MSc Professional Accounting

Transcription

1 MSc Professional Accounting This programme is only offered at: Final award Intermediate awards available Mode of delivery Details of professional body accreditation Relevant QAA Benchmark statements UEL Academic School Date specification last updated MSc Professional Accounting Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Accounting UEL on campus N/A Masters Degrees in Business and Management Type 1 Specialist School of Business and Law 21 September 2014 Alternative locations for studying this programme Location Which elements? Taught by UEL staff Taught by local staff Method of Delivery The summary - Programme advertising leaflet Programme content The MSc Professional Accounting is a specialist academic programme developed around the professional level papers of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the ACA qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). It provides the opportunity to obtain a master s degree which can lead to postgraduate employment whilst simultaneously preparing you for some examination papers at professional levels of relevant accountancy bodies. If you choose to take advantage of this fast track career development route towards a professional accounting qualification, you will be responsible for arranging and taking the relevant examination papers externally, as the accountancy bodies do not currently offer accredited exemptions from papers at professional level. The programme is based on the recognition that international and global accounting and finance skills are required in order for businesses to compete effectively and efficiently. The main emphasis is on strategic finance and management accounting. You will be exposed to leading theoretical frameworks in Accounting, challenged to extract the practical

2 applicability of such theory and to apply this to accounting practices and processes. The programme is designed to offer specialist, holistic knowledge and understanding of accounting and finance in areas such as: Governance & Accountability; Corporate Reporting; Business Strategy; Strategic Financial Management; Audit & Assurance and Taxation. MSc Professional Accounting at UEL UEL has a record of over 25 years experience in providing undergraduate Accountancy training. It also offers a wide range of postgraduate programmes at a local, regional, national and international level. The MSc Professional Accounting is a flexible credit based programme leading towards a higher degree in accounting and finance with a strong focus of the application of theory to practice. The programme: Offers the opportunity/choice to study for a postgraduate degree and simultaneously prepare for sitting externally, some of the professional level examination papers set by the ACCA and ICAEW. Gives the opportunity for accounting practitioners to become familiar with current academic discourse and accounting and finance related research. Provides training in research methods and methodology; the underpinning research in accounting and finance will enable you to critically evaluate accounting and financial research literature and understand recent trends and new developments. Incorporates a distinctive skills curriculum that is designed to develop your interpersonal and transferable skills for work and life, enhancing your future career and employability prospects. Offers opportunities for further employment by UEL s close proximity and access to financial centres in Canary Wharf and the City of London. Is available on a full time or part time mode of study to suit the needs of busy practitioners. Gives the option of interim awards at certificate and diploma level, if you do not wish to, or are unable to, complete the programme Entry requirements For admission to postgraduate business and management programmes, applicants should normally have the following: Either: A UK Honours Degree (2:2 minimum) in accounting/accounting & finance, or A professional accountancy qualification (at the appropriate level), or Equivalent overseas degrees recognised by UEL, or Degree equivalent qualification and a minimum of 2 years relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis, And A GCSE at grade C or above or equivalent qualification in Mathematics Two references, at least one should preferably be academic

3 If you wish to apply to enter stages of the programme you may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Such applicants must therefore be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption. In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, the University s English Language requirements as detailed on the website at time of application must be met see At UEL we are committed to working together to build a learning community founded on equality of opportunity - a learning community which celebrates the rich diversity of our student and staff populations. Discriminatory behaviour has no place in our community and will not be tolerated. Within a spirit of respecting difference, our equality and diversity policies promise fair treatment and equality of opportunity for all. In pursuing this aim, we want people applying for a place at UEL to feel valued and know that the process and experience will be transparent and fair and no one will be refused access on the grounds of any protected characteristic stated in the Equality Act We are committed to working with all staff and students. If you would like to know more please visit our UEL Moodle website or contact us. All questions and comments will be dealt with sensitively and your confidentiality will be respected Programme structure The programme is offered in both a Full Time and Part Time mode of study. There are two in-takes a year, September and February. The full-time programme will be offered on the basis of two modules per term, while part-time students will complete one module per term. Full Time students will be able to complete within one year if they join in September or within 16 months if they join in February. Part time students who join in September will be able to complete in 2 years or in 2 years and 4 months if they join in February. The programme consists of six 30 Level 7 Credit Modules. This includes the core 30 credit Level 7 Dissertation. Learning environment As a student of UEL you will have access to various UEL campuses which provides extensive state-of the-art resources including our Bloomberg trading centre with "live" terminals. We provide free access to comprehensive online quantitative training and you can obtain a Bloomberg certificate which will enhance their employability profile. The Docklands Library and ICT provision is described as "outstanding" with students having access to 600 computers in an open-plan environment, which is open 24 hours a day during teaching weeks. You will have access to the internet and to the university network, both of which provide an extensive range of on-line facilities including electronic databases containing thousands of journals, electronic books, and financial databases.

