University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2024/25 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School of Accounting and Finance - Business School > Accounting and Finance (MSc) > Specification
Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.
Programme code | 9ECON053T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Tuan Ho
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School of Accounting and Finance - Business School |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Accrediting types: |
Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations through the Accredited degree accelerated route. (http://www.cimaglobal.com/Study-with-us/Exemptions/) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
Please note: the following information will be displayed in the publicly available programme catalogue
The MSc Accounting and Finance programme emphasises research and analytical skills that will be valuable in your future career. It will build on your existing knowledge of technical aspects of accounting and finance. You will develop your ability to critically analyse the nature and conditions of effectiveness for these techniques to contribute to accounting and finance practice and governance.
In the first term you will explore contemporary issues in accounting and finance research literature. You will also build key skills in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This will prepare you for the more specialist elective units taught in the second term.
The research-based dissertation involves identifying and analysing a research question in accounting and/or finance under the guidance of a member of staff. The dissertation gives you an opportunity to explore an original problem, source and process the relevant financial data, analyse that data and learn to draw appropriate conclusions. For those planning on undertaking a PhD, this dissertation represents an important bridge between taught and advanced research studies.
This programme develops skills for critical analysis of accounting and finance topics, which will be valuable in your future career. The strong conceptual foundation it offers will support students who want to pursue an academic or professional career in accounting or finance.
The MSc Accounting and Finance programme aligns with the Bristol Futures Curriculum Framework in the following ways:
In summary, the programme holistically contributes to students’ academic, personal, and professional development, in line with the ethos of the Bristol Futures Curriculum Framework.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
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Embedded within the curriculum |
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Co-curricular opportunities |
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This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
For a postgraduate Certificate, students are required to complete the first term taught units in the programme. The structure of the degree programme has been designed to engage the student in a cumulative process of developing skills and knowledge through a sequence of complementary stages. In the first term, all Certificate, Diploma and Masters students develop foundational knowledge and understanding of the contemporary issues in Accounting and Finance and are introduced to research design and research methods. They develop general intellectual skills and attributes necessary for that knowledge and understanding; and are required to develop several practical skills. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
For a postgraduate Diploma, students are required to complete all the taught units in the programme. In the second term, all Diploma and Masters students acquire a deeper knowledge and understanding of more specific areas of research in Accounting and Finance. These units explore more advanced topics that nevertheless build on the material learned in the first term. The intellectual and practical skills learned in the first term are also developed, applied and extended. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
The dissertation acts as the culmination of the student's progress through the degree programme, as she/he applies the appropriate technical, methodological and intellectual skills that have been developed to a piece of research devised in consultation and supervised by a staff advisor and located clearly within Accounting and Finance. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
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Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Contemporary Issues in Accounting | ACFIM0038 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Fundamentals of Finance | ACFIM0020 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods in Accounting and Finance | ACFIM0017 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Dissertation (MSc A&F) | ACFIM0016 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Select a minimum of 20 credit points from the following Accounting options: | ||||
Accountability and Accounting for Sustainability | ACFIM0047 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Accounting and Capital Markets | ACFIM0036 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Management Accounting | ACFIM0033 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Select a minimum of 20 credit points from the following Finance options: | ||||
Advanced Corporate Finance | ACFIM0021 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Behavioural Finance | ACFIM0024 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Derivatives | ACFIM0027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Financial Technology | ACFIM0030 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Green and Sustainable Finance | ACFIM0018 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7 unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level 7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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