Study Postgraduate

MSc International Accounting and Finance

The course

Delivery type
Evenings
Duration
1 year (full-time) / 2 years (part-time)
Intake date
September, January
Location
Dubai
Find out how to apply Or browse all Dubai programmes

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Overview

With a focus on the ever-changing global financial markets, this MSc in Accounting and Finance aims to equip graduates with highly employable expertise and a thorough understanding of current issues in global financial markets – both academically and professionally.

On this MSc you will take six main courses on the subject of international accounting and be offered a choice of one specialist per semester. These courses will give you an international perspective on accounting and help you understand things like national differences, harmonisation and the challenges and problems facing multinational companies.

You will have the opportunity to apply your newly acquired knowledge and expertise gained from courses in international banking, financial markets and accountancy to a subject of interest to you in your dissertation research project which is undertaken during the summer months. 

Our partnership with Bloomberg 

Heriot-Watt University is a named Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner (ELP), a programme designed by Bloomberg to recognise universities that are leaders in experiential learning. 

Our partnership with Bloomberg, and the achievement of ELP status, is a mark of our innovative approach to connecting our teaching experience with real-life practical applications. Being a Bloomberg experiential learning partner allows Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh Business School to better integrate industry-leading data, research, news and analytics into our curricula.

The Bloomberg facility at Heriot Watt University enables students from different disciplines of business to better understand different aspects of markets, business behaviours and economic trends. It enables:

  • Performance comparison between different companies or industries using: financial reports, company valuations, company news, company portfolios, key changes/trends. 
  • Supply chain analysis through company's supply chain relationships that includes suppliers, customers and competitors. This enables managers to refine their supply chain configuration and strategy.
  • Market share analysis by providing key industry data, interactive charting and commentary by Bloomberg industry experts.  It also provides industry fundamental statistics, market share and other key industry specific metrics (i.e. retailers, airlines, global auto manufacturing, etc.)
  • Strategic portfolio analysis through creating portfolios against markets and market positions, allocation of asset and performance attribution analysis.
  • Accounting and Financial analysis by providing financial history of companies and indices including current and historical income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, ratio analysis and more.  

Programme duration

The full-time course starts in mid-September and lasts one year. The course can also be taken part-time over two years, or as a nine month Postgraduate Diploma.

  • MSc - 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
  • PGDip - 9 months full-time; 21 months part-time

Accreditation

Read more about the UAE Federal Accreditation.

Successful completion of our MSc Accountancy and Finance programme grants the following exemptions which mean you will be able to qualify more quickly than other graduates who do not have them.

ACCA Exemptions:

F1 Accountant in Business; F2 Management Accounting; F3 Financial Accounting and F4 Corporate and Business Law.  ACCA Exemptions

AIA Association of International Accountants:

Professional Qualification - Foundation Level,

Professional 1 - Financial Accounting and Reporting 1 on the basis of Comparative Financial Reporting (C31CR) Plus Financial Analysis (C31FN) Plus International Accounting Standards (C31IA) Plus International Accounting Theory (C31IT)

Professional 1 - Management Accounting on the basis of Financial Analysis (C31FN) Plus Corporate Finance (C31CF) Plus International Managerial Accounting (C31M)

Professional 1 - Business Law for Accountants AIA Association of International Accountants 

CIMA accreditation:

This degree offers either a Certificate BA, a management or an operational exemption dependant on courses taken within the degree. CIMA accreditation

This degree is currently in the approval stages for the governing bodies ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA, and when this is obtained, we will advise.

Course content

Semester 1 (Sept - Dec)

  • Corporate Finance
  • Financial Analysis
  • International Accounting Standards

One from:

  • Capital Markets
  • Corporate Governance

Semester 2 (Jan - April)

  • International Accounting Theory
  • International Managerial Accounting
  • Research Methods

One from:

  • Accounting, Profession, Society
  • Comparative Financial Reporting
  • Emerging Financial Markets
  • Research in Finance

Between May and August students undertake their MSc dissertation.

Semester 1

Corporate Finance

Semester 1 (mandatory)

The aim of this course is to introduce you to contemporary topics in corporate finance and look at the major decisions facing a firm in this area.

