Basma Akbar came to Bayes Business School from Kuwait to study on the MSc in Banking and International Finance. In this video she tells us why she loved studying in London and learning from renowned professors.
Overview
Who is it for?
Choose the master’s in International Accounting and Finance if you are an ambitious, curious and hard-working graduate, driven to excel and succeed in the area of finance or accounting. You hold the equivalent of a UK upper second degree, or above.
This is a highly practical course, so you also need to have skills in finance or quantitative methods.
This course is for you if you plan a career in in finance and accounting across the finance, professional services, and corporate world. You’ll also be keen to get value from the opportunities beyond the course, from events and conferences to clubs and societies and careers advice.
Bayes Business School was my first and only choice for postgraduate study as I have always aspired to obtain one of the most prestigious master’s degrees in finance in the very heart of London.Reflecting upon almost two decades of my academic life, the decision to enrol onto the MSc in International Accounting and Finance is, without a doubt, the one I’m most proud of. Not only because I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best professors I ever had throughout my education, but also because I was able to study in the very heart of London.
- Katarina Aleksandrovic
Objectives
In our post-graduate International Accounting and Finance programme, you’ll gain real-world finance and accounting expertise that can lead to a range of rewarding international roles. You’ll learn finance techniques and develop an analytical understanding of accounting in measuring economic activities in a business. The emphasis is on enabling you to critically assess the implications of financial figures for a multitude of finance-related topics, in the context of global capital markets.
You’ll acquire practical skills and theoretical knowledge including
- thinking in financial terms
- the methods that help weigh financial risks
- analytical skills for making informed assessments on key financial decisions
- a deep understanding of the fundamental issues behind international capital flows.
You can customise the course to suit your career aspirations using a wide choice of electives. Choose modules that give you the knowledge to prepare for professional accounting qualifications or focus more deeply on finance.
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Structure
What will I learn
On the International Accounting and Finance master’s course, you will:
- Learn from active researchers and industry leaders at one of the largest and most respected finance faculties in the world.
- Create a course to match your aims, with a broad choice of electives, research projects and the option to take the International Financial Reporting Standards Certificate in Term 3.
- Earn exemptions from some CIMA modules and ACCA modules on a course that’s accredited by ICAEW and is a Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA) Partner Programme.
- Gain useful international experience, with electives in locations such as Dubai, Madrid and New York .
- Benefit from our location near the City of London, with guest lectures and teaching from senior bankers and finance professionals and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Induction weeks
All of our MSc courses start with two compulsory induction weeks which include relevant refresher courses, an introduction to the careers services and the annual careers fair.
Term 1
Core modules:
Analytics for Accounting and Finance
The module teaches how to apply econometric techniques in the empirical analysis and modelling of equity and fixed income markets. You will learn key tools and methods in applying these techniques for analysis and development of quantitative strategies for forecasting, pricing and risk management.
Corporate Finance and Valuation
The modules teaches core theoretical principles and equips students with practical finance tools. You will learn how to value companies using data from Bloomberg and popular valuation methods employed by investment banks and corporate finance departments.
Financial Reporting
The module equips students with critical understanding of the principles and practices of accounting, characteristics and limitations of accounting data. You will learn how to prepare and interpret financial statements, to apply and comment on accounting policies and to use accounting information to assess financial performance of the business.
Research Methods for Finance Professionals
Strong research is a key element of development strategy for companies and institutions, large and small.
This module aims to provide a grounding in financial research, particularly financial modelling and information gathering which you will be able to use to support your learning on the rest of your course.
Strategic Management Accounting
The module teaches how to efficiently use the information on businesses’ products, services, processes, organizational units, suppliers, and customers. You will learn concepts, models, and systems that provide this data for the development, use and control of cost information for decision-making and performance measurement in competitive business environments.
Term 2
Core modules:
Accounting Information and Capital Markets
The module teaches tools and techniques used by financial analysts, corporate managers, accountants and investment bankers to assess the fundamental value of traded securities in global markets. You will become experts in the theory and practice of equity valuation and will gain a critical perspective when valuing companies based on financial statements.
Advanced Corporate Finance
The module provides an in-depth analysis of the theory and international practice of capital structure decisions, dividend and cash policy, valuation, and mergers and acquisitions. You will learn how to incorporate real factors in the valuation of companies. Tax reforms, bankruptcy laws, and employment protection regulation have an impact on both business valuation and capital structure decisions.
Financial Statement Analysis
This module leverages many materials from bulge bracket and boutique investment banks to showcase how various techniques covered in the module are used by professionals from the Wall Street, providing you with hands-on experience in analysing and interpreting financial information disclosed by firms listed on major stock exchanges.
International Financial Management
In this module students will learn about the risks that financial managers face when trading internationally in the global marketplace. You will acquire knowledge on dynamic tools that will allow them to manage and deal with these risks.
