MSc International Accounting and Finance

Take your accounting and finance skills to the next level and enhance your international employability on our MSc International Accounting and Finance. Understand the crucial role accounting and finance plays in organisations and strategic decision making.

Course outline and modules

On our MSc International Accounting and Finance masters at Aston University you will learn advanced-level theory and concepts used in accounting and finance. We’ll develop your technical skills in these areas but also focus on providing you with an in-depth knowledge of accounting and finance and its place in today’s global corporate environment.

This course is designed for students with an undergraduate degree or work experience in accounting, finance or a related subject area. If you did not specialise in one of these areas at undergraduate level or have relative work experience, try our MSc Accounting and Finance course instead.

This course is taught by our exceptional teaching staff. They have a broad range of experience and expertise, with qualified accountants who have worked for prestigious global companies as well as leading academics, who are at the forefront of research in the field of accounting and finance. This means you’ll benefit from various perspectives and insights, which will provide you with a detailed understanding of the global workings of accounting and finance.

We use an innovative and engaging range of teaching methods. Lectures, tutorials, group work, games and case studies will introduce you to the latest thinking in this field and give you the opportunity to critically consider its application in real-life business situations. This is enhanced by leading industry experts delivering guest lectures. These opportunities will enable you to learn about current practises and challenges in accounting and corporate finance.

How will my skills develop?

By completing the summer projects, you will have an in-depth understanding of how to use accounting information and financial concepts to financially analyse and value a company and make recommendations as analysts. All the skills you need will be given to you through the taught part of the module. For those students who want to pursue a PhD in the future, our programme offers the option to complete a Dissertation, which will develop students skills on research design throughout a module tailored for the programme.

In the programme, we also explore the key principles and challenges of financial management decisions in an international context, and the linkages between organisations, the international financial markets, financial risk and international financial strategy. Furthermore, we examine the key concepts around accounting and taxation in a global context, the role and evolution of taxation and its avoidance/evasion in different global societies.

We also acquaint students with the nature and scope of alternative forms of corporate accountability which goes beyond the traditional form of an accounting model, which is considered essential in the modern business world as evidenced by the publication of substantial Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainability reports by most big companies.

We will explore how accounting and finance determines and impacts an organisations’ strategic policy and decision making. This will give you an understanding of the key principles and challenges of financial management decisions. You’ll gain an insight into the application of accounting and finance within international organisations. We examine case studies to illustrate how firms are using certain tools and techniques in practise, allowing you to apply your learning to real-life business scenarios and gain a critical perspective on the wider economic environment.