Accounting and Finance (Masters Stage) - UK Campus - MSc - 2025/26 Entry

Overview

The Accounting and Finance (Masters Stage) course offers the opportunity to top up your existing professional accounting qualifications to MSc level quickly, gaining additional insight and understanding in the process.

Our course will put you in an excellent position to approach and perform middle and senior management roles across different accounting and finance sectors, as well as gaining practical and transferrable skills.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

You’ll extend your understanding and awareness of the major finance theories behind strategic decision-making, as well as the finance theories which underpin a company’s financial decisions.
The course encourages the analytical, technical, interpersonal and intellectual skills that may have been missing from your CCAB qualifications, and you’ll also learn the modern methods used to research topics in accounting and finance.
On our Accounting and Finance (Masters Stage) course, you’ll get to apply the knowledge and skills you’ve gained in your studies with a research project, choosing a relevant topic and conducting in-depth research.

Why Choose Us?

The course offers a respected programme of study around one of the business world’s key functions, preparing you for finance jobs and accountancy careers.
You’ll work in an international atmosphere, with students from across the globe offering different viewpoints and methods.
As a University, we are accredited status with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Our comprehensive learner development support ensure you get the most of your course.
You’ll work in our new, cutting-edge facility, The Curzon Building, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities.
If English is not your first language, you’ll have the opportunity to develop a high level of adequacy in the international business language of English.
Following graduation, you will have the opportunity to apply for STEAMhouse Business Incubator membership.

Find out more

OPEN DAY

Join us for a Virtual Open Event where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, meet our subject academics and learn more about postgraduate finance, all from the comfort of your own home.

Next Event: 5 February 2025

Book your place

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have one of the following:

Any of the six CCAB accounting professional qualifications, which could be any of ACCA, CIPFA, ACIEW, ACAS, ACAI and CIMA final stage examination completion.
Equivalent overseas qualifications which have been fully recognised by any of the CCAB members or the University.

Applying with international qualifications

See below for further information on applying as an international student.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student
International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MSc

Starting: May 2026

Full Time
6 Months
£4,145 in 2025/26

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MSc

Starting: May 2026

Full Time
6 Months
£6,200 in 2025/26

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Postgraduate funding

Graduate Scholarship

If you are a BCU graduate enrolling onto an eligible Master’s programme for the first time, you could receive a 20% fee reduction via our Graduate Scholarship.
Find out if you’re eligible for a Graduate Scholarship.

Master’s loans

Government-backed loans of up to £12,471 are available to UK, Irish and eligible EU nationals studying postgraduate Master’s courses in any subject area.
Find out more about Master’s loans.

Other funding opportunities

Other funding options include scholarships, loans and bursaries offered by external organisations. These vary from year to year.

Postgraduate funding

Course in Depth

Masters Stage

Course Structure

You’ll work on a full-time basis over six months, and be provided with support from our experienced team of tutors and staff.

Coming into this course, you’ll already have a professional qualification, so this is a chance to build on that. You’ll become adept at expressing yourself in a succinct, professional manner in the accounting and finance sector.

Work on the course is primarily assessment-based.

Employability

Enhancing Employability Skills

The course will put you in an excellent position to confidently approach and effectively perform middle/senior management roles across different accounting and finance sectors.

Postgraduates earn an average £9,000 more per year than those with just undergraduate degrees*. A postgraduate qualification can really help you stand out from the crowd in today’s competitive job market. By becoming a specialist in your field, you’ll have the chance to advance thinking in that subject and lead, rather than follow, the latest developments.

* Department for Business Innovation & Skills, 2015.

International

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

Our Business 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.

International Services

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

Details of the entry requirements for our courses
Some of the good reasons why you should study here
How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
Information relevant to applicants from your country
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.

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £400 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 and Business 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 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
Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point