MSc International Accounting and Finance

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    Key information

    Location
    Edinburgh
    Mode of delivery
    On-campus
    Delivery type
    Full-time, Part-time
    Start date
    September, January
    Duration
    1 year
    Qualification
    MSc

    Contact

    Contact our enquiries team

    Contact us

    Overview

    This masters degree is designed to enhance your employment potential across international banking, accounting and finance functions of multinational organisations.

    With a focus on the ever-changing global financial markets, this MSc in Accounting and Finance aims to equip graduates with highly employable expertise and a thorough understanding of current issues in global financial markets – both academically and professionally.

    On this MSc you will take six main courses on the subject of international accounting and be offered a choice of one specialist per semester. These courses will give you an international perspective on accounting and help you understand things like national differences, harmonisation and the challenges and problems facing multinational companies.

    You will have the opportunity to apply your newly acquired knowledge and expertise gained from courses in international banking, financial markets and accountancy to a subject of interest to you in your dissertation research project which is undertaken during the summer months. 

    Our partnership with Bloomberg 

    Heriot-Watt University is a named Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner (ELP), a programme designed by Bloomberg to recognise universities that are leaders in experiential learning. 

    Our partnership with Bloomberg, and the achievement of ELP status, is a mark of our innovative approach to connecting our teaching experience with real-life practical applications. Being a Bloomberg experiential learning partner allows Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh Business School to better integrate industry-leading data, research, news and analytics into our curricula.

    The Bloomberg facility at Heriot Watt University is unique in Scotland and enables students from different disciplines of business to better understand different aspects of markets, business behaviours and economic trends. It enables:

    • Performance comparison between different companies or industries using: financial reports, company valuations, company news, company portfolios, key changes/trends. 
    • Supply chain analysis through company's supply chain relationships that includes suppliers, customers and competitors. This enables managers to refine their supply chain configuration and strategy.
    • Market share analysis by providing key industry data, interactive charting and commentary by Bloomberg industry experts.  It also provides industry fundamental statistics, market share and other key industry specific metrics (i.e. retailers, airlines, global auto manufacturing, etc.)
    • Strategic portfolio analysis through creating portfolios against markets and market positions, allocation of asset and performance attribution analysis.
    • Accounting and Financial analysis by providing financial history of companies and indices including current and historical income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, ratio analysis and more.  

    Programme duration

    The full-time course starts in mid-September and lasts one year. The course can also be taken part-time over two years, or as a nine month Postgraduate Diploma.

    • MSc - 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
    • PGDip - 9 months full-time; 21 months part-time

    September 2024 entry

    The deadline for applications from UK students is 30 August 2024. For EU and overseas applicants, we guarantee to consider applications submitted by 2 August 2024.

    Video

    Course content

    Year 1

    Semester 1 (Sept - Dec)

    • Corporate Finance
    • Financial Analysis
    • International Accounting Standards

    One from:

    • Capital Markets
    • Corporate Governance

    Semester 2 (Jan - April)

    • International Accounting Theory
    • International Managerial Accounting
    • Research Methods

    One from:

    • Accounting, Profession, Society
    • Comparative Financial Reporting
    • Emerging Financial Markets
    • Research in Finance

    Between May and August students undertake their MSc dissertation.

    Semester 1

    Corporate Finance

    Semester 1 (mandatory)

    The aim of this course is to introduce you to contemporary topics in corporate finance and look at the major decisions facing a firm in this area.

    Financial Analysis

    Semester 1 (mandatory)

    Looks at how to analyse the financial performance of an organisation through the use of published financial information.

    International Accounting Standards

    Semester 1 (mandatory)

    Evaluate theories and empirical studies in the areas covered by international standards of accounting, analyse the outcome of the standard setting process from different theoretical perspectives, and assess observed practices in terms of regulatory and cultural frameworks.

    Captial Markets

    Semester 1 (optional)

    Examines the way capital markets and institutions function in practice, with particular emphasis on equities and bonds.

    Corporate Governance

    Semester 1 (optional)

    Develops understanding of issues relating to corporate governance and the financial research methods used to approach them including principal-agent theory, ownership structure and control, board of directors, CEO turnover, mergers and acquisitions and state versus private ownership.

    Semester 2

    International Accounting Theory

    Semester 2 (mandatory)

    Develops understanding of the theoretical framework within which accounting currently operates internationally, and nature and development of accounting theory in different countries. This includes the process of construction and verification of accounting theory within an international context and critical awareness of the attitudes and underlying beliefs that have made the historical development of the subject controversial.