4 The university library also has an extensive range of books and services for students, and includes the "Skills Zone", a friendly centre that provides you with an opportunity to acquire and develop many skills in particular, Academic Writing, Maths and IT. The support they provide is not subject specific and is open to all students at UEL. They provide support through Drop-Ins, One-to-One Appointments and Workshops. The aim is to help you to develop the skills you need to become a successful independent learner. The programme aims to develop your IT-related skills including word-processing, spreadsheets and PowerPoint, commercial accounting software applications, and effective searching of on-line data bases. You will have free access to the "European Computer Driving Licence", an interactive online computing course. If you choose to take the associated tests, you will gain an internationally recognised qualification accredited by the British Computer Society, which is valuable for employability. Teaching takes place in classrooms which are all equipped with computers and visualizers. You are able to access these facilities to practise your presentation skills in preparation for assessments. Designed to be highly participative the programme encourages the sharing of information, ideas, experiences and values, and helping each other to gain the maximum benefit. All modules consist of a combination of the following learning approaches: scheduled lectures and seminars which may include: discussions; debates; presentations; organisational visits; online discussion boards and a business simulation based on written and audio-visual learning materials. In order to support and complement the development of your skills, selected Accounting professionals will be invited to provide guest lectures on the programme. There will be guided and independent learning activities such as the revision of lecture material; preparation for lectures, seminars; the completion of formative and summative assessments and guided and independent reading and research. Assessment Your progress in each individual module will be examined by at least one and a maximum of two assessment tasks. A range of different types of assessment will be used throughout the programme to reflect the learning outcomes in each module and to assist in developing a range of skills subject based, cognitive, transferable and lifelong skills. Some assessments may require you to work individually or in groups and can include types of assessments such as essays, reports, case study analysis, time constrained assignments, presentations, closed book examinations etc. Formative assessments may also be undertaken in class to assist you with preparation for your summative assessments. The form of assessment for each module will be identified in the module handbook at the beginning of each term.all assessments outlined in the individual module specifications are in line with the UEL Assessment Tariffs and will be conducted in accordance with UEL Assessment Policy. Examinations take place in January and May of each year with re-sits in August. To obtain the award of MSc Professional Accounting a student must pass all of the modules. The overall pass mark for each module is 50% made up of the aggregate of the various components of assessment. For each component, a mark of at least 40% must be obtained in each module. You would normally be expected to complete all components of the first semester before progressing on to the second semester.

5 The University of East London is required to ensure that research conducted by staff and students adhere to the principles of good research practice and recognised codes of ethical conduct. Thus the School of Business and Law must ensure that it is complaint with the relevant commitments under The Concordat to Support Research Integrity (Universities UK, 2012) and other University regulations pertaining to research ethics. It is therefore important that any research to be conducted by students which involves the use of human subjects and data, must be submitted for ethical review prior to commencement. To this end, it is the responsibility of the School of Business and Law School Research Ethics Committee (SREC) to consider and approve applications for ethical approval for proposed research by undergraduate and taught postgraduate students (including professional doctorate programmes returned to HESA as taught) involving the use of human participants and/or sensitive personal data of any kind. Should you have a disabilities and/or particular learning needs you should discuss assessments with the Programme Leader to ensure you are able to fully engage with all assessment within the programme. Relevance to work/profession The programme is based on the appropriate QAA subject benchmark statements which indicate that the MSc Professional Accounting degree is a specialist Master s degree (Type 1). It therefore requires students to have both theoretical and applied perspectives and able to apply a range of specialist skills to the organisations in which they may work/practise as specialists. The learning outcomes of this programme are therefore partly based on students ability to reflect on what have been studied and how to put this into the context of the work of accounting practitioners. Dissertation/project work The majority of modules have coursework which is essentially a mini-project, often involving the use of online facilities to carry out research into a particular area, such as a particular company, a case study or a specific Accounting or Finance topic. You will become familiar with electronic sources of accounting and financial data, and how this can be analysed and interpreted. Students will have the opportunity to review and report on current developments and contemporary issues in Financial Accounting and Management Accounting as coursework in AC7229 Corporate Reporting, AC7231 Strategic Financial Management and AC7234 Strategic Performance Management. In order to obtain the award of MSc you will need to complete AC7236 Dissertation module, this involves carrying out independent research in an accounting or finance related area of your own choice. You will be supported and your progress regularly monitored by your academic supervisor, but this is mainly self-managed study, assessed by a report. On this programme the Dissertation is 30 Level 7 credits rather than the 60 on other postgraduate programmes within the school. This is because the programme has been designed to complement the professional accreditation you may wish to apply for. To ensure compliance the programme content has been mapped against the learning outcomes required for the advanced independent research to ensure that they are covered across the MS

