Master of Science in Professional Accountancy (University of London)

Applicant must be an active member of an acceptable professional accountancy body and passed the last professional level paper in past five years.If the qualification was awarded more than five years ago, the applicant has to provide proof that they are in good standing with their professional body.

English Proficiency Requirement

• Applicant will meet the English language requirements if he/she has one of the following:
  • Passed the English version of the professional accountancy body qualification
  • A current member of acceptable professional body
  • Holds a bachelor's degree assessed in English which is comparable to a UK upper second class honours degree from an institution acceptable to the University.
  • Or equivalent English language proficiency test result completed within three years

Graduates may find themselves taking a major step towards developing an international or strategic focus within their careers. While some will accelerate their careers with existing employers, others can create a potential for change and pursue academia.

Major directions include jobs in business analysis and development, banking, management and strategy consulting, corporate finance and investment, human resource management and marketing.

Structure

• All class are conducted on SIM campus unless otherwise stated.
• Duration of each lesson is typically 3 hours.
• Classes are taught by experienced lecturers from SIM.
• There must be a minimum of 25 students for the programmes to commence. Students will be informed within one month prior to class commencement if the programme fails to commence due to low take up rate.
• Average teacher-student ratio for full-time programme: 1:17
• Average teacher-student ratio for part-time programme: 1:15

Assessment & Attendance

• 15-credit module: 100% coursework
• 30-credit capstone project: 25% research proposal, 75% final project
• Attendance Requirements
  • Local: 75%
  • International (Student Pass / Dependent Pass / Long-term Visit Pass): 90%

Modules

Capital Markets and Global Perspectives (15 credits)

This module aims to provide students with a sound understanding of the purposes, nature and operation of global capital markets. It seeks to identify who uses them, why and how. Within that, it illustrates the dynamics of the interaction of actions as capital is exchanged using financial instruments to generate returns while managing risks. It reveals the context in which these actors operate in markets and particularly so in the context of regulations imposed on markets.

Topics covered:

• Purpose(s) and nature (s) of global capital markets and financial actors
• Global perspective on the risk-return trade-off
• IPOs
• Regulations and compliance
• interaction dynamics between financial actors
• Financial instruments – stock, bonds, derivatives

Issues in Investment Management (15 credits)

This module seeks to understand the nature and purposes of, and issues within investment decisions in a range of investment opportunities. In so doing to articulate and illustrate applied principles of investment in stocks/shares, bonds, mutual funds and other securities within an investment portfolio. It also provides a practical familiarity with issues in investment in derivatives and in real estate.

Topics covered:

• The investment arena
• Portfolio theory and market efficiency
• Behavioural insights and associated issues
• Investing in and managing fixed income securities/common equities
• Measurement and management risk
• Frameworks for derivatives and alternative investments

Capstone Project (30 credits)

This module aims to provide an opportunity to demonstrate independent academic research skills and apply them in real world and simulated professional contexts, to present and provide potential solutions, and recommendations to an accounting/finance/strategic management related issue.