Skip navigation
Accounting and Finance with CIMA at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh - UCAS

Course summary

Do you currently work in accounting and finance and want to gain a master’s qualification and an accelerated route to chartered status? Or do you have a business-related degree and want to move into a career in accounting and finance? This MSc in Accounting and Finance with CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) could be for you. With recent changes in the business and financial world, the demand for management accountants is on the increase. Business success relies upon key individuals with a detailed knowledge of the environment in which the business operates and the ability to forward plan and effectively manage risk. This MSc Accounting and Finance (with CIMA) offers you postgraduate level study of the theory, knowledge, analytical and practical skills required for understanding the implications of decision making within organisations. It has been developed in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Available full time or part time, this course allows students to obtain a master’s degree along with part qualification as management accountant, with significant exemptions from the CIMA professional examinations. There is also study support available from CIMA. Why QMU? This course is designed in collaboration with a professional body which qualifies you both academically and professionally: Our collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) offers the opportunity for students to obtain a master’s degree, a prestigious professional qualification (CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting) and the maximum 11 exemptions from CIMA’s certificate, operational and management level examinations. Teaching expertise and care: The course is taught by professionally qualified chartered accountants and academics with industry and research expertise. As we offer smaller class sizes than many other universities, you will be able to learn from a caring team of finance professionals who will prioritise your career development. Our recent (2023), QSS* results rated postgraduate teaching quality on MSc in Accounting and Finance (with CIMA) at over 97%. (*QSS is an internal survey of QMU’s students). Diverse career opportunities: Our collaboration with CIMA opens the door to a wide range of role opportunities within in a professional capacity - you are not obligated to becoming a chartered accountant. This management accounting qualification is broad enough to lead to key roles in the areas of information management, consultancy, operations, commercial, executive as well as, of course, finance. Strong professional links: The Queen Margaret Business School is a member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) and a signatory member of The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). This course is designed in close collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the largest management accounting professional body in the world. The course allows its students the maximum level of exemption offered by CIMA to the Management Level Case Study in their global syllabus. Great location: QMU is located in the UK’s second largest financial centre. Not only does this pave the way for career opportunities on graduation, but also enables us to offer field trips and enlist guest speakers to enhance your learning experience. Access to our on-campus Startup Studio: This provides business incubation space for student/graduate-led start-up companies with access to: desk space; a QMU business address; meeting facilities; Business Gateway support and advice; a profile for your company on the QMU website; support with marketing materials; and access to entrepreneurial networks within QMU and other universities, for example, Enterprise Campus, Scottish Institute for Enterprise, Sporting Chance and Converge Challenge.

Modules

Financial Reporting (20 credits) Accounting for Managers (20 credits) Research Methods (20 credits) Fundamentals of Corporate Finance (20 credits) Advanced Management Accounting (20 credits) Strategy and Leadership (20 credits) Accounting or Finance Dissertation (60 credits) The modules listed are correct at time of posting (September 2019) but are subject to change. In the event that modules are changed, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students.

Assessment method

Teaching comprises a combination of lectures, seminars, guest speakers, tutorials, case studies, software demonstrations, field trips and projects. Independent learning is also important, allowing you to prepare for classes and develop your research skills. Additionally, you will be doing a dissertation – an in-depth, independent piece of research on an accounting or finance topic of your choosing. Your performance on the course will be assessed by essays, reports, reflective logs, exams, presentations and a dissertation.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a UK honours degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a related/business area. We also welcome applicants with an ordinary degree who can show a period of relevant post-graduation work experience or additional capabilities. Accreditation of prior learning: You may be granted exemption from studying a module or modules up to a maximum of 60 credit points, provided you can demonstrate successful achievement of all the learning outcomes


English language requirements

IELTS with an overall score equivalent to 6.0 and with no individual component less than 5.5.

QMU English Language Requirements

https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/international-students/english-language-requirements/


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £8655 Whole course
Northern Ireland £8655 Whole course
Scotland £8655 Whole course
Wales £8655 Whole course
Republic of Ireland £8655 Whole course
International £18455 Whole course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Course also includes a £725 fee for CIMA registration.

Sponsorship information

Sponsorship Information - "For information on any available scholarships at QMU, please visit https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/fees-and-funding/scholarships-for-new-students/"

Accounting and Finance with CIMA at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh - UCAS