Course summary

Delivered by the triple-accredited Aston Business School, our aspirational MSc Professional Accounting and Finance programme is designed for experienced accounting professionals seeking to enhance their careers through advanced research and a masters degree. Ideal for individuals working full-time, this programme offers the flexibility to study alongside professional commitments, allowing you to continue earning whilst working towards an academic degree. Under the guidance of experienced, published researchers, you will develop postgraduate level research skills, from designing research plans to executing them effectively, preparing you to tackle a full size 60 credit research project in your final term. How you will learn As a student on our part-time MSc Professional Accounting and Finance programme, you will spend approximately three hours on-campus each week in lectures and seminars during your first term on research methods. In your final two terms, you will attend four introductory sessions to help prepare you for your research project, followed by ongoing supervision from an allocated research supervisor. Our highly experienced teaching and research staff are experts in their fields and include leading academics and qualified accountants who have worked for prestigious global companies and the ‘Big Four’. This means you will benefit from complementary perspectives and insights that will help you carry out well-informed rigorous research. We use an innovative and engaging range of teaching methods. Lectures, tutorials, group work and case studies will introduce you to the latest research thinking in this field and give you the opportunity to critically consider its application in real-life business situations. These opportunities will enable you to learn about current practices and challenges in accounting and business finance research. You will also benefit from access to the University Library's extensive collection of over 25,000 books and electronic journals. Aston University's virtual learning environment supports your journey, providing resources like lecture slides, e-books and online journals. What you will learn The MSc Professional Accounting and Finance programme at Aston University equips you with specialist research skills tailored for progress in your accounting and finance career. Leveraging Aston Business School’s triple-accredited status, the programme combines your existing practical accounting knowledge with rigorous social science research methodologies, preparing you for a nuanced understanding of the field's complexities. In the taught phase, you will explore the principles of research design, ethics and methodological decisions across diverse study approaches. This phase hones your ability to formulate viable research questions, critically link theory with evidence and evaluate research quality. You will learn to critically assess accounting and finance issues, considering corporate responsibility, sustainability and ethics, laying a solid foundation for your research project. In the dissertation phase, you will undertake an original research project in accounting and finance, demonstrating your capacity for independent research. This phase allows you to apply theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to a practical issue, culminating in a coherent report that communicates your findings effectively and reflects your understanding of ethical academic practice.