MSc Accounting and Finance

About the MSc programme

The programme is based in the Department of Accounting and has an established reputation for excellence extending for more than four decades. This programme will be appropriate for those interested in a career in financial institutions, management consulting, industry, or government bodies. Many graduates of the MSc have achieved outstanding success in business, governmental and academic careers.

The programme allows specialisation through the appropriate choice of courses along designated pathways in finance, international accounting and finance, or accounting and financial management. The MSc assumes an academic background in the following subjects prior to entry to the programme: financial reporting, management accounting, finance, economics and quantitative methods. Admission to the programme may be conditional upon taking one or more courses in these areas to strengthen your background. This may be a course undertaken at the LSE Summer School or an approved distance learning or web-based equivalent. Given the high competition for places on this programme, applicants who indicate an interest in the MSc Accounting and Finance specifically as their first choice will maximise their prospect of admission to the programme. Equally, candidates should note the differentiated nature of the graduate programmes in the Department of Accounting, and are advised to identify their first choice accordingly.

A short, focused, introductory course on quantitative methods and technical accounting will be held at the beginning of the programme. Thereafter you take examined courses up to a total of four full units. The average number of contact hours per week is 12 hours, which includes lectures and seminars. Office hours with teachers and academic advisers provide extensive support to students on the programme..
You should ordinarily possess at least a good upper second class honours degree in accounting and finance, or a related subject from a UK university, or have reached a similar standard in an overseas degree. All applicants without a UK undergraduate degree must submit a GMAT test score with their application. The GMAT is recommended for all students with UK undergraduate degrees, particularly those whose quantitative skills are not demonstrated by their undergraduate studies. Students currently studying on the Diploma in Accounting and Finance programme at LSE are not required to submit a GMAT score. GMAT score totals should normally be in excess of 650 points. In exceptional circumstances, applicants without a UK degree may be exempted from submitting GMAT scores. This may include cases where the requirement proves difficult for the individual to meet (e.g. the test not being offered in the applicant's home country, or where test centres only have limited spaces available for testing). Where this is the case, applicants should complete and submit the online GMAT waiver form at lse.ac.uk/graduateHowDoI|. The Graduate Admissions Office will subsequently advise whether a waiver can be granted. Candidates are advised that requests for a waiver from this test are seldom granted.

Compulsory courses

(* half unit) 

• Corporate Finance and Asset Markets or Asset Markets A* and Corporate Finance A* (or another course with permission)
• Financial Reporting in Capital Markets or Management Accounting, Strategy and Organisational Control
• or both Accounting, Strategy and Control* and Financial Reporting, Capital Markets and Business Combinations*

Options  

Choose a total of two full units from the following:

• Accounting in the Global Economy*
• Accountability, Organisations and Risk Management*
• Accounting, Strategy and Control* † ~
• Applied Corporate Finance* 
• Corporate Finance Theory*
• Corporate and Financial Crime
• Financial Reporting in Capital Markets † #
• Financial Reporting, Capital Markets and Business Combination* † #
• Derivatives*
• Financial Risk Analysis*
• Fixed Income Markets*
• Forecasting Financial Time Series*
• Global Financial System* 
• Leadership in Organisations: Theory and Practice* 
• Management Accounting, Strategy and Organisational Control † ~
• Portfolio Management* 
• Quantitative Methods for Finance and Risk Analysis* 
• Real Estate Finance*  
• Valuation and Security Analysis*
• Law of International Economic and Financial Sanctions* 
• One option from the wide variety of courses available in other departments (with permission)

† If not selected above.

~ # may not be taken together.

Subject to approval, it may be possible to substitute an extended essay of not more than 10,000 words on an agreed topic for one optional course.