M.Sc. in Strategic Accounting Principles

Course Description

This programme focuses on strategic, accounting, finance, financial, and management topics typically studied for the ACCA Strategic Professional examinations. Students have the opportunity to independently sit for these ACCA examinations. The programme covers modules such as Strategic Business Leader, Strategic Business Reporting, Advanced Financial Management, and Advanced Audit and Assurance.

Moreover, this programme empowers students with relevant accounting techniques, enabling them to develop into strategic thinkers who evaluate available information to make ethical decisions. The Strategic Business Leader module emphasizes leadership and professional skills, emphasizing comprehensive understanding of the business and effective people management. With the Strategic Business Reporting module, students learn the interpretation of financial reporting using accounting principles.

These latter modules directly contribute to the Advanced Financial Management module, which focuses on techniques for making both short- and long-term decisions. The Advanced Audit and Assurance module provides understanding of the auditor’s role, allowing students to delve into auditing through our Master’s programme and address audit queries, should they prefer to build their career in accounting rather than auditing.

Programme objectives:

• Provide students with important accounting techniques.
• Equip students with the relevant knowledge and skills for them to make ethically sound decisions in the accounting industry.
• Develop critical thinking skills amongst students.
• Equip students with relevant research skills in preparation for the dissertation.

Entry Requirements

Candidates who apply for this course will hold a:

• Level 6 Degree related to one of the following areas: Finance and/or Accounting. 

 OR 

• Level 6 degree not related to Finance and/or Accounting and a minimum of two years relevant experience (subject to interview by admissions board) 

OR  

• Level 5 Diploma or Higher Diploma related to Finance and/or Accounting and 4 years’ work experience preferably in a position related to the subject area of this programme (subject to interview by admissions board). 

In the case of mature students who do not possess all the formal required academic qualifications, then the RPL process could be applied such that if evidence of equivalent learning is found then the applicant could still be accepted in the course. Such RPL process will subject applicants to an interview held with a board of experts within the field, chosen specifically by IDEA Academy, so as to verify their experiences and prior learning.

Students whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate English language capability at IELTS level 6.0 or equivalent.

Target Audience

• Individuals seeking to advance their academic and professional knowledge in Accounting. 
• Individuals who already have a good foundation in accountancy and would like to take their studies a step further by embarking onto professional modules intended to broaden their knowledge for them to work independently and become certified public accountants and registered auditors. 
• Individuals wanting to pursue a wide range of accounting, consulting, financial, and managerial career paths with the intention of leading a team of individuals and helping their junior staff progress as well as assisting their employers in making the right decisions. 
• Individuals wanting to enhance their ability to interpret, assess, and communicate financial related data in a way that ensures proactivity and, to a certain extent, devise strategies for the business.

Career Paths

The programme prepares for positions such as and not limited to:

• Business strategy role 
• Chief Financial Officer 
• Income Tax Specialist 
• VAT Specialist 
• Senior managerial role 

Modules

You are required to complete all 6 compulsory modules (104 ECTS) to fulfil to the requirements of this Master of Science

How you’ll be assessed

The method of assessment is assignment-based.

The course comprises:

• 16 lectures per module;
• 3-hour lectures (evening);
• 12 hours of guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos;
• Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.

Assessment

The programme includes different forms of assessment which allow for and promote students’ critical engagement. The formative and summative assessment tasks may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules.