Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis MSc

Overview

Our MSc* is an accounting and finance-based Master’s with a financial analysis focus.

The global financial and business environment is rapidly changing. Increased regulatory supervision has highlighted the importance of sound financial analysis and robust reporting for business decision making. This course has been developed to meet this need and to enable you to develop: 

• an in-depth understanding of accounting, finance and financial analysis
• quantitative and qualitative skills of analysis
• professional attributes and financial analytical skills

You'll gain more specialist knowledge of issues related to financial analysis.

The course is suitable for business and non-business graduates with good numeracy levels who wish to develop the specialist understanding and skills of financial analysis. 

The course also covers many relevant topics for those intending to study for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

This master’s starts with three weeks of intensive training in fundamental accounting knowledge. This is to remedy the knowledge gap for students from different educational backgrounds.

You'll learn to:

• apply knowledge and skills of financial analysis to complex real-world scenarios
• use the analysis results for evidence-based decision-making

Advanced statistical software

Where possible you'll have access to advanced statistical software including:

• Stata
• SPSS

You'll analyse individual companies from an external perspective with substantial emphasis placed on:

• corporate strategy
• financial statement analysis
• share performance assessment
• earnings forecast
• valuation

Financial databases

You'll undertake practical studies of real-world data via Bloomberg, Refinitiv and other data sources. You'll develop skills in analysing real-world data using financial and statistical software.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis MSc modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
International Finance and Capital Markets	30
Techniques for Data Analysis	20
Financial Information Analysis	20
Dissertation (Analyst Report)	60
Corporate Strategy and Valuation	20
Accounting for Analysts	30
Academic Skills in AFFA MSc	0

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

This course is modular, comprising 180 credits.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Dissertation
• Professional skills assessments
• Portfolio
• Problem-solving exercises
• Report
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

Dissertation

You'll focus on the application of knowledge and skills learned from taught modules to real-world complex scenarios in the report-based dissertation.

Your dissertation consolidates your learning. It takes the form of an analyst's report on a major corporation. Including:

• preparing a report on a company of your choice
• analysing financial and accounting data, strategy and corporate governance

You'll conclude with a valuation of the company itself.

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Our staff

View profiles of the module leaders for this course:

• Dr Zhijuan Wu (Degree Programme Director)
• Dr Bo Che
• Dr Ekaete Efretuei

Your development

Professional skills

You'll benefit from our status as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner. Through self-study, you'll complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts certificate. This gives you an interactive introduction to the financial markets.

On completion of this course, you'll be able to show practical skills and the ability to:

• integrate your accounting and finance knowledge and skills to assess corporate performance and valuation
• deal with complex issues both systematically and analytically
• use analytical skills to make sound judgements around investment management
• analyse quantitative data used for operational decision making
• critically engage with contemporary debates on financial theory
• apply, with originality and creativity, the knowledge, skills and understanding gained on the course to complex issues within the finance sector

Your future

Graduate destinations

Graduates from this course have undertaken various roles, including:

• financial analyst
• auditor
• finance officer
• financial trader
• accountant
• risk analyst
• assets valuation analyst
• investment manager
• equity analyst
• commercial credit officer

Careers

This course prepares you for a wide range of careers with employers, such as:

• PwC
• EY
• KPMG
• HSBC Bank
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• Nexus Group
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• BP
• Bloomberg L.P.
• Tier One Capital
• haysmacintyre
• Standard Chartered

Careers support

Fast-track your career prospects with professional exemptions from the:

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Association of International Accountants (AIA)

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 83 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, nationality and international leaders
• alumni
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is based in a building within the Newcastle Helix development – Newcastle's emerging business district.

Our facilities provide:

• a flexible and dedicated conference suite with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing approximately 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and 21 seminar rooms, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• a dedicated Hub, Base, and Lounge providing a balanced mix of study space and relaxation areas
• a contemporary café

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2023 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• additional costs
• living costs
• tuition fees, including how to pay them and available discounts

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

INTO International Graduate Diploma - Pathway courses

Our Business and Humanities Graduate Diplomas will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course. Depending on your level of English, you can choose from:

• Business and Humanities Graduate Diploma
• Business and Humanities Graduate Diploma with Pre-sessional English

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days
• webinars

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events