Financial Analysis

Semester 1 (mandatory)

Looks at how to analyse the financial performance of an organisation through the use of published financial information.

International Accounting Standards

Semester 1 (mandatory)

Evaluate theories and empirical studies in the areas covered by international standards of accounting, analyse the outcome of the standard setting process from different theoretical perspectives, and assess observed practices in terms of regulatory and cultural frameworks.

Captial Markets

Semester 1 (optional)

Examines the way capital markets and institutions function in practice, with particular emphasis on equities and bonds.

Corporate Governance

Semester 1 (optional)

Develops understanding of issues relating to corporate governance and the financial research methods used to approach them including principal-agent theory, ownership structure and control, board of directors, CEO turnover, mergers and acquisitions and state versus private ownership.

Semester 2

International Accounting Theory

Semester 2 (mandatory)

Develops understanding of the theoretical framework within which accounting currently operates internationally, and nature and development of accounting theory in different countries. This includes the process of construction and verification of accounting theory within an international context and critical awareness of the attitudes and underlying beliefs that have made the historical development of the subject controversial.

International Managerial Accounting

Semester 2 (mandatory)

Develops understanding and analytical skills of management accounting in an international and comparative context. Includes the changing roles of accountants in a global environment, culture and complexity in management accounting, and managerial accounting in the strategic environment.

Research Methods

Semester 2 (mandatory)

Looking at both qualitative and quantitative techniques this course will equip students with the means to develop and carry out their own research projects and to evaluate the contributions of others.

Accounting, Profession, Society

Semester 2 (optional)

This course builds understanding around the role of professional accounting in contemporary society. It addresses issues related to equality and professional exclusion and explores issues related to sustainability of the accounting profession globally.

Comparative Financial Reporting

Semester 2 (optional)

Provides an international perspective to the study of accounting by looking at the reasons for national differences, the tendencies towards harmonisation, the problems of multinational companies, as well as analysis and evaluation of financial reports prepared in other countries.

Emerging Financial Markets

Semester 2 (optional)

Supplements understanding of mainstream finance during the year, and applies it to the specific circumstances of emerging financial markets. This exposure is also designed to assist you with identifying possible dissertation topics and data sources.

Research in Finance

Semester 2 (optional)

Covers quantitative methods used in research in the area of finance and financial markets. It will extend knowledge from the main Research Methods course by equipping students with modern methodology applied for the time series analysis. The first part of the course is focused on the theory and the second one on practical applications in the computer lab.

Students will build models of stock and currency prices, evaluate them using different criteria and use them for the forecasts and formulation of trading strategies. They should perform their own work using real data from financial markets. By applying modern econometric methods, students will prepare themselves for their dissertation as well as for further research, either in academia or in the non-academic world.

Career

  • Suitable for those who seek to develop an academic career in research or proceed to PhD studies.
  • Suitable for those who wish to extend their skill set and sharpen their understanding of international accounting and finance.
  • Accountants who wish to develop a career in the financial services sector as a financial analyst.
  • Graduate career prospects also include managerial positions within multinational companies, financial institutions, banks, government and public sector institutions, business consultancies and other business services.
  • Graduates can go on to train as professional accountants.

Entry requirements

For MSc entry, a good relevant Honours degree (first or second class) or equivalent overseas qualifications will be considered. Given the clear practical element of the programmes, we will also consider non-graduate candidates holding less than a good Honours degree, or its equivalent, but with compensating qualifications or experience may be admitted to the Postgraduate Diploma programme. Transfer to the MSc will be possible later on if exams and course work are at MSc level.

To find out more about the specific entry requirements for your country, please refer to our International Entry Requirements.

To find out about the entry requirements for this programme, please send an email to dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk

English language requirements

Where English was not the medium of instruction at secondary school, applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5 (with all elements passed at 6.0 or above). Applicants who have completed secondary and tertiary education will need to provide documentary evidence. A minimum of one year full-time study in English will be required.

Fees and funding

  • AED 91990*

* All tuition fees inclusive of VAT

Scholarships and bursaries

See our range of degree entry, undergraduate, postgraduate taught and PhD scholarships and discounts.