Term 3
You may choose from the five options in your final term.
- Option 1: Students can take five specialist elective modules (5 x 10 credits)
- Option 2: Students can opt to write a 10,000-word Business Research Project (40 credits) and take one specialist elective module (1 x 10 credits)
- Option 3: Students can opt to write a 3,000-5,000 word Applied Research Project (20 credits) and take three specialist elective modules (3 x 10 credits)
- Option 4: Students can opt to take
International Financial Reporting Standards
(30 credits) and two specialist electives (2 x 10 credits)The module provides an applied professional qualification that complements the academic program in International Accounting and Finance. You will acquire knowledge and skills to apply complex international financial reporting standards in companies operating globally.
- Option 5: Students can opt to take
International Financial Reporting Standards
(30 credits) and write 3,000-5,000 word Applied Research Project (20 credits).PrThe module provides an applied professional qualification that complements the academic program in International Accounting and Finance. You will acquire knowledge and skills to apply complex international financial reporting standards in companies operating globally.
Projects
Business Research Project
It is important for aspiring professionals to demonstrate, on an individual basis, their ability to apply concepts and techniques they have learned in an in-depth study of a topic of their choice and to organise their findings in a report, all conducted within a given time limit.
Business Research Project will train you to undertake individual research and provide you with an opportunity to specialise in a contemporary business or finance topic related to your future career aspirations.
You are required to submit a project of approximately 10,000 words on any subject area covered in the rest of the programme.
Typical projects can involve any of the following: extracting data from electronic databases or by hand; statistical analysis of large or small populations; interviews; case studies of an industry or a sector or of a business / finance issue in a particular country setting.
Applied Research Project
The aim of this module is to enable you to demonstrate how to integrate your learning in core and elective modules and then apply this to the formulation and completion of an applied research project. You will be required to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have acquired throughout your MSc study.
You will undertake a short piece of applied research on a question of academic and/or practical relevance.
Guidelines will be provided in order to help you identify the research question. Based on your chosen topic, you must write a report of around 3,000–5,000 words that summarises and critically evaluates your method and your findings.
Electives offered in 2022
- Behavioural Finance
- Ethics, Society and the Finance Sector
- Global Real Estate Markets
- Hedge Funds
- Intro to Python
- Investment Strategy
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity Investment
- Trading and Market Microstructure
- Visual Basics in Finance.
International electives
- Project Finance and Infrastructure Investment (taught in Madrid, Spain).
Please note that electives are subject to change and availability.
Assessment methods
Assessment
We review all our courses regularly to keep them up-to-date on issues of both theory and practice.
To satisfy the requirements of the degree course students must complete:
- eight core courses (15 credits each)
and either
- five electives (10 credits each)
- three electives (10 credits each) and an Applied Research Project (20 credits)
- one elective (10 credits) and a Business Research Project (40 credits)
- one super elective on IFRS (30 credits) and two electives (10 credits each)
- one super elective on IFRS (30 credits) and an Applied Research Project (20 credits)
Assessment of modules on the MSc in International Accounting & Finance, in most cases, is by means of coursework and unseen examination. Coursework may consist of standard essays, individual and group presentations, group reports, classwork, unseen tests and problem sets. Please note that any group work may include an element of peer assessment.
Term dates
Term dates 2023/24
- Induction: 11th September 2023 - 22nd September 2023
- Term one: 25th September 2023 - 8th December 2023
- Term one exams: 8th January 2024 - 19th January 2024
- Term two: 22nd January 2024 - 5th April 2024
- Term two exams: 22nd April 2024 - 3rd May 2024
- Term three - international electives: 6th May 2024 - 17th May 2024
- Term three: 20th May 2024 - 5th July 2024
- Term three exams: 8th July 2024 - 19th July 2024
- Resits: 12th August 2024 - 23rd August 2024
- Additional resit week - tests only: 26th August 2024 - 30th August 2024.
Timetables
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
View academic timetables (add timetable and search for your programme)
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
Teaching staff
Course Director
Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Finance
The teaching staff on the MSc in International Accounting & Finance have many years of practical experience working in the financial services sector and are also active researchers in their fields
This knowledge and experience inform the highly interactive lectures that make up the MSc in International Accounting & Finance.
Module Leaders include:
Application
How to apply
Apply for MSc International Accounting and Finance
Documents required for decision-making
- Transcript/interim transcript
- Grading system used by your university
- Current module list if still studying
- CV
- Personal statement - this should be 500-600 words in length and answer the following:
- Why have you selected this course? What are your motivating factors?
- What are your areas of interest within the course?
- What contributions do you feel you can make to the course?
- How do you see the course affecting your career plans?
