Accounting and Finance with CIMA - MSc

Structure and exit awards

You can opt to study for the full MSc (185 credits), a PgDip (125 credits) or a PgCert (60 credits). Please note that all students enrol in the full MSc degree initially. 

You can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD. On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award. Contact Dr Mo Yan for further information on single module study.

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching comprises a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, field trips and projects. The 'capstone' module for the course is either a 'live' project for a client, the development of a business start-up proposal, or a master's level dissertation. Each of these options is intended to draw together elements of the taught course. The dissertation or project will be facilitated, monitored and assessed by tutors within QMU and, where appropriate, by staff within the organisation in which it is undertaken.

Assessments will take a variety of forms, including essays, reports, group and individual presentations. The team at The Queen Margaret Business School has worked hard to build a range of assessments that build your skills and academic underpinnings to ensure that you are well prepared for working in business.

Teaching hours and attendance 

If you are studying full-time, teaching normally takes place over two or three midweek days, comprising both classroom-based and industry learning. You will also be required to carry out independent learning to support your formal teaching. Your specific timetable will depend on whether you are studying full-time, part-time, or an individual module. Learning time varies across modules. Timetables are normally available approximately one month before you commence your studies.

Class sizes 

There are normally around 10-20 students in a class. Sometimes, you may have lectures with additional students on other courses who are studying the same modules.

Teaching staff 

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

You will study the following modules:

• International Financial Reporting (15 credits): This module seeks to deepen and broaden your ability to prepare, analyse and critically interpret financial statements. It will enable you to explore the principles and theories of international financial reporting and analysis, and introduce you to recent critical debate on the sufficiency of conventional financial accounting practices.
• Finance for Managers (15 credits): This module develops a critical understanding of essential management accounting and finance topics within a business environment, and provides a high-level understanding of how financial information helps make informed and accurate management decisions.
• Advanced Management Accounting (15 credits): This module extends the techniques of management accounting in shaping short-term and long-term decision-making, analysis, planning, and control. This module also situates management accounting techniques within their strategic context to help you understand how to support a business's strategic objectives.
• Corporate Financial Management (15 credits): This module is designed to introduce key concepts and principles of modern finance and financial management and apply them to the main decisions faced by financial managers.
• Research Methods: Problems and Solutions (20 credits): This module is designed to develop both your theoretical research knowledge and your practical insights into the purpose, nature, execution, and value of research approaches and how these can be effectively utilised in the solving of problems in the context of academic knowledge creation or organisational professional practice.
• Contemporary Issues in Business and Society (15 credits): This module aims to enable you to develop a well-grounded understanding of the theory and practice of international management and to relate it to events at the global and national levels. Utilising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a discursive element within the module, the ways in which business can positively contribute to achieving these will be critically evaluated. This module also explores what it means to be a master’s student, enabling all students enrolled in the course to access this higher level of postgraduate education effectively.
• Data Analytics for Management Decision-Making (15 credits): This module explores the sources of data, how it is collected, processed, and presented, and then continues the data lifecycle by considering how it is used in informed decision-making processes within contemporary enterprises. With so much data noise, how can businesses be certain that the data they are using is reliable and valid? How can they then link that to a primary function within management and leadership: decision-making? Using case studies, debates, and in-class scenario exercises, the module will link data and action in an engaging and well-informed manner.
• Strategic Management (15 credits): Strategic management concerns itself with assessing what’s important, determining how to get there, and avoiding the potential pitfalls. By focusing on long-term sustainable success, it enables practitioners to avoid the noise of the day-to-day. The module incorporates strategic concepts, tools, and techniques that organisations can employ to assess their environment and resources and make strategic decisions towards long-term success. This is a mandatory module for all Queen Margaret Business School MSc courses. Much of the knowledge and skills developed in this module are transferable and useful in a broad range of management functions.

Progressing to an MSc?

If studying for an MSc, you will also complete one of the following Capstone module options: 

• 12,000-word dissertation (60 credits): To enable you to develop, plan and critically evaluate a piece of research in the relevant degree subject-related area, written up in the form of a dissertation. This offers the opportunity to conduct a substantial academic research project around a research topic of your choice.
• Business Consultancy in Practice (60 credits): This is a hands-on practical project where you will work with a business on a live project, determine the project parameters, manage the project, and deliver a consultancy report recommending actions the company can implement. The module aims to develop excellent project and client management skills alongside high-level writing skills, including strong reflective abilities.
• The Business Incubation Plan (60 credits): The aim of this module is to critically evaluate a range of nascent, micro and family businesses and to develop, through inception, investigation and planning, a new start-up business or social enterprise of your own design. You will work with mentors, QMU’s Startup Studio and the on-campus Business Gateway to take your business from idea to reality.

Our collaboration with CIMA opens the door to a wide range of role opportunities within a professional capacity - you are not obligated to become a chartered accountant. The course is designed to enable our graduates to find employment in businesses, financial services, public sector organisations, consultancy practices and accountancy firms in a range of roles, that could include:

• Accountant
• Finance Manager or Finance Director
• Investment Analyst
• Risk Manager
• Finance Planning Analyst
• Wealth Manager

If you opt to complete the Business Incubation Programme module, you will work with mentors and QMU’s Startup Studio (and associated 'Bright Red Triangle' package of enterprise support) to develop a new start-up business or social enterprise of your own choice. 

The Startup Studio provides business incubation space for student/graduate-led start-up companies with access to: desk space; a QMU business address; meeting facilities; Business Gateway support and advice; a profile for your company on the QMU website; support with marketing materials; and access to entrepreneurial networks within QMU and other universities, for example, Enterprise Campus, Scottish Institute for Enterprise, Sporting Chance and Converge Challenge. 

Entry requirements

You should have a UK honours degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a related accounting/finance/business management area.

We also welcome applicants who have an ordinary (non-honours) degree who can show a period of relevant post-graduation work experience in accounting and finance or additional capabilities.

International: You will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 6.5 with no individual component score less than 6.0.

Other information

Fees for this course are calibrated to incorporate the CIMA registration fee, and the exam fee for the first attempt of the CIMA Management Level Case Study. You will have access to a one-year subscription of CIMA study materials for exam preparation. The fees also cover all transport and activities for practical classes or field trips. More information is available on our Fees and Charges page.

Disability/health conditions

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the disability service where someone will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.

Applying for this course

For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.

Application deadline

End of August for September 2027 start and end of December for January 2028 start.

International: End of June for September 2027 start and end of November for January 2028 start.

Please note applications may close sooner should the course become full. 

Contact Dr Mo Yan (Programme Leader) or contact Admissions 

We would be delighted to arrange a visit to the University when we can tell you even more about the courses and facilities.

More information on our forthcoming open events

• The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2027/28 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).
• The information on this page is correct at the time of posting (October 2026) but is subject to change. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.