Internal Audit Management and Consultancy - MSc

Looking to study a Master’s in internal audit management degree in Birmingham? Our MSc Internal Audit and Consultancy Management course boasts a Route to Chartered Status from the IIA UK.

The internal audit profession formally began when the Institute of Internal Audit Inc. (IIA Inc.) was formed in the early parts of the 20th Century. Since that time the profession has developed extensively keeping pace with the demands placed on it by Board and Audit Committees in an ever changing and challenging world.

With the drive across the globe for integrated reporting to increase transparency, increased regulation such as the introduction of the Sarbanes Oxley Act in the US, and the general publics’ access to real time information, boards and their audit committees are ever more in need of independent and objective assurance and internal audit has a vital role to play in providing this.

The techniques and methods used by the internal audit profession have changed over the decades, from one which focused purely on financial risk and compliance style audits, which check procedures are being followed, to the current day where risk based auditing is seen as best practice across the globe. The Institute of Internal Auditors Inc. now boasts membership of over 180,000 across the globe and has recently developed its International Professional Practices Framework to include a mission statement ‘To enhance and protect organisational value by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice and insight.’

It is this current landscape that drives this course’s over-riding philosophy which is:

To equip those working within or intending to join the internal audit profession with the conceptual understanding, knowledge and skills to contribute positively to the organisations that they work for.

What's covered in the course?

The learning and teaching methods are designed to encourage and support independent learning.

Students are provided with a guided pathway through the learning resources, which are provided on the Virtual Learning Environment ‘Moodle’. These resources include (but are not limited to):

• Presentations
• Quizes, with feedback
• External professional published articles, journals, standards
• Practical exercises to apply knowledge

Wherever possible real life case studies will be used to illustrate the learning.

Face-to-face delivery (full time and part time block release students) will be delivered in an intensive week at the very start of study and where possible the cohorts will be together. This approach will help the different cohorts of students to meet and network, thereby creating greater opportunities for peer support. The week will predominantly be in the form of workshops of group activities allowing students to explore and apply the understanding they have gained from prior reading provided on Moodle and be given formative feedback by the lecture team which can be used to help with the assessment.

Where the assessment is an exam, 2 intensive days will also be provided which is timed to best support completion of the exam. During these session the areas of the syllabus which students have found challenging will be covered as well as practicing exam questions both in groups and individually.

Distance learning students will have access to all the materials through Moodle. During the intensive week the output from group activities will also be added to Moodle, allowing distance learning students to compare their own output with those of the group.

All students also have access to the on-line discussion forum where they can interact with each other and with the tutors on a group basis, and individual and group tutorials are also available by appointment.

Why Choose Us?

• Our Governance & Assurance Hub has become the UK’s first university department to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence by The Institute of Internal Auditors.
• We are an established team with over 20 years’ experience of delivering courses accredited by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and the Internal Auditing Educations Partnerships (IAEP). Find out more about the programme here.
• We now boast a Route to Chartered Status from the IIA UK
• The Centre prides itself on its extremely high pass rates.
• The lecture team is supported by guest speakers, who regularly visit to provide valuable practitioner insight.
• We get to know our students as individuals and support their specific needs, or signpost them to other areas of the University that can provide additional, complementary support.
• The delivery is flexible so you can choose full-time or part-time with block release and distance learning as options. This means you can fit your studies alongside work and personal commitments.

Find out more

• Our Facilities
• Our Graduates
• Our Placements
• Our Students
• Our Trips

Essential Requirements

Additional information for EU/International students

Additional costs

While there are no additional costs associated with purchasing text books, there may be other costs to you. If you are joining the course which has a professional body accreditation you may be required to pay membership or examination costs. For details of these costs, please click on the link below.

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.

Route to Chartered Status

If you want to attain Chartered Status with the IIA or CIA, there are additional charges associated with this*:

IIA Application fee: £124

Annual IIA membership fee: £180

CIA application fee: $165

CIA learning fee: £500 plus VAT

CIA exam fees: $1,070

Professional Experience Journal fee: £100

*These costs are subject to change

Find additional costs for your course

Our course is available to study in a range of options, ensuring you don’t have to miss out.

Full-Time

You can choose to study one year full-time or three years part-time, with qualifications achieved at the end of each year:

• Term / Year One – Postgraduate Certificate
• Term / Year Two – Postgraduate Diploma
• Term / Year Three – Master’s (MSc)

Distance Learning

This course is also offered as a distance learning option, enabling you to study at a time that suits you. You don’t have to attend any face-to-face sessions, and delivery of course materials is done through our e-learning platform, Moodle. Each module with an exam has a revision day which, although not mandatory, you should highly consider attending. If you can’t make it, supporting materials are made available via Moodle.

If you’re an international student, you can sit your examinations at your British council offices for a fee payable locally of around £100 per examination.

Block Release

This option sees you attend intense face-to-face teaching on campus from Monday to Friday for each module, one a term for years one and two. In year three the block weeks take place in the first term for both modules in order to support early initiation of your research project.

This option also provides the flexibility to incorporate some distance learning, to accommodate your work and personal commitments. You can do this at no extra charge and with no penalties.

Assessments

All modules are tested by assignment, except for:

• Organisation Environment Risks and Controls which has an assignment and a 27 hour test to be completed remotely,
• Professional Innovation and Development which is a presentation (which can be done remotely over Skype, for example) and reflective diary. 

OpportUNIty

OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.

It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.

Welcome to the Birmingham City Business School, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!

Birmingham City Business School is one of the UK’s largest, most established and most respected business schools. Our programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.

We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

• Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here
• Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies
• Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country
• Learn where to find financial support for your studies

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.

The Curzon Building

This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law, Business and English students.

The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.

The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.

The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.

The Curzon Building also features:

• An impressive new library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
• Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
• A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
• Brand new, accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
• Shared facilities with the wider campus including the recently opened Parkside Building and Millennium Point