6 Professional Accounting programme. In particular the area of Research Methods is covered in the AC7230 Business Strategy module. Added value The UEL Campus The School of Business and Law is located in a state of the arts campus which offers a large range of new student facilities including modern lecture theatres, IT labs and library. Our library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the semester, allowing you to undertake your guided and independent research and reading when it is most suitable for you. It holds a wide range of Accounting & Finance journals that enable you to engage with relevant materials for your degree and beyond, thus supporting you in developing an extensive knowledge base. Many of the Accounting related journals and books are available electronically, so that you do not have to rely on hardcopies being available to borrow from the library and you can undertake your studies from home or anywhere you have access to the internet. On campus FT.com, ESDS, Data-stream and Bloomberg databases are also available to download financial data and information. As mentioned above, the MSc Professional Accounting is a specialist academic programme developed around the professional level papers of the ACCA and ICAEW. It is offered as a fast track career development route towards a professional accounting qualification. This is of considerable advantage to students who wish to obtain a Master s degree alongside a professional accounting qualification. In addition, the programme also aims to prepare students for both postgraduate level and accounting practitioner employment. Many modules enable you to carry out research in a variety of areas, which is good preparation for further postgraduate study, and enables you to be well prepared to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers. The programme has a strong emphasis on the acquisition of intellectual and transferable skills and incorporates a distinctive skills curriculum that is specifically designed to develop your skills for work and life. Surveys show that these skills are valued by employers and should therefore improve your future employment prospects. You will also have the opportunity to attend guest lectures delivered by leading academics and experienced practitioners who provide a mixture of academic theory and a forum for discussion of current issues in the workplace. You are encouraged to attend events organised by the three School of Business and Law research centres (CIME, Islamic Finance and Banking Centre and the Noon Centre for Equality and Diversity). These provide value through conceptual knowledge of theory and its practical application. School of Business and Law Employability Centre provides advice and assistance on employment opportunities for our current students and past graduates. The School of Business and Law has a state-of-the art Bloomberg Trading Centre with live Bloomberg terminals. It provides free online access and comprehensive quantitative training towards a Bloomberg Certificate award. You also have free access to the ECDL computing qualification. Both of these will enhance your employability profile.

7 Your future career After graduation, a range of graduate employment opportunities will be available, and a wide variety of such posts are advertised by companies. Examples are: Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, Budget Controller, Tax Advisor, Internal or External Auditor. If you wish to obtain your professional qualifications, you may complete the ACCA or the ACA (ICAEW) qualification alongside or within one year of graduation. You may wish to consider undertaking teacher's training qualifications - UEL offers suitable postgraduate programmes. Or you could pursue a relevant PhD pathway specialising in areas such as: Accounting & Finance, Investments, Business Management, Audit and Assurance etc. How we support you Academic A personal tutor will be allocated to you for the duration of your degree who can advise you on academic and personal development matters. Module leaders and seminar tutors provide feedback on your progress in each module to assist with your learning. The programme leader can help if you have any programme-related issues. The teaching staff are always willing to give help and advice, and will set aside specific hours each week in each semester to see students. This is useful mainly for one-to-one assessment feedback and during revision time. The subject librarian is available for any queries regarding the use oflibrary resources for your research and can advise you on locating sources for relevant materials. The student representatives, who study on the programme in the same year as you, can raise any concerns regarding the programme or individual modules with the teaching team on behalf of your student cohort. Administrative On joining the programme you will be provided with an induction week, at which you will meet your academic lecturers and your personal tutor whom you will see regularly during your time with us. The staff at the School of Business and Law Helpdesk will be able to answer queries you may have about the operation of your degree The main UEL Student Services team can assist with financial matters, health and wellbeing as well as offering support for students with a disability. Employability The School offers a range of opportunities to engage with industry through its lecture series. The School of Business and Law l offers a mentoring scheme where you can benefit from the experience of a personal business mentor.

