Program Overview

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MSc Accounting and Finance (Work Experience)

Course summary

Develop your critical and analytical skills across accounting and finance - enhancing your knowledge to prepare for a career in banking, finance or business.

How you learn

Many of our staff have industry experience and/or are research active.

Through a combination of teaching methods you’ll develop in-depth knowledge and a range of skills. You’ll implement theories and techniques, problem-solving activities, research and teamwork – taking an active approach to learning and self-development.

You learn through:

• lectures
• tutorials
• IT sessions
• regular formative feedback
• teamwork and group-based learning
• practice-based applied learning
• authentic learning experiences
• engagement with guest lectures
• discussions
• self-managed study

Key Themes

You’ll study corporate finance and data analytics, international corporate reporting and governance, sustainability and strategic management accounting, and international auditing and professional ethics.

You’ll develop your understanding of how and when to apply your subject knowledge – using appropriate techniques, technologies, project management practices and methodologies for problem-solving and research.

We’ll further develop your understanding by introducing you to real-life case studies, business problem scenarios and projects. You’ll work independently and in small teams to identify solutions and produce reports, presentations and recommendations. These experiences will help prepare you for a career in banking and finance, all within a supportive learning environment.

At the final stage of the master’s degree, you’ll undertake a dissertation or an applied business project – applying all your knowledge and skills to successfully fulfil your research objectives.

Course Support

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas. These include:

• Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
• Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources
• First-class facilities with state-of-the-art equipment
• Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
• Opportunities to secure work experience through a competitive process as part of your course, with access to relevant adverts and support in applications and the selection process.

Applied learning

You’ll develop your employability skills throughout the course, using real-life scenarios and business problems.

‘Knowledge applied’ is the underlying design principle for all our courses and modules. All modules on your course adopt forefront research, updated regulations and standards. Teaching and assessment activities use real-life case studies and business problem scenarios – underlined by a combination of complex regulatory, political, economic, social and environmental factors – all helping to prepare you for a career in accounting and finance.

Live projects

Your research project could be a dissertation – where you carry out an in-depth research enquiry to address existing gaps in knowledge. Or you could undertake an applied business project – an extensive research project to produce insights, solutions and recommendations for a specific client.

As part of this capstone project, you’ll apply all the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout the course, while also developing new ones. From the initial stage of generating research ideas to the final stage of writing up your dissertation or applied business project report, you’ll be guided by the module team and a dedicated project supervisor.

Networking opportunities

You’ll have numerous opportunities for career planning and development – from career fairs and workshops to employer presentations, field visits and professional careers advice. All these opportunities can enhance your confidence and skills development – and your employability as a result.

The team delivering the course has strong links with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)

Work experience

You’ll have the opportunity to source a work placement for up to 12 months, where you’ll apply academic theory and your skills in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience will enhance your professional development and help you to make informed career choices after graduation. Throughout your placement, you’ll be supported to reflect on your experience and contribution to the organisation you work for. You'll also share your progress and achievements with your Placement Academic Supervisor as part of your final assessment.

Work placements are competitive and will require you to make formal applications to employers and be successful in securing an opportunity. The application process for placements takes place while you are a student with us. To support you in applying for placements, you’ll complete an additional placement preparation program that introduces you to the UK employment landscape and prepares you for the recruitment and assessment activities you will experience during that process. We also maintain a large database of placement offers that you can search to find opportunities most relevant to your course that you can apply for.

Course leaders and tutors

Dr Caroline Zagonel Linhares

Senior Lecturer in Accounting/ Course Leader MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Forensic Accounting

Course Leader for MSc Accounting and Finance and MSc Forensic Accounting, and Senior Lecturer in Accounting

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Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Final year

Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Corporate Finance And Data Analytics

Credits 30

Assessment Coursework 100%

International Auditing And Professional Ethics

Credits 30

Assessment Coursework 100%

International Corporate Reporting And Governance

Credits 30

Assessment Coursework 100%

Postgraduate Work Experience Applied Professional Diploma

Credits -

Assessment

Sustainability And Strategic Management Accounting

Credits 30

Assessment Coursework 60% Practical 40%

Elective modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Consultancy

Credits 60

Assessment Coursework 100%

Dissertation

Credits 60

Assessment Coursework 100%

Work Experience Project

Credits 60

Assessment Coursework 100%

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in:

• accounting
• finance
• auditing
• business consulting

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:

• PWC
• KPMG
• Deloitte
• EY
• Shell
• HSBC
• Barclays
• Chinatrust Commercial Bank

Equipment and facilities

The new Sheffield Business School building will be net-zero ready, with state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities and social spaces.

On this course, you’ll work with and have access to:

• our virtual learning environment – Blackboard sites
• updated office software
• accounting software
• Bloomberg terminals
• our financial trading floor
• a physical and online library
• digital books, journals, newspapers and magazines

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour

Location

Howard Street Sheffield S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Entry requirements

All students

Normally one of the following in a relevant subject*

• a good honours degree
• a recognised postgraduate qualification
• an equivalent recognised professional qualification

*Relevant subjects include • accounting • banking • economics • finance • financial services.

If you do not have such academic qualifications we may consider your application individually, based on your personal, professional and work experience, and other formal qualifications. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more

Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills, is the standard for non-native speakers of English. If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English qualification.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2026/27 is £12,440 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2026/27 is £20,100 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.

Postgraduate student loans

Up to £12,858 is available in 2025/26 for home students on most masters courses.

Learn more

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 277.5KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.