Admission Criteria

Candidates must be able to satisfy the general admission requirements of the University of the West of Scotland as specified in Chapter 2 of the University Regulatory Framework together with the following programme requirements:

Appropriate Undergraduate Qualification

Other Required Qualifications/Experience

An applicant whose qualifications do not conform to the general
entrance requirements but who presents other evidence which
indicates an interest in personal educational advancement and an
aptitude for academic study at the level concerned may be admitted to
a programme of study at the discretion of the University.

See regulation 2.13 for details of the University's policies on recognition of prior learning (RPL)and recognition of prior experiential learning (APEL). Either of these attributes will be assessed on an individual basis.

Further desirable skills pre-application

Where English is not the first language, students must be able to satisfy the University of their competence in English. Either by having a TOEFL score of 550 or above or an IELTS score of 6 or above (5.5 in each component) or equivalent.

General Overview

General Overview

The MSc Finance and Accounting offers the opportunity to gain both relevant contextual and subject specialist knowledge in the area of Finance and Accounting through a structured and focused programme of academic studies. The MSc Finance and Accounting programme will add value to first degrees by developing individuals with an integrated and critically aware understanding of Finance and Accounting. The programme has been designed to match with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) syllabus. 

The objectives of the Finance and Accounting programme are to:

• Develop critical, analytical problem-based learning skills and transferable skills to prepare the student for postgraduate employment in the area of Finance and Accounting
• Enable the student to continue to engage in lifelong learning
• Assist the student to develop further skills required for both autonomous practice and team-working within the accounting profession
• Enable a systematic understanding of current finance and accounting theory and practice, and of future developments both in the UK and internationally
• Encourage students to adopt an analytical and creative approach to study, and to develop the ability to argue rationally, communicate clearly, and form sound judgements
• Enhance students’ knowledge, skills and abilities through the execution of a Master level project

The MSc Finance and Accounting programme seeks to offer a portfolio of modules reflecting the needs of those wishing to pursue a career in accounting or/and finance but who may not have accounting as their first degree. The programme focuses on conceptual understanding and practical skills of accounting and finance supplemented by an understanding of the background within which accounting operates.  Therefore, the specific nature of this programme as a conversion degree (Type 2) makes it stand out, as most of our competitors in the market offer masters degrees for a specialised group of students who obtained their first degree in Finance and Accounting.

Programme Overview (Employers)

The MSc Finance and Accounting programme aims to develop graduates who are highly competent within their discipline and who can potentially gain exemption from CIMA. The programme seeks to enable graduates to gain a competitive edge in pursuing management and professional careers. The Programme provides employer relevant postgraduate education in finance and accounting, and addresses the development of those transferable skills that are sought by employers throughout the world.

Programme Overview (Students)

Students will enhance their academic and professional skills on completion of the Finance and Accounting programme and will:

• Develop further the skills required for both autonomous practice and team-working
• Improve the practical skills essential in both Finance and Accounting broad areas
• Enhance knowledge skills and abilities through the execution of a Master’s level project
• Develop high level finance and accountancy skills relevant to arrange of employability opportunities

There is an expectation that our graduates will be attractive to large firms such as Ernst & Young and Morgan Stanley.

Progression within the Programme Progression Routes

There are no formal progression routes within the MSc programme. However, student work transitions from study of core disciplines of Financial Accounting, Management Acounting, Financial Management in T1 to study of more specialist areas in T2. In addition, focus shifts from taught modules in T1 and T2 to more independent research carried out in T3 i.e. completion of dissertation.

Any student who has gained 120 credits with a minimum of 90 at SCQF11 and who does not wish to progress to the Masters level (60 credit dissertation element), or whose progress is arrested, may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Finance and Accounting. Students may also exit with PgCert if they achieve 60 credits. See the conditions on PgCert and PgDip Awards required for this programme below.

A distinction is awarded in the Diploma to students who satisfy the criteria set out in the University Regulatory Framework - Reg 3.25-3.26

Progression Routes beyond the programme

Students may wish to fully complete their professional accreditation with CIMA as the primary aim of this programme is to obtain professional exemptions. Other progression routes include a research career or further management qualifications such as an MBA or DBA.

Learning, Teaching & Assessment 

The programme team use a range of teaching methods across their modules, including lectures, tutorials, seminars and case study workshops to introduce knowledge, develop skills and discuss/evaluate key issues and concepts. In delivering the curriculum, the lecture sessions are designed to introduce students to the topic area, whilst drawing on examples and student experiences to encourage engagement.  Guidance on the nature and content of lectures will be provided in the associated module handbook. The programme embraces the UWS Hybrid teaching and learning approach and UWS Curriculum Framework. Students will experience a mix of both online and on-campus teaching & learning. Lecture and core learning materials take the form of pre-recorded lecture videos, and pre-prepared activities. Students are expected to engage with these online resources before reviewing and exploring these topics in more depth on-campus with peers and tutors.

Tutorials, seminars and workshops will be interactive in nature allowing students to actively participate making the most of the learning opportunities available to them. This will assist students to evaluate their understanding of key concepts. The modules will make extensive use of case studies enabling students to develop analytical and critical evaluation skills and the application of theory to practice. Tutorials, seminars, workshops will be mostly on-campus, but on occassion may be scheduled for live online delivery.

