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the theory and practice of corporate governance and its role in the management of the modern organisation.

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Semester Three

In your final semester you'll take on a major project, giving you a fantastic opportunity to use the theories and knowledge you've gained to produce a challenging, meaningful piece of work. Projects include:

Consultancy Experience Project (40 credits)

Working as part of a team, you'll undertake focused research, developing your professional skills, managing a complex project and delivering results in a real business situation. You'll present your findings to the client and learn valuable project management tools and concepts.

In-Company Experience Project (40 credits)

On an in-company experience project of seven weeks or more, you'll apply the theories you've learnt to a substantial, live project. This will involve focused research, developing skills, managing a complex project and delivering results in a real business situation. You'll also learn project management tools and concepts.

Business Research Project (40 credits)

This project is a more traditional piece of independent research, creating an academic research paper, presentation and methodological reflection. Because we believe experiential learning is so important, this project is only available to students with significant prior work experience or a desire to progress to a PhD.

For more information about semester three options please visit our Experiential Projects page.

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Ongoing Learning

Throughout the year you will also study the following modules which will help you understand how to manage your own continuous personal and professional development (PPD).

Transformational Leadership Development (10 credits)

Transformational management education is a key focus within NBS, where effective ethical education across all business and management courses is the foundation of our students’ abilities to understand and contribute in meaningful ways towards current and future challenges in the area of sustainable development. The purpose of the module is to increase understanding of how to manage your own continuous personal and professional development in order to enable sustained career success and to be an effective and transformational leader.

Research Methods for Finance and Accounting (10 credits)

The aim of this module is to develop students as effective researchers in different contexts within the economics, finance and accounting subject areas.

Placement Diploma in Industrial Experience (2 year course only)

This module aims to develop your understanding of the business and commercial environment. You will apply relevant prior knowledge and skills in the business environment increasing your commercial awareness. On completion of the module, you will have developed a range of skills and have a practical insight into the world of work and possible career opportunities.

If you opt for the two year route you can add a year’s work placement onto your course. It’s a great way to put your learning into practice and gain valuable real-world experience to help boost your career prospects once graduating.

Your placement year will last up to 48 weeks (minimum 36 weeks). If you are unable to take a full year's placement, but have completed the minimum 36 weeks you can qualify for a Placement Diploma in Industrial Experience. If you undertake a placement, you must take up the Business Research Project in Semester Three.

Please note that

placements are not guaranteed and you will need to work hard in securing one during your first semester

. We have a dedicated Employability team who are here to help and support you during the placement process with CV writing, creating a LinkedIn page, interview tips, where to search for a placement etc. You can visit the Employability team’s page for further information.

Placements are only available for students beginning their studies in September.

Please contact us through Ask NTU if you have any questions about securing placements.

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Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA)

Our MSc Finance and Accounting course has been created in collaboration with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA). The modules are aligned with the institution’s own qualifications, which you can work towards upon completion of your degree. The CFA credential is held by over 150,000 professionals around the world. The charter gives a strong understanding of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills.

Please note this course is not eligible for any CFA Institute exemptions.

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Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

Our MSc Finance course offers a quicker route to the CIMA Professional Qualification and the global professional designation of Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). The CIMA Professional Qualification is recognised worldwide as the most relevant global finance qualification for a career in business.

You will have 10 exemptions from the CIMA modules which means you just need to complete five CIMA exams to complete the CIMA professional qualification starting at the Operational Case Study (OCS). For further information please visit the CIMA exemptions website.

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Careers and employability

At Nottingham Business School, we’re focused on your employability from the start of your postgraduate degree. We provide you with a learning experience that integrates theory and practice.

Graduates from this course have gone onto roles within the public, private and third sector, undertaking positions such as:

Auditor

Head of Anti-Money Laundering

Fund Accountant

Financial Controller

Investment Portfolio Manager

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Employability Team

We have a dedicated Employability Team who not only help you during your time with us but also following graduation, they’ll continue to support you by providing a number of services that will help kick-start your career.

Our Employability Team offer a wide range of support from one-to-one appointments with our specially trained consultants, to arranging recruitment fairs and skill building workshops.

Services they provide include:

Finding placements, internships and part-time work

Helping you to pursue self-employment

Advice on taking gap years and time out

Information and help on getting into volunteering

Providing advice on further study.

As a student you will have access to our virtual learning environment, where you will be able to get in touch with our Employability team for CV support, application, interview and job hunting advice, career ideas and employer videos.

You can visit the Employability Team on your local campus every day during term time. They are also open outside of term time too, except on University closure days. So drop in, say hello, and get help with quick enquiries or book an appointment with a careers consultant from your school.

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Re:search Re:imagined

To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship to behavioural science, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.

Find out more: ntu.ac.uk/research