Accounting, Finance and Strategic Investment MSc

Overview

The changing business environment is driven by:

• technological changes
• globalisation
• customer preference

This requires organisations to respond effectively and efficiently.

Our Accounting, Finance and Strategic Investment MSc will allow you to develop:

• an advanced understanding of accounting, finance and strategic investment
• quantitative and qualitative skills to evaluate and inform strategic decisions and investment opportunities
• investment and decision-making skills
• a range of personal attributes valued by international organisations

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.

 

Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

MSc - Master of Science

An MSc is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of a science-related subject. It typically includes:

• subject-specific taught modules
• a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words

You'll usually study an MSc full-time over 12 months.

A Master of Science is typically awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation or research project.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.

What you'll learn

You will cultivate skills that will allow you to influence financial and strategic decisions from within a company. Management accounting and financial analysis each play a leading role in the development of these skills.

You will gain a strong foundation of financial knowledge and analytical skills. You'll develop an appreciation of managerial decision-making and investment.

You will understand how accounting, finance and strategic investment can increase the effectiveness and competitiveness of organisations.

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 Strategic Investment MSc modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
International Finance and Capital Markets	30
Introduction to Financial Reporting	10
Dissertation (Consultant Report)	60
Performance and Decision Management	10
Managerial Decision Making and Control	20
Financial Planning and Investment	20
Managerial Economics and Organisational Architecture	20
Business Context and Operations	10
Academic Skills in AFSI MSc	0

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

The course is modular, comprising 180 credits.

Delivery methods

This master’s degree offers you a stimulating curriculum and a supportive learning environment. You'll also be supported by Canvas, a virtual learning environment that allows you to:

• access your courses and groups
• receive notifications and messages
• submit your assignments

Assessment methods

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

• Dissertation
• PC examination
• Portfolio
• Problem-solving exercises
• Report
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

Dissertation

You must also complete a dissertation, which takes the form of a consultant’s report. You'll choose a company and use available information to produce your report. This includes your recommendations on performance and strategy.

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

Our academic teaching team engage in leading research and bring real-world research insights to the course.

View profiles of the module leaders for this course:

• Dr Bo Che (Degree Programme Director)
• Dr Lana Liu 
• Dr Zhijuan Wu
• Dr. Donald Halliday
• Dr. Doris Xin
• Dr Chen Su
• Professor Simon Hussain
• Mr. Ben Dickson-Green

Your development

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

• implement appropriate business strategies
• optimise the financial interests of key stakeholders
• systematically collect, analyse and interpret data
• provide advice about how to apply financial models, tools and techniques
• improve organisational performance
• understand and apply product costing, budgeting, and capital budgeting

Your future

Graduate destinations

Graduates from this course have undertaken various roles, including:

• futures trader
• investment analyst
• investor relations officer
• procurement manager
• financial planner
• corporate finance consultant
• auditor
• risk analyst
• financial trader
• business development consultant

Careers

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

• P&G
• PwC
• EY
• KPMG
• Vodafone Group Plc
• Agricultural Bank of China
• BDO AG
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• Tunlan Investment
• Excelian

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

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

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  

Open days and events

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