8 Our employability team at the School of Business and Law Employability Centre provides advice on job applications, preparing CVs, interview techniques and job opportunities. They also arrange Careers Fairs and organise Assessment Centres. The main university services include Finance advice, an IT Helpdesk, Skill Zone, counseling and an additional needs advisor Talks by professional accountancy bodies are arranged to enable students to keep up to date with developments in these bodies' examination structures and registration requirements. Bonus factors UEL has a close proximity and access to financial centres in Canary Wharf and the City of London which can facilitate you with networking opportunities and possibly future employment. You can choose to take your professional level accounting qualifications externally alongside your programme at UEL. Programme aims and learning outcomes What is this programme designed to achieve? This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to: Master the theoretical concepts, principles and techniques of Accounting and Finance and their role within organisations by exploring the balance between theory and practice. Explore how these concepts can be applied to a range of complex situations in practice, with the use of traditional and more sophisticated analytical tools, models and decision making techniques to successfully operate as practitioners of Accounting and Finance; Acquire specialist analytical and research skills needed in Accounting and Finance related methods and strategies, either as an academic or as a practitioner; Equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills (including thinking and general skills) to achieve the appropriate level of postgraduate award and to continue your lifelong learning and career development. What will you learn? Knowledge Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of accounting and finance concepts and techniques including current reporting standards and a range of contemporary issues An understanding of the application of accounting theories in the context of how they contribute to strategic financial decision-making, planning and control within business organisations. Enhanced knowledge of governance and risk in the context of ethics and social responsibility Applied knowledge of modern approaches to a range of complex business situations in practice.

9 Critical awareness of the main accounting issues and their potential implications for financial management and stakeholder needs. current developments, issues and debates in accounting and finance at both theoretical and applied levels Thinking skills Develop analytical and numerical thinking skills Analyse and interpret data from collected research Critically evaluate relevant literature surrounding accounting issues Demonstrate competencies in critical and creative thinking to key issues Subject-Based Practical skills Use ICT tools to search for, retrieve and analyse financial information Reflect on and evaluate accounting and financial data and information Select and apply appropriate financial tools and models to identify, diagnose and resolve financial and management accounting problems Possess a range of financial skills to become an effective financial manager with relevant knowledge of accounting and finance issues Complete a major problem-solving exercise either within a specific accounting area or a particular company Skills for life and work (general skills) Communicate research findings in a clear and logical manner Work effectively and sensitively with peers wither on an individual basis or in groups Develop capability for completing independent research within time constraints through management of own time and group time, where appropriate Enhance interpersonal and communications skills, including presentations and written reports Develop an aptitude for lifelong learning Strengthen competence in lifelong learning and continuing professional development The programme structure Introduction All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed. One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study). Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels: 3 equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme 4 equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme

10 5 equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme 6 equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme 7 equivalent in standard to a Masters degree Credit rating The overall credit-rating of this programme is 180 Level 7 Masters Credits. Typical duration The duration of this programme is one calendar year full-time if enrolment is in September, and two calendar years part-time. For February enrolment, the duration becomes 15 months full time, and 27 months part-time. It is possible to move from full-time to part-time study and vice-versa to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period. However, international students must refer to the International Student Visa Advise service at UEL for guidance. How the teaching year is divided The teaching year begins in September and ends in June. A typical student registered in a full-time attendance mode will study the equivalent of 180 credits over the year. A typical student registered in a part-time attendance mode will study for one day and/or one evening per week and will complete 60 credits per year. What you will study when Level Year/ Semester Module code Module Distance Learning (Y/N) Credits *Status 7 1/A AC7228 Governance & Accountability N 30 Core 7 1/A AC7229 Corporate Reporting N 30 Core

