Accounting and Finance MSc

Course overview

Gain a head start for your career in accounting and finance with a Masters degree that is highly relevant for today's finance-driven organisations.

Careers in accounting and finance are rewarding and extremely competitive. To succeed, you’ll need the essential academic knowledge and the practical skills to apply this in a professional environment. The MSc Accounting and Finance covers both, giving you a real advantage for your future.

You’ll build a dynamic blend of technical accounting expertise and advanced financial knowledge, focusing on essential skills like financial reporting standards, performance evaluation and capital management.

The MSc Accounting and Finance combines research-led teaching from our cutting-edge research centres, allowing you to explore the latest emerging trends. With a focus on the development of practical quantitative skills, your learning is grounded in up-to-date industry insights and real-world data analysis.

You’ll enjoy a challenging, rewarding and rounded learning experience, covering fundamental topics such as corporate finance and corporate reporting. Optional modules allow you to specialise in areas such as forensic accounting and python programming for finance.

Our inspirational academics are influential thinkers with a real passion for their subject. Experts in their field, they have extensive teaching, research and internationally renowned consultancy experience.

Course Highlights

• Get the skills for success with the latest highly sought-after quantitative skills training, including machine learning and data analytics.
• Work with company case studies and simulations to test yourself in real-world business scenarios, including a trading bootcamp with interactive learning in immersive simulations of financial services sector roles.
• Our strong relationships with the accounting, finance and credit professions give you the latest practitioner and policy developments. This includes high-profile guest speakers, with recent visits from a non-executive board member at UBS, the Head of Securities and Fund Services at Citigroup Asia Pacific and members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee.
• Our two on-campus trading rooms give you access to the tools and platforms used by financial professionals, such as Bloomberg, WRDS, CSMAR, Refinitiv Eikon and Datastream – deepening your understanding of real-time financial analysis, data interpretation and investment decision-making.
• On all masters courses at Leeds University Business School, you can apply for a place on a week-long international study tour, which includes company visits, guest lectures and networking events. Previous study tours have included visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich. 

Accounting and Finance at Leeds University Business School

As a student in the Accounting and Finance department, you’ll engage with innovative ideas and the latest real-world challenges through teaching that’s connected to our advanced specialist research centres, which have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia; the Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance, the  International Banking Institute and the  Credit Management Research Centre.

Watch our department video

Accreditation

We are affiliated with the CFA Institute (Chartered Financial Analyst) as a member of the CFA® University Affiliation Program. Eligible students can apply for CFA® scholarships that cover the cost of registration for the CFA examination.

Leeds University Business School has triple accreditation from the three leading bodies: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.

This means you'll join one of the UK's most prestigious business schools with a global reputation for high-quality teaching and research. We’ll introduce you to a culture of new ideas and different perspectives. Our diverse, international learning community will offer you new experiences and global connections for life.

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Course details and modules

You'll explore the essentials of corporate finance and the relationship between accounting information and organisational performance.

At the same time, you'll build advanced skills in handling quantitative data and examine how modern finance theories are applied to solve complex finance problems.

You'll develop your critical thinking and analytical skills, gaining an understanding of important research methods in finance and their impact on current practice.

You'll gain specialist knowledge with your choice of optional modules in a range of subject areas, such as behavioural finance, international banking and finance, international investment, and information and organisation design.

To demonstrate the knowledge and skills you acquire during the course, you’ll design and carry out your own research dissertation in the final semester. This allows you to focus on a topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.

Throughout the course we’ll support you to develop the professional skills that are critical for a successful career in the financial services.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Accounting and Finance MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, allowing you to develop your skills in research and analysis.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help support your studies. This is a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your course and modules.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise both knowledge and essential skills development. This may include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs.

This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for your professional career.

Applying

Entry requirements

A Bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent in a related subject, for example accounting, economics or finance. Must have a good grounding in quantitative subjects.

International qualifications

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Business (6 weeks) and Language for Business (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional. 

