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Internal Auditor Professional - Certified Internal Auditor Pathway - PgDip

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

The Internal Auditor Professional – Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Pathway has been developed to provide learners with support when undertaking the CIA qualifications who perhaps do not wish to complete a full 3-year MSc programme or who are unable to access the English Apprenticeship levy through the Internal Audit Professional Apprenticeship (IAPA) programme....

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Part Time/Distance Learning

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

The Internal Auditor Professional – Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Pathway has been developed to provide learners with support when undertaking the CIA qualifications who perhaps do not wish to complete a full 3-year MSc programme or who are unable to access the English Apprenticeship levy through the Internal Audit Professional Apprenticeship (IAPA) programme.

The course’s over-riding philosophy is to equip those working within the internal audit profession with the conceptual understanding, knowledge and skills to contribute positively to the organisations that they work for.

The course is divided into 6 modules which are aligned to the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) syllabus and for those who wish to continue subsequently to then attain Chartered status, there is the option to “top up” this qualification to attain the Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA) designation.

The course has been carefully mapped against the syllabi of the CIA and as part of this course learners will be supported in sitting the external exams required in order to obtain the CIA designation. In addition, their first year’s CPD for ethics which is a requirement of the awarding body, will be completed as part of the programme when learners have successfully completed the Ethics for Internal Auditors module.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

The course is divided into six modules which are aligned to the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) syllabus.

For those who wish to continue on to Chartered status, there is the option to “top up” this qualification to attain the Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA) designation.

The course has been carefully mapped against the syllabi of the CIA and as part of the course, you will be supported to sit the external exams required in order to obtain the CIA designation.

In addition, successful completion of the Ethics for Internal Auditors module provides the CPD for ethics which is a requirement of the awarding body.

Why Choose Us?

  • Our Governance and Assurance Hub is 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 Internal Auditing Education Partnerships (IAEP).
  • 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.

OPEN DAY

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Event: 24 November 2024

Book now

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

Essential Requirements
Typical Offers (UK Students)

A bachelor’s degree

OR Three or more A-levels or equivalent (plus two year’s internal audit experience)

OR The ACCA Qualification

OR Four years’ experience in internal audit (plus secondary education)

Additional information for EU/International students
Essential

Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.

In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table.

English language requirements
IELTS

6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum in all bands

If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information.

Other accepted qualifications Visit our English language page

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: PgDip

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £1804 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits
  • Year 2 - 60 credits

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.

  • Distance Learning
  • 2 Years
  • Show fees
  • £1804 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits
  • Year 2 - 60 credits

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.

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: PgDip

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 2 Years
  • Show fees
  • Year 1 - 60 credits
  • Year 2 - 60 credits

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.

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 and available through our library.

Free Adobe Creative Cloud Licence

Students studying on a course with a requirement to use Adobe software can request a free licence to install the entire suite of applications on up to two personal devices.

Excess printing (optional)

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

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, but this is not mandatory and only applicable if you wish to apply for Chartered status on completion of your MSc.

Accommodation and living costs

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.

Course in Depth

Modules

In order to complete this course, the learner must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Download course specification

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This course uses a blended delivery pattern with a mix of on-campus and online learning delivered by our high-quality expert tutor team.

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

Learners are provided with a guided pathway through the learning resources on our 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 learning. You will be actively encouraged to share your working experiences in the direct teaching sessions. This enriches the learning experience and enables you to understand how the university teaching sits alongside your day to day role.

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.

Employability

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:

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

Curzon facilities eatery
Curzon facilities staircase
Curzon facilities student hub

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

Our staff

Michelle Dyke

Senior Lecturer in Audit & Assurance

Michelle has over 25 years’ experience in accounting, beginning her career in 1993 with Tarmac in Wolverhampton, before moving into practice firstly with Clement Keys Chartered Accountants and then BDO Stoy Hayward in the audit department.

More about Michelle

Julianne McGarry

Senior Lecturer

Julianne McGarry is an Internal Controls, Risk and Internal Audit professional with over 30 years’ experience across the Public and Global Private sectors encompassing FMG, OEM, Financial Services and Logistics.

More about Julianne