Msc Accounting and Finance Programme Specification 2023-24

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2023-24
3	Revised February 2023
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6	Programme Title			MSc. Accounting and Finance
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8	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2023			Award type			MSc
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10	What level is this qualification?			7(M)			Length of programme			1 year
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12	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full Time
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14	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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16	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Finance BoS
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18	Lead department			School for Business and Society			Other contributing departments			Department of Economics and Related Subjects
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20	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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22	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus Based
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24	Partner organisations
25	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
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28	Reference points
29	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
30	The QAA benchmark statement for finance has been considered. The Business and Management QAA bench mark at the masters 7(M) level has been considered.
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32	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
33	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
34	N/A
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36	Exceptions to Regulations
37	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
38	N/A
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40	Internal Transfers
41	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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43		Transfers in:	Yes - if the admission criteria is the same for the programme.				Transfers out:	Yes - if the admission criteria is the same for the programme.
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46	Statement of Purpose
47	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
48	Accounting and Finance are closely related, but clearly distinct, academic disciplines. Finance is forward-looking, considering the value of projects, shares, corporate bonds and other financial assets based on estimates of the future cash inflows and outflows that a business will generate. In order to make these forecasts, investors rely heavily on the past financial performance of the firm, which is summarised by accountants within the financial statements of the corporation. The MSc Accounting and Finance will give students a rigorous understanding of a variety of academic skills that will allow them to address accounting and financial problems - and the interdependencies between them - in a way that is firmly grounded within a real-world context. This degree is therefore particularly suitable for non-accountants who are aiming for a career as an equity or corporate bond analyst within an investment bank or fund management firm, as well as those who wish to develop an accounting career towards a Finance Director role or who wish to work as a financial consultant within an accounting firm. In addition to gaining a range of academic skills in accounting and finance and an understanding of how to apply them in practice, students will study a variety of relevant mathematical and statistical methods that underpin many techniques that are applied in industry and academia, and they will undertake a substantive individual research project where they can apply their knowledge to a real-world accounting and/or financial problem. Students will also gain a range of employability and personal transferrable skills that can be directly applied within a career in finance and accounting. The MSc Accounting and Finance will also require students to reflect on ethical and sustainable aspects of decision making, placing the programme firmly within the Public Good mission of the wider University.
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57	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
58	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
59	Masters (MSc) Accounting and Finance			Entry and Exit	All Eight PLOs to be completed				Modules normally Level 7(M). At least 150* credits at Level 7(M); maximum 30 credits at Level 6(H)
60	Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) Accounting and Finance			Exit Only	PLO 1 - 7 inclusive to be compeleted				Modules normally Level 7(M). At least 90*credits at Level 7(M); maximum 30 credits at Level 6(H)
61	Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert) Accounting and Finance			Exit Only	PLO 1 - 7 inclusive to be compeleted				Modules normally Level 7(M). At least 40 credits at Level 7(M); maximum 20 credits at Level 6(H)
62	*Note: these award requirements reflect the minimum requirements set out in the QAA’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. For programmes using the 20-credit common modular currency, the expectation for design would be at least 160 credits at Level 7(M) for Masters and at least 100 credits at Level 7(M) for Postgraduate Diplomas.
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64	Programme Learning Outcomes
65	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
66	1	Display a systematic and critical understanding of the behaviour and operations of the accounting and finance functions within a non-financial organisation, the environments in which they operate, and the role they play in the wider economic system.
67	2	Describe a range of techniques used in practice in accounting, corporate finance and asset management and demonstrate critical awareness of the potential problems and limitations of those techniques
68	3	Appraise and evaluate the major theories underlying the study of accounting and finance, be able to describe the assumptions and mathematics methods behind these theories and communicate clearly to academic and managerial audiences the advantages and limitations of applying these theories to specific practical contexts.
69	4	Analyse and interpret corporate financial statements for the purposes of equity, corporate bond, and overall corporate valuation.
70	5	Solve complex problems in accounting and finance by locating, downloading and cleaning the most appropriate financial and related data, and applying the most relevant statistical and computational techniques to these data to address the problem at hand.
71	6	Explain how sustainable and ethical corporate behaviour can co-exist with the accounting and finance requirements of non-financial organisations, and display a critical understanding of how such a balanced management approach can be implemented.
72	7	Produce well-reasoned written communications based on analytical reasoning and supported, where necessary, by data-based evidence, and display other personal transferable skills including: the ability to work positively within a group; act inclusively within a diverse academic community; reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses; identify areas for growth in their own knowledge and practice by engaging in continuing professional development.
73	8	Formulate an accounting and/or finance project proposal; identify the relevant academic and practitioner literature that best inform the project; identify and obtain the most appropriate data and methodologies for undertaking the project; independently carry out the project efficiently and to deadline; and effectively communicate results in a way that will persuade both expert and non-expert audiences.
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75	Diverse entry routes
76	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
77	The programme has entry requirements established to allow entry for graduates with an upper second-class overall grade with an undergraduate degree containing a significant proportion of accounting modules. The one further requirement stated in the entry criteria is that the applicant should have evidence of past quantitative skills. This should be evidenced by a module in the second or third years of a degree which has a strong quantitative element. This might include yet not exclusively statistics, econometrics, mathematics, engineering, physics or a similar quantitative field. Within this programme we have two foundation core modules (Finance and Investment Management and Quantitative Methods for Finance) which introduce all students into finance and investments and enhances current quantitative skills and techniques required for study. The first semester of the programme is developed to include only core modules which are deemed appropriate for those studying accounting and finance, after some previous exposure to these academic disciplines in their past studies.
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84	Inclusion
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86	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.
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88	Employability
89	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
90	This course will help build your qualifications for a career in financial management or accountancy. The skills that you will develop are in demand far beyond the financial services industry. The programme will assist in building a career in commercial elements and particularly in occupations including as an accountant, financial manager, business analyst, banker, economist, financial advisor and as a teacher in higher education.
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94	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
95	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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97	Year abroad					Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				Not appropriate for the programme
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99	Year in industry					Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				Not appropriate for the programme
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