    International Managerial Accounting

    Semester 2 (mandatory)

    Develops understanding and analytical skills of management accounting in an international and comparative context. Includes the changing roles of accountants in a global environment, culture and complexity in management accounting, and managerial accounting in the strategic environment.

    Research Methods

    Semester 2 (mandatory)

    Looking at both qualitative and quantitative techniques this course will equip students with the means to develop and carry out their own research projects and to evaluate the contributions of others.

    Accounting, Profession, Society

    Semester 2 (optional)

    This course builds understanding around the role of professional accounting in contemporary society. It addresses issues related to equality and professional exclusion and explores issues related to sustainability of the accounting profession globally.

    Comparative Financial Reporting

    Semester 2 (optional)

    Provides an international perspective to the study of accounting by looking at the reasons for national differences, the tendencies towards harmonisation, the problems of multinational companies, as well as analysis and evaluation of financial reports prepared in other countries.

    Emerging Financial Markets

    Semester 2 (optional)

    Supplements understanding of mainstream finance during the year, and applies it to the specific circumstances of emerging financial markets. This exposure is also designed to assist you with identifying possible dissertation topics and data sources.

    Research in Finance

    Semester 2 (optional)

    Covers quantitative methods used in research in the area of finance and financial markets. It will extend knowledge from the main Research Methods course by equipping students with modern methodology applied for the time series analysis. The first part of the course is focused on the theory and the second one on practical applications in the computer lab.

    Students will build models of stock and currency prices, evaluate them using different criteria and use them for the forecasts and formulation of trading strategies. They should perform their own work using real data from financial markets. By applying modern econometric methods, students will prepare themselves for their dissertation as well as for further research, either in academia or in the non-academic world.

    Additional information

    There is series of guest lectures given by accounting and finance professionals.

    Accountancy, Economics and Finance also run a seminar programme each year, which includes guest speakers from other institutions and companies.

    Go Global

    Some of our Postgraduate Taught Masters Programmes are eligible for Inter-Campus Transfer. Please contact goglobal@hw.ac.uk for further information.

    Fees and funding

    Tuition fees

    Tuition fees
    Status [footnote 1] Full-time Part-time
    UK 9152 4576
    Overseas [footnote 2] 20376 10188

    Footnotes

    1. Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.
    2. Overseas includes applications from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in the UK. Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

    Scholarships and bursaries

    We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

    View our full range of postgraduate scholarships.

    Entry requirements

    Entry

    A good Honours degree (first or second class), or its non-UK equivalent, in a relevant subject from a recognised British or overseas university.

    Work or project experience in the area of finance will be of further advantage.

    English language requirements

    If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

    The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component lower than 6.0.

    If you do not have IELTS 6.5, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies:

    • 20 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with no skill lower than 4.5)
    • 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with minimum of 5.0 in writing and no skill lower than 4.5)
    • 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.0)
    • 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.5)

    Why Heriot-Watt?

    Clubs and activities

    At Heriot-Watt we have an extensive programme of over 90 sports clubs and societies to get involved in. You can try as many as you like or start one of your own!

    Edinburgh campus accommodation

    Living on our beautiful Edinburgh campus is a great way to meet others from all over the world. Our student accommodation is within easy reach of the teaching buildings, sports facilities, catering venues and the Student Union

    Edinburgh Campus facilities

    At Heriot-Watt University, we offer a wide range of services to help you deal with all aspects of your life with us, whether these be academic, personal, technical, financial or just plain fun!

    Health and wellbeing

    Student Wellbeing Services aim to provide a range of support, guidance, activities and advice to help students to be their best, and get the most from their university experience. From counselling to coaching we'll sure you are fully supported.

    Heriot-Watt Student Union

    There's more to university life than simply getting your degree, and Heriot-Watt University Student Union is all about helping you to have the best possible experience while you study here.

    Living in Edinburgh

    Historic and beautiful, a cultural capital that fuels the senses whether you love the arts or nature, nightlife or study life, Edinburgh is stimulating and inspirational and never, ever boring.

    Sport facilities

    Oriam, Scotland Sports Performance Centre offers state-of-the-art sports facilities, for all levels of sport and ability

    Your career

    Employers around the world actively seek out our graduates because they are work-ready. All our degrees are career-focused and relevant to the needs of industry. Around 95% of our students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating.

    We are accredited by the following organisations

    At Heriot-Watt University we develop degrees that are relevant for the world of work. We work with Professional bodies and Institutes to gain appropriate Accreditations and Professional Memberships for your industry. Find out below how this degree aligns to industry.

    Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) logo

    Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

    Accredited for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.

    Association of International Accountants logo

    Association of International Accountants (AIA)

    Accredited for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

    Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) logo

    Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

    Accredited for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations through the Accredited degree accelerated route.

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