Documents which may follow at a later date
- English language test result if applicable
- GMAT result if applicable
- Confirmation of professional qualification examinations/exemptions/passes, if applicable
- Two references
- For a successful application to receive an unconditional status, all award documents must be verified, and should be provided to the relevant Admissions Officer via one of the methods stated in your offer.
We cannot comment on individual eligibility before you apply and we can only process your application once it is fully complete, with all requested information received.
Individual Appointments
If you would like to arrange an individual appointment to discuss the application process and be given a tour of the facilities, please complete this form.
Please note - these are subject to availability.
Terms and conditions
Students applying to study at Bayes Business School are subject to City, University of London's terms and conditions.
Entry requirements
- A UK upper second class degree or above, or the equivalent from an overseas institution.
- Some level of previous study or evidence of skills in finance or quantitative methods is essential.
- Work experience is not a requirement of this course.
GMAT
- GMAT is not required for application, but may be requested as a condition of offer at the discretion of the Admissions Panel.
English language requirements
If you have been studying in the UK for the last three years it is unlikely that you will have to take an English language test.
If you have studied in the UK at degree level for less than three years (e.g. 3+1, 2+1, 2+2, etc.) you will be required to provide the results of an approved English language test and possibly resit the test to meet our academic entry requirements.
Full list of approved English language tests/qualifications and minimum requirements.
Fees
Fees in each subsequent year of study for continuing students (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee for continuing students in writing prior to commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
Deposit: £2,000 (usually paid within 1 month of receiving offer and non-refundable unless conditions of offer are not met)
First installment: Half fees less deposit (payable during on-line registration which should be completed at least 5 days before the start of the induction period)
Second installment: Half fees (paid in January following start of course)
Career pathways
After this International Accounting and Finance post-grad course, you’ll be ready to embark on a fulfilling career in finance or accounting. Previous graduates went on to roles as auditors, tax associates, analysts and M&A consultants for major financial services organisations including large global corporations such as KPMG, Ernst & Young and PWC, while others have entered accountancy training programmes.
Your career could take you to investment and corporate banks, accountancy and audit firms, ratings firms, private equity, financial data providers, venture capital, and finance departments in major corporations.
You will be well placed to exploit our close links with major financial players in the City of London. Our specialist careers team will help you define your career goals, and build valuable connections at employer and alumni networking opportunities.
Class profile
Recent graduates of the MSc in the International Accounting and Finance programme have secured positions in companies including:
- Internal Auditor - Finance Team - Winbro Group Technologies/Quaser Group Plc
- Audit Trainee - Audit - BDO
- Audit Associate - Audit - EY
- Senior Manager - Finance - Pingan Bank
- Consultant - FA-Deal Restructuring Service - Deloitte
Previous graduates have gone on to work in consulting and financial services across the UK, the EU, and Asia.
(Data provided from alumni who completed the annual destination data survey for 2020/21 and 2019/20).
Alumni stories
Hear from our alumni. Discover the real experiences of learning at Bayes and how Bayes helped to boost our graduates' careers.
Read Katarina’s storyCourse information and statistics (2022/23 cohort)
Accreditation
Successfully obtaining the MSc allows exemption from the exams of CIMA, ACCA and ICAEW.
See accreditation details
CIMA
CIMA is the world’s leading, and largest, professional body of management accountants.
Students successfully completing the MSc in International Accounting and Finance will be awarded exemptions from the following modules:
- BA1:Fundamentals of Business Economics
- BA2:Fundamentals of Management Accounting
- BA3:Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
- BA4:Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law
- E1:Managing Finance in a Digital World
- P1:Management Accounting
- F1:Financial Reporting
- Operational Case Study Exam
- E2:Managing Performance
- P2:Advanced Management Accounting
- F2:Advanced Financial Reporting
MSc International Accounting and Finance graduates will be able to join CIMA through an accelerated route– the CIMA Master’s gateway assessment.
ACCA
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants.
Students successfully completing the MSc in International Accounting and Finance will be awarded exemptions from the following modules:
- Accountant in Business
- Management Accounting
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Law
- Financial Reporting
The MSc International Accounting and Finance programme is also eligible for the Accelerate scheme programme.
ICAEW
MSc International Accounting and Finance is a programme partner with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW). Students successfully completing the MSc in International Accounting and Finance will be awarded credits for prior learning (exemptions) in the following subjects for the ICAEW chartered accountancy qualification, the ACA :
- Accounting
- Financial Management
CFA programme partner
The CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, recognises the rigour and the relevance of the MSc International Accounting and Finance and has awarded this course partner status. CFA Programme Partner status is awarded to a select number of universities around the world whose degree courses incorporate at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge. The CFA Program is the essential qualification for those wishing to pursue a career in the finance sector and the CFA Institute recognises the MSc in International Accounting and Finance as strong preparation for their professional exams.
Each year a number of CFA scholarships are available to Bayes students, offering financial assistance with the CFA exam registration fees.
