MSc Accounting & Finance

Programme structure

The MSc Accounting & Finance course combines core and optional modules across the three terms of your one-year course.

Our modules

In your three terms at WBS you will study six core modules and two optional modules of your choice, one of which must be from Accounting. Finance modules are taken from our very successful MSc Finance.

Every year we offer many optional modules, from behavioural science through to quantitative finance, giving you the opportunity to tailor the course to your preferences. Please note that availability and delivery modes may vary. 

How you'll be assessed

Assessment is a mix of exams, project work, and tests, with your 12,000 word dissertation bringing all of your learning together.

Financial Markets

This module aims to explore and formalise the fundamental relationships between investors’ decision-making in the presence of uncertainty (“risk”) and the cross-sectional and inter-temporal properties of the prices and returns of financial assets.

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Management Accounting & Control

Discover more about the tools and techniques which are well established and used by management accountants in organisations to aid planning, decision making and control.

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Financial Accounting: Theory and Context

Build on the financial reporting knowledge gained in your undergraduate programme. You will develop awareness of the contingent and powerful nature of technical accounting.

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Financial Reporting & Financial Statement Analysis

The main objective of the module is to provide you with the tools to analyse firm financial performance from an equity valuation perspective and to carry out a business valuation building on this analysis.

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Corporate Financial Management

Gain an introduction to the principles of corporate finance and how the basic tools and techniques can be applied to analyse and improve the decisions of a firm.

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Research Methods in Accounting

The main goal of the module is to introduce you to quantitative research methods, providing you with the knowledge and skills (critical and analytical) to understand how these methods are applied in accounting research.

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Dissertation

A 12,000 word dissertation gives you the opportunity to develop, test, practice and apply the techniques and theories you have gained through your studies.

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These are indicative optional modules which may vary year-on-year.
Auditing & Assurance

Gain an understanding of the social importance, nature and objectives of the audit function.

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Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting

Discuss the position of governance in corporate contracting and how it helps align the actions of managers with the interests of shareholders

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Derivative Securities

Develop an in-depth understanding of the characteristics of different classes of derivative securities.

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Financial Risk Management

Understand the need for financial risk management, the techniques to measure financial risks according to the regulatory framework, and tools for the management of risk exposure.

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Judgement & Decision Making

This module will introduce you to the psychology of human judgement and decision making. 

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Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Control

This module is designed to introduce you to the basic issues in mergers and acquisitions.

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Our online platform

Our unique online learning platform my.wbs will act as the hub for your learning experience, hosting all of your teaching materials, key information from your CareersPlus and Programme Teams, and our online classroom: wbsLive.

Your learning experience

Teaching and assessment will vary to fit the subject being studied. Our faculty have designed your learning experience to fit the subject being studied, with a variety of teaching and assessment styles. 

Your teaching will take the form of lectures and webinars, supported, where relevant, by guest speakers from industry to balance theory and practice. Lectures introduce key theories, concepts, and economic models. In classes you will solve financial problems and numerical exercises, analyse case studies, and make presentations of research published in academic journals.

Your learning will be assessed by a mix of exams, group work, project work, and tests. Group and project work will enable you to collaborate and gain new perspectives from your international cohort, preparing you for working in teams within a global work environment.

Learning facilities

You will have access to our outstanding learning facilities, including a Postgraduate-only Learning Space and IT suite, as well as all other University facilities. Studying on a Finance-based MSc also means that you gain access to our Bloomberg terminals, Eikon terminals, and financial data via the Wharton Research Data Services.  

Foreign Language Study

One of the great benefits of this course is that it offers optional free foreign language study in the evenings across all three terms. This is an opportunity to develop the basics of a new language. There is a choice of six different languages, all at beginner-level (please note we are not able to offer classes at intermediate/advanced level).