11 7 1/B AC7230 Business Strategy N 30 Core 7 1/B AC7231 Strategic Financial Management N 30 Option 7 1/B AC7232 Advanced Taxation N 30 Option 7 1/C AC7233 Strategic Performance Management N 30 Option 7 1/C AC7234 Advanced Auditing & Assurance N 30 Option 7 1/C AC7235 Dissertation N 30 Core *Please Note - A core module for a programme is a module which a student must have passed (i.e. been awarded credit) in order to achieve the relevant named award. An optional module for a programme is a module selected from a range of modules available on the programme. Requirements for gaining an award In order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits at Level 7. In order to gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level 7. In order to obtain a Masters, you will need to obtain 180 credits atlevel 7. These credits will include a 30 credit level 7 core module of advanced independent research.

12 Masters Award Classification Where a student is eligible for an Masters award then the award classification is determined by calculating the credit-weighted arithmetic mean of all marks on the current enrolment and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification; 70% - 100% Distinction 60%- 69% Merit 50% - 59% Pass 0% - 49% Not passed Teaching, learning and assessment Teaching and learning A variety of teaching methods will be used and you will be expected to lead discussion based on your own research activities and reflective practice. You will also be expected to work in groups and present findings and solutions to problems. At all times you will be encouraged to reflect on and take responsibility for your own learning. Tutorial and seminar groups are a key component of the programme and aim to assist you with analysing underlying principles and practices of accounting and assess your application to specific issues. The main approaches to teaching and learning can be summarised as an emphasis on the role of learners in acquiring knowledge and understanding, the development of skills for selfmanaged learning and self-assessment and a critical approach to study. Knowledge is developed through Directed and general reading in the module Knowledge based participation in lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops Primary research using collection and analysis of financial data, and the use of information technology to undertake secondary research Familiarity with case studies and financial tools/models Thinking skills are developed through Preparation of tasks set for tutorials, seminars and workshops and linking theory to practice Satisfactory completion of the continuous assessment process including essays, presentations, reports, case studies, projects Preparation for examinations or major assignments such as the dissertation Problem-solving and critical analysis in seminar activities including reflective activities with feedback Online discussions and activities Practical skills are developed through

13 Academic and research skills sessions Computer laboratory and IT activities, where appropriate Case studies and workshops Undertaking data collection and analysis Planning and staging of presentations Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through Managing time so that assignment deadlines are met, whether working in groups or individually Forming and working in teams which will develop organisational, motivational and communication skills Being able to produce clearly argued solutions when problem solving Academic writing ability. Assessment Knowledge is assessed by: Group and individual coursework/assignments Essays Examinations Thinking skills are assessed by: Group and individual coursework/assignments Examinations Project work Practical skills are assessed by: Report outlines/guidelines Forms of formative and summative assessments Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by: Group and individual coursework/assignments Report writing Time management How we assure the quality of this programme Before this programme started Before this programme started, the following was checked: there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme; adequate resources would be in place; the overall aims and objectives were appropriate; the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;

14 the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements; the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms. This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions. How we monitor the quality of this programme The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating: external examiner reports (considering quality and standards); statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate); student feedback. Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee. Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed. The role of the programme committee This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures. The role of external examiners The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities: To ensure the standard of the programme; To ensure that justice is done to individual students. External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including: Approving exam papers/assignments; Attending assessment boards; Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks; Ensuring that regulations are followed;

15 Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future. The external examiner reports for this programme are located on the UEL virtual learning environment (Moodle) on the school notice board under the section entitled External Examiner Reports & Responses. You can also view a list of the external examiners for the UEL School by clicking on the link below. Listening to the views of students The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme: Module evaluations Student representation on programme committees (meeting twice a year) Student/Staff consultative committee (meeting twice a year) Students are notified of the action taken through: circulating the minutes of the programme committee providing details on the programme noticeboard Individual responses to students as required Oral communication/feedback on progress to the whole group Postings on our online discussion forums Listening to the views of others The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties: Questionnaires to former students Annual student satisfaction questionnaire Business School Advisory Board Formal contact with external examiners Professional Bodies such as ACCA and ICAEW Approval of major changes to the programme via School Board, SQSC, programme committees and external examiners Further information Further information about this programme is available from: The UEL web site ( School of Business and Law website ( The student handbook (Moodle website) Module study guides (Moodle website) UEL Manual of General Regulations ( UEL Quality Manual ( Regulations for theacademic Framework

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