Accounting and Finance

Program Overview

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MSc Accounting and Finance

Introduction to our MSc Accounting and Finance

Develop your financial skills and know-how with our comprehensive Masters degree in Accounting and Finance. Take your career to the next level.

Already have an ARU degree? You may be eligible for our Alumni Scholarship for students starting postgraduate courses.

If you want lucrative, wide-ranging opportunities that challenge you, you’re driven and want to understand global financial markets, our Masters has the right balance of everything you need to succeed in the ever-changing, innovative world of accounting and finance.

Here at ARU, through dynamic, active learning-based seminars that underpin your learning experience and encourage collaborative ways of working, we'll help you understand the complexity of the industry while sharing the most up-to-date practices to develop your skill set.

You’ll also get instant access to our Bloomberg Financial Market Lab, where you can learn the trade in a safe, supportive space.

There’s the option to study with us for two years, and gain valuable experience in Year 2, with a choice of professional experience modules.

Why should you study MSc Accounting and Finance at ARU?

As a postgraduate student at ARU in Chelmsford, you’ll learn alongside students from around the world. You’ll find your classmates can offer valuable insights into local financial markets, enriching discussions and giving you valuable insights into different cultures and professional customs.

Our tutors want to see you progress. They encourage an open-door policy to build strong relationships so you can benefit from their industry contacts, building your own local network while you’re studying. Plus, you’ll benefit from real-life business insights with special lectures and seminars from prominent industry speakers.

Studying MSc Accounting and Finance is a great way to develop your career, increase your earning potential and learn more about a subject you love.

Course options

• Full-time course duration: 12 months (September starts), 15 months (January starts)
• 1 year full-time
• 2 years with professional experience
• When do you want your degree to start? January, September
• Where do you want to study? Chelmsford

Key facts

• STUDY OPTIONS: 1 year full-time
• START DATES: January
• LOCATION: Chelmsford
• FEES:
  • £11,100 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
  • £18,600 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

Teaching and assessment

1 year (full-time)

• Whole course

Whole course

Our MSc Accounting and Finance course features five core modules. We start by looking at the ‘three levels’ of international accounting, before turning our attention to international financial markets, with a focus on investment analysis and portfolio management. We also explore corporate finance and financial strategies of organisations in the capital, financial and operational markets.

In our fourth module, you’ll look at the theoretical and practical elements of tax, and provide tax advice or planning to solve issues as well as looking at professional ethics relating to the audit process.

Finally, the Postgraduate Major Project gives you the freedom to conduct your own research project on a subject of your interest. With supervision and using suitable research methods, you’ll conduct literature reviews, process and analyse data, and produce a solution to the problem/s you identified.

Modules are subject to change and availability.

We’ll assess your progress in a number of ways, mainly through informal question and answer sessions. You can also expect individual and group presentations, management reports, exams, presentation or written analysis of case studies, and assignments.

Our assessment strategy is linked closely to your employability. You'll develop skills that can be transferred to the professional environment such as team work, communication and presentation skills, and the ability to work under pressure.

Core modules

• International Financial Markets and Investment
• International Accounting
• Applied Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy
• UK Taxation and Auditing
• Postgraduate Major Project

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements

• Normally a minimum of 2:2 bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance OR Business-related discipline plus accounting and finance conversion course OR Another discipline plus accounting and finance conversion course
• If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 ( Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

Fees and paying for university

Tuition fees for UK students (2025/26)

• £11,100 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

ARU graduates may be eligible for an Alumni Scholarship and get a 20% fee discount.

Fees are payable upfront, in full or in instalments, but there's no need to pay until you've accepted an offer to study with us. Find out more about paying your fees and about postgraduate loans and funding.

Tuition fees for international students (2025/26)

• £18,600 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

Facilities

As an MSc Accounting and Finance student you'll benefit from:

• access to our Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab to put your knowledge into practice in a fully simulated and safe environment
• niche international content that reaches beyond ACCA
• the chance to build your professional network
• the option to gain valuable experience with an industry placement

Accreditation

Our Accounting and Finance degree is accredited by ACCA, which means you’ll be exempted from the seven Applied Knowledge and Skills papers of the ACCA qualification.

Careers

Studying MSc Accounting and Finance can open many doors, in the UK and internationally.

Whether you’re interested in the more analytical side of finance, or you’re considering a new path in forensic accounting, there’s a wealth of opportunities available for postgraduates.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as our Business PhD - School of Economics, Finance and Law. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.

Program Outline

Assessment:

• Informal question and answer sessions
• Individual and group presentations
• Management reports
• Exams
• Presentation or written analysis of case studies
• Assignments

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Careers:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Forensic Accounting

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

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Tuition fees for UK students (2023/24)

£10,000 UK students starting 2023/24 (full-time, per year) ARU graduates may be eligible for an Alumni Scholarship and get a 20% fee discount. Fees are payable upfront, in full or in instalments, but there's no need to pay until you've accepted an offer to study with us. Find out more about paying your fees.

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Tuition fees for international students (2023/24)

£15,000 International students starting 2023/24 (full-time, per year) You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter Find out about paying your fees. For postgraduate courses, international ARU graduates are automatically considered for an International Alumni Scholarship, worth £3,000 off first-year fees.

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Tuition fees for UK students (2024/25)

£10,600 UK students starting 2024/25 (full-time, per year) ARU graduates may be eligible for an Alumni Scholarship and get a 20% fee discount. Fees are payable upfront, in full or in instalments, but there's no need to pay until you've accepted an offer to study with us. Find out more about paying your fees.

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Tuition fees for international students (2024/25)

£17,700 International students starting 2024/25 (full-time, per year) You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter Find out about paying your fees. For postgraduate courses, international ARU graduates are automatically considered for an International Alumni Scholarship, worth £3,000 off first-year fees.