Internal Audit Professional Apprenticeship - MSc

The Internal Audit Professional Apprenticeship has been developed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships. The driving objective for this was to provide a suitable development framework for those who are either in or looking to move to a managerial position.

The IAP Apprenticeship Course has been designed so that apprentices who successfully complete our course will also receive the MSc Internal Audit Management & Consultancy, with no additional work or cost above that included in the IAP Apprenticeship funding band. 

Birmingham City University has a long, successful history of delivering high quality internal audit courses, and we now want to work with employers to ensure their employees reach their full potential.

What's covered in the course?

The course is divided into 8 modules. This has been carefully mapped against the IAP Apprenticeship Standards and End Point Assessment, to the syllabi of the CIA and QIAL and the IIA Inc’s suggested syllabus from the Internal Audit Educators Partnership programme, which accredits this course.

The first two years of the course are designed to meet the gateway requirements to the EPA, i.e. completion of the CIA and the 3 case study exams of the QIAL. The final year is used to help you perform the work and research required for the EPA, maximising the use of support available and enabling the University to provide a recommendation on your preparedness to complete the EPA.

If you leave part-way through the course, you will be given an appropriate academic award depending on the modules you have completed successfully.

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.
• 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.

UK students

The Internal Audit Professional Apprenticeship is approved by the Institute of Apprenticeships with a funding band of £17,000. This is the maximum available from the apprenticeship levy to cover the associated costs.

The key costs that are incurred are as follows:

• Application to complete the 3 papers of the CIA
• Application to complete the 3 papers of the QIAL
• Tuition pack for the CIA
• Exam fees for the CIA and QIAL
• End Point Assessment Fee
• Birmingham City University (training provider) Fee

Please note that membership of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors is also required, but due to funding rules this cannot be included in the levy funding. Therefore this costs will need to be met by either the employer or the apprentice.

The fee to be charged by the University depends on the level of support that the organisation requires above those stipulated by the funding requirements. The Institute for Apprenticeships also expects the training provider fees to be subject to negotiation with the employer organisation. However, it is the University’s intention to keep the total costs below the funding band wherever possible.

The fee to be charged will therefore  be discussed as part of the initial discussions and contract negotiation.

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

Apprentices 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
• Quizzes, 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 is through an intensive week at the very start of the study for a module and where possible with our existing MSc students. This approach will help the different cohorts to meet and network, thereby creating greater opportunities for peer support.

The week will feature workshops of group activities allowing you to explore and apply experiences and understanding you have gained from prior reading provided on Moodle. Formative feedback by the lecture team will be provided through these activities which can be used to help with the assessment.

Where there is an exam, a 2 day intensive course will also be provided and timed to best support you. This will involve review of challenging areas of the syllabus and practice of exam questions both in groups and individually.

All apprentices have access to Moodle throughout their study and this includes a discussion forum where you can interact others and with the tutors on a group basis. Individual and group tutorials are also available by appointment to suit your needs and there are regular weekly virtual drop in sessions.

This blended approach to learning ensures that the ‘off the job’ requirement is met through a variety of learning opportunities which are both fixed and flexible in terms of timing and location.

Apprentice Support

All Apprentices will be students of the University and this then provides additional wrap around services to support your learning. This includes access to ebooks for their course, workshops on business and academic skills, and Student Services which provides pastoral and practical advice and support during the full length of the course.

Apprentices will also be part of the personal tutoring process, which will provide an additional avenue for one-to-one support focused on their wellbeing.

Progress reports and meetings will also take place with both the Apprentice and Employer, to ensure that all parties are able to provide the appropriate and high quality support for successful completion of the course and the apprenticeship.

Student Profiles

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.

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