MSc Professional Accounting
Course overview
Start date
January 2021
September 2021
Subject area
Accounting, Finance and Economics
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
If you want to become a professional accountant, this MSc is the course for you. At the University of East London, we have more than a quarter of a century of experience in delivering accountancy training.
We have developed this master’s course in response to student demand for a higher-level qualification to enhance career prospects and professional development. You are likely to come to us with a relevant first degree.
The course has a strong practical bias. You will learn how to apply theory to practice and we will expose you to the profession’s latest thinking, techniques and practices.
While you are learning the core elements required of accountancy professionals, we will also prepare you for the professional exams set by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the ACA qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Students who successfully completed the programme will also be eligible to join the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants through the accelerated route designed specifically for MBA and Masters in Accounting graduates. This route will allow graduates from this MSc Professional Accounting programme to take the CIMA master’s gateway assessment. Once they have successfully passed the assessment, they will be granted 11 exemptions from CIMA’s certificate, operational and management level exams. This is an excellent offer for those who are interested in having a rewarding career as a management accountant. For more information about the CIMA masters gateway assessment, please visit their website.
The overall objective of the course is to help you qualify as a professional accountant. By the time you graduate, you will have the confidence and knowledge to gain these additional qualifications, making you a great prospect for employers.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreFast-track your career
You will be able to fast-track your accountancy qualification from the professional accountancy bodies and complete your master’s degree at the same time - whether you decide to take the professional qualification or not, you'll still graduate with a prestigious postgraduate degree.
Learn from industry experts
You will learn from research-active academics with extensive professional industry experience.
Superb facilities
By studying with us, you will benefit from superb new facilities at our Stratford campus, close to the global financial hubs of the City of London and Canary Wharf.
Fees and funding
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Per 30 credit module
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA page for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
We would normally expect you to have Grade C in GCSE English and Maths.
Professional Accountancy qualification at appropriate level will also be considered.
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll study
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
- Strategic Business Leader (core)
- Strategic Business Reporting (core)
- Advanced Taxation (core)
- Advanced Auditing & Assurance (core)
- Professional Exchange: Mental Wealth and Applied Research (core)
- Applied Business Project (core)
Please note that January and September intake students will study semesters in a different order. January intake students will take the dissertation module midway through the course, rather than at the end. Contact our applicant enquiries team (study@uel.ac.uk) if you have any questions about this.
How you'll be assessed
We use a range of different types of assessment. Some may involve you working individually or in groups and can include types essays, reports, case study analysis, time-constrained assignments, presentations, and closed book examinations. The form of assessment for each module will be identified in the module handbook at the beginning of each term.
Course specificationHow you'll learn
As a postgraduate student, we will expect you to take part in group work, prepare and deliver presentations and undertake independent study and research.
We will support you in your studies with our online virtual learning environment, e-books, access to relevant business databases and help and supervision from our academic team.
Many of the staff who will be teaching you have professional experience in addition to their academic credentials. Our staff also bring their research interests and expertise into the lecture theatre and seminar room, so you will learn from people leading the way in academic research in this field. Their research interests include: corporate governance and accountability, business performance, earnings, auditing and taxation. We also endeavour to connect you with experienced accounting professionals, through guest speakers, industry events and other networking opportunities.
What you'll learn
Your future career
The course is focused on making you highly employable and preparing you for the professional examinations that will take your career to the next level.
Within this field, you could become a chartered certified accountant, a chartered management accountant or a chartered public finance accountant.
You could choose to work for a big accountancy firm, auditor or taxation specialist. There will be a range of opportunities open to you, since companies of all sizes in all sectors need people who can understand numbers and offer sound advice to help them flourish.
With this qualification, you could go into the world of banking or investment, or into the finance department of any business. Alternatively, you could use your skills to help a charity, or work for local or central government or another public body.
Accounting is also a popular profession among the self-employed, so you could become an expert for hire as a freelance professional. You could even establish your own business. UEL can help you with this.
As well as the accountancy profession, you could deploy your skills in other fields, such as management consulting or research. Or you may decide you would like to continue your studies and aim for an academic career.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
