Finance (Accounting and Finance) MSc

Durham University

The MSc in Finance (Accounting and Finance) provides you with the essential skills and learning to thrive in a wide range of corporate environments around the world and to play a key role in ensuring they function to the highest finance and accounting standards.

You will learn how to apply analytical skills, technical skills and the latest research techniques to the sophisticated and stimulating world of finance and accounting. Underpinning all aspects of learning are our core values of fairness and equality of access to financial services, these skills are valued by top global financial institutions and businesses, and by leading PhD research programmes.

This 12-month full-time course is affiliated with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA), the leading global association for investment professionals and the accepted benchmark around the world for technical excellence in financial markets. Core modules, which are taught through lectures, seminars and practical work, cover the key financial areas of accounts and reporting, financial statement analysis, advanced financial theory, corporate finance, econometric methods and financial modelling and business forecasting.

The core modules are complemented by your choice of optional modules, which give you the opportunity to tailor the course to your interests and career goals. You will also complete either a research-based dissertation or an applied business project in an area of your choice.

The MSc is delivered by academic staff who are dedicated and passionate about their subject and how it relates to both people’s daily lives and the functioning of financial institutions and corporations across the globe. Successful completion will enable you to progress to a challenging and stimulating role in this vitally important sector.

Course structure

Core modules:

Financial Accounting and Reporting is a key module in which you acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of financial accounting and reporting concepts as well as ethical issues. You will also be shown how to apply International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to particular cases involving single entities or groups.

You will develop the skills to prepare single entity and consolidated financial statements in line with IFRS requirements and also acquire and demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of accounting-based techniques of financial statement analysis. Financial Statement Analysis complements the Financial Accounting and Reporting module and is designed to extend your knowledge of financial statements. You will be expected to show a critical understanding of, and ability to apply, financial statement analysis to assess corporate performance, risk, growth potential, future prospects, and value. Econometric Methods provides you with the knowhow necessary to be able to carry out empirical research in economics or finance, and to understand more advanced econometric techniques. Advanced Financial Theory offers stimulating and rigorous training in modern financial theory and in the most important current research with an emphasis on the application of finance principles. You will also develop an advanced understanding of normative and positive research in financial theory together with the related descriptive and empirical evidence. Corporate Finance covers the theory and practice of corporate finance and the latest research. You will examine both normative and positive aspects of the theory, together with supporting descriptive and empirical evidence.

Dissertation