The Learning, Teaching and Assessment strategy of this programme builds on the programme team experience of delivering Masters and professional programmes, and is designed to ensure the development of confident individuals with high quality skills and graduate attributes that are recognised and valued not only by the students themselves, but also by employers and the wider community. This is achieved through:

• Utilising formative and summative assessments
• Developing employability skills
• Placing learning and subject content within an international context
• Making use of relevant learning technology where appropriate
• Utilising both online and on-campus learning & teaching (embracing Hybrid and Flipped Classroom approaches)

The assessment approaches are designed to encourage learning and analysis as required by the learning outcomes. The programme utilises an extensive range of assessment methods.

To help further develop the student’s sense of critical enquiry each module will contain significant directed learning activities. Within that context, an emphasis on critical reading, principally of academic literature, will be encouraged. To complete a 20 credit module, students will be expected to spend, typically on average, about 15 hours per week on directed and independent study activities and on completing both summative and formative assessment.

External & Internal Reference Points Used to Inform Programme Outcomes

External reference points including QAA Benchmark Statements and the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF, level 11) descriptors were utilised in the development of this programme. The QAA benchmark statements for MSc programmes in Business and Management were used in determining the learning outcomes and the general approach to teaching and learning. Development has been also in line with the University Regulatory Framework. In addition the taught modules have been matched with their counterparts within the CIMA course of study.

The University’s 'Education Enabling Plan' has been used extensively in informing the programme’s outcomes to ensure that learning, teaching and assessment is externally informed, has a strong international perspective and that the eLearning materials are of a high standard. The Education Enabling Plan has also been used to inform the development of a personal tutor system that is appropriate to the online format.

Staff within the Accounting and Finance Group have substantial and high quality experience in research and international consultancy.  In previous Research Exercises, Accounting has been consistently rated as being world class; staff have been extensively involved in international consultancies ranging from: Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Rwanda, Kazakhstan, Albania, and Belarus. Such research and international consultancies have been used to inform the syllabus and will be used to both enthuse and motivate students in their learning. This international experience will also be used to emphasise the global nature of modern accounting. 

Graduate Attributes, Employability & Personal Development Planning

The programme aims to provide a rigorous grounding in knowledge, skills and understanding necessary for graduates to embark on a career in finance and accounting.

The programme recognises that students will come to the programme from various academic backgrounds and that future employability prospects will be enhanced by this higher level development of enquiry, research, and critical analysis skills fostered by the programme.

Personal Development Planning will be encouraged in line with university policy both at programme and module level. At programme level, students will be encouraged to maintain a personal development plan and be directed to appropriate sites and activities that promote development of the individual. At module level, students will be encouraged at regular intervals to consider and internalise their learning to date and, if appropriate, update their personal development plans.

Our Graduates

The University puts you, the future graduate, at the heart of everything that is does.

The MSc Finance and Accounting programme has been designed to ensure that you, on completion of your degree, have all the necessary attributes required of a modern graduate in a professional workplace.

Your modules are designed to develop a range of skills that are academic (developing your knowledge, skills and abilities to a high-level for academic study), personal (ensuring that your qualities and characteristics result in you being a well-round, developed, responsible individual, both in the workplace and in life), and professional (developing the range of skills that you need in a modern and constantly changing working environment). These are the keystones in modern accounting and finance.

Your modules, both in terms of content and assessment, are professionally focussed to develop:

Your academic skills (critical thinking, analysing, inquiring, improving knowledge, being digitally literate, problem solving, autonomy, being incisive and being innovative);

Your personal skills (being emotionally intelligent, being ethically-minded, being culturally aware, communicating effectively, being influential, being motivated, being creative, being imaginative and being resilient), and;

Your professional skills (collaborating, being research-minded, being socially responsible, becoming a potential leader, being enterprising, being ambitious, being driven, being daring, and being transformative). 

We want you to be:

- Globally relevant with applicable abilities, skills and behaviours (Universal)l

- Dynamic and to prepare for employment in a complex and change environment through resilience and a lifelong commitment to learning (Work Ready), and;

- Build a solid foundation on which to continue to succeed and realise your potential across various contexts (Successful). 

Universal, Work Ready and Successful is UWS.

Work Based Learning/Placement Details

The normal duration of the MSc Programme is one full academic year and so work based placements are not possible. However, the programme is enrhanced by: guest speakers from industry, professional body visits, employability events and use of industry and professionally relevant actities and case studies.

Engagement

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time.

Where a programme has Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements these will be listed here:

In line with School policy, all students are normally expected to meet a minimum attendance criteria (75%); demonstrate engagement with resources; and attempt all module assessments. In special circumstances students where attendance is restricted, students would be expected to demonstrate weekly engagement with online VLE resources.

Equality and Diversity

The University's Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Procedure can be accessed at the following link: UWS Equality and Diversity Policy

As per University regulations and policies. The MSc is an international programme that welcomes students from all backgrounds and countries to participate in its teaching & learning activities. Communication, co-operation and respect are our fundamental principles of our online and classroom environments.

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Regulations of Assessment

Candidates will be bound by the general assessment regulations of the University as specified in the University Regulatory Framework.

An overview of the assessment details is provided in the Student Handbook and the assessment criteria for each module is provided in the module descriptor which forms part of the module pack issued to students. For further details on assessment please refer to Chapter 3 of the Regulatory Framework.

To qualify for an award of the University, students must complete all the programme requirements and must meet the credit minima detailed in Chapter 1 of the Regulatory Framework.

Combined Studies

There may be instances where a student has been unsuccessful in meeting the award criteria for the named award and for other more generic named awards existing within the School. Provided that they have met the credit requirements in line with the SCQF credit minima (please see Regulation 1.21), they will be eligible for an exit award of PgCert/ PgDip in Combined Studies.