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Documents and information you'll need

• a copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
• contact details for two academic references
• a personal statement
• an up-to-date CV
• your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
• a letter of sponsorship, if you need one.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2026

This course is taught by

Leeds University Business School

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Office

Email: masters@lubs.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £18,750 (Total)

International: £35,500 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

We’re offering over 100 Business School Excellence Scholarships to UK and International students starting one of our Masters courses in 2025. These scholarships offer up to a 50% fee reduction and will be awarded to particularly deserving applicants who demonstrate excellent academic, professional and personal achievements.

Find out more about scholarships at Leeds University Business School:

International Excellence Scholarships (International applicants)

Masters Excellence Scholarships (UK applicants)

Read more about Masters Funding and Scholarships at the University of Leeds

Career opportunities

From day one, we encourage you to look beyond your time at Leeds and towards a meaningful career.

Career opportunities for graduates of this course are vast, with recent graduates working as:

• audit managers – such as group audit managers and tax audit managers
• finance managers – for example, financial reporting managers, capital finance managers and treasury accounting managers
• management consultants – such as accounting advisory consultants, cost optimisation consultants and tax advisory consultants
• forensic accountants – including forensic auditors, financial crime analysts, and fraud examiners/investigators.

This course prepares you for a global financial career and graduates have secured roles in companies such as Barclays, BDO, CCB, China UnionPay International, Deloitte, EY, HSBC, Inditex, KPMG, Lloyds Banking Group, PwC and Virgin Media O2.

This masters is also an excellent qualification for individuals seeking to pursue a postgraduate research degree.

We'll work with you to develop the knowledge, skills and experiences you need to accelerate your professional development, set yourself apart in the job market and achieve your goals.

Skills for your future

This course equips you with a 360° Finance Professional Skillset, meaning you’ll gain vital work-ready skills and graduate prepared to lead and innovate across diverse sectors.

Through a curriculum designed to foster critical thinking, ethical awareness and global and cultural insight, you develop the intellectual agility to navigate complex challenges. You’ll develop strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, alongside in-demand skills, including:

• financial reporting standards
• performance evaluation
• capital management
• quantitative skills such as financial modelling and analytics
• technical accounting expertise
• problem solving and strategic decision-making
• leadership and teamworking
• commercial and ethical awareness
• digital literacy
• presentation and written communication skills
• enterprise acumen
• sustainability awareness.

As part of our dedicated Critical Skills module, you’ll take part in a Professional Experience Week where you can test your skills in a supported environment. You’ll identify problems, analyse financial and non-financial data, and exercise your professional and ethical judgement to develop real-world recommendations.

Links with industry

As a student of the Accounting and Finance Department, you can benefit from commercial awareness networking events and guest lectures from high profile industry speakers or regulatory bodies. In addition, you'll experience an intensive five-day trading bootcamp with Amplify ME– an interactive, real-world learning experience with immersive simulations of various financial services sector roles.

Guaranteed industry experience

The Global Industry Programme gives Masters students a great opportunity to gain real-world experience through live industry projects. You’ll connect with leading companies across the globe to work on impactful, hands-on consultancy projects, enhancing your employability skills and enabling you to apply your theoretical knowledge to practical business challenges.

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Careers support

Professional development activities are built into your course. You can access advice and guidance on your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs and support to boost your employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the professional skills you'll need to start a successful career and find out how to evidence these to prospective employers.

Employability workshops provide practical guidance and support to help you prepare for the job market with confidence. These workshops cover essential skills such as CV writing, interview techniques, networking and personal branding, all of which are crucial for standing out to employers. They also offer insights into recruitment processes and industry expectations, helping you make informed career choices and improve your chances of securing internships or graduate roles.

We'll work with you to develop the knowledge, skills and experiences you need to accelerate your professional development, set yourself apart in the job market and achieve your goals.

Leeds University Business School provides dedicated support to help you develop the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to make a real impact in your chosen career.

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You’ll also benefit from the University’s Careers Service, where you can access a range of support to help secure the career you want, even after you graduate.