Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis MSc

Overview

This accounting and finance-based Master’s has a focus on financial analysis.

The global financial and business environment is rapidly changing. When it comes to business decision-making, increased regulatory supervision has highlighted the need for sound financial analysis and robust reporting.

We have developed this course to meet this need. It will allow you to develop:

• 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.

This course is ideal for those who want to develop specialist understanding and skills of financial analysis. It is suitable for graduates with good numeracy levels, regardless of their undergraduate degree subject.

The course covers many topics which are relevant for those who would like to study for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualifications.

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 2024-25.

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.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

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

 

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 Erwei Xiang

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. You'll be able to demonstrate how 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, such as:

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

The skills gained from this course allow students to pursue potential careers in a wide range of fields in business.

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 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, national and international leaders
• over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

• flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
• contemporary café
• employability hub to support your career aspirations
• Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
• Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

The Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix also offers further study and learning spaces. This includes a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and 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

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

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

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INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course

Our Business and Humanities Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course.

• Business and Humanities Pre-Master's

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  

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

Visit our events calendar for the latest events