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.
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):
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 predomionantly 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 timeed 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 quesitons 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 disucssion 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.
Our next Postgraduate Open Day for this course will take place on 29 June 2019. Visit us to see our facilities and speak to our staff and students.
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
*Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2016
Didn't make it to an Open Day? You still have the opportunity to come and see what our postgraduate courses have to offer. If you would like to enquire about campus tour availability, just drop us an email.
*DLHE Survey 2015/16
Essential |
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A Honours degree from a UK University or international equivalent |
OR Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) global base qualification / Relevant professional qualification from the PIIA. |
OR Relevant professional experience of at least 1 year |
In recognition that many students may already have a relevant professional qualification, Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) for individual modules and / or stages may be given on a case by case basis. |
English language requirements 2017/18 | ||
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IELTS | 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands | |
Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page |
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
Award: MSc
Starting: Oct 2019
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year as shown here.
Fees for Distance Learning students
This course can be studied on a Distance Learning study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year as shown here.
Award: MSc
Starting: Oct 2019
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year as shown here.
Fees for Distance Learning students
This course can be studied on a Distance Learning study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year as shown here.
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements
.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.
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
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you will soon be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,906 for some courses and options?
Our course is available to study in a range of options, ensuring you don’t have to miss out.
You can choose to study one year full-time or three years part-time, with qualifications achieved at the end of each year:
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.
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.
All modules are tested by assignment, except for:
Joining BCU back in 2014 whilst still working full time, Mariusz had the help of his tutors to successfully balance his work and his studies. He is now a Senior Internal Auditor for the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Studying part-time for his Masters, and with a career that embraces lecturing and consultancy, Simon appreciated both the academic and professional relevance of his course.
Graduates can progress to complete a PhD in a related area of internal audit, governance or risk management.
Managing Director at WBCSD
Originally from Bessbrook in Northern Ireland, Dr Rodney Irwin studied at the then University of Central England. He has enjoyed a global career at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and has also gone on to gain further qualifications including a PhD.
In October 2012 I took a role as Managing Director of Financial Capital at WBCSD - a membership organisation made up of 190 global businesses. I engage with businesses and support them with reporting in non-financial performance, strategy and innovations on corporate reporting. I also sit on the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) working group, am a member of the Advisory Board of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and a Board Member of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board.
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.
There are planned field trips each term to local organisations. These trips will be accompanied by a seminar from a visiting professor on a related topic.
We also have a guest speaker programme, bringing the working world into the University. These talks are delivered in the block weeks, and presentations are posted on Moodle so that they are available to everyone.
All assignments are grounded in the real working organisations, allowing students to apply their knowledge into a real working environment.
Skills assessment takes place at the start of each term and students are encouraged to create a development plan to enhance their skills and work experience over the duration of the course. Lecturers will support students in finding opportunities to support this wherever possible.
Many of our students are already employed and are sponsored through their study. Typical organisations that they come from include local authorities, health sector, central government and government agencies, financial services, charity organisations such as the Big Lottery and professional service firms such as Deloitte, PWC, Grant Thornton and BDO.
Many of our students work in internal audit or a similar role such as compliance or financial control. Some are deliberately sponsored by their employer for this course so that on their return they can set up an internal audit function or apply the concepts to their existing department.
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.
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.
Andy Hollyhead joined the University in 2003 after 15 years in industry in a number of large organisations, including roles as business systems analyst and project manager. He is part of the Centre for Internal Audit, Governance and Risk Management.
Ann began her career in insurance, underwriting and processing claims, for a large national building society. She then moved to working in a global treasury department, verifying and performing transactions all over the globe.
Alan Robson graduated in 1985 with one of the first Information Systems degrees in the country, before moving directly into lecturing. He joined Birmingham City University in 1986 as a lecturer in computer programming and systems analysis, and in April 2009 he joined the Centre for Internal Audit, Governance and Risk Management.
Balvinder Plaha joined Birmingham City University in 2015 and currently teaches the finance and corporate governance modules on the MSc Internal Audit, Governance and Risk Management and risk response and risk leadership on the MSc Risk Management course.