Programmes

MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions

  • Graduate taught
  • Department of Accounting
  • Application code N4U4
  • Starting 2024
  • Home full-time: Open
  • Overseas full-time: Open
  • Location: Houghton Street, London

The MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions is a unique programme which gives you the opportunity to study the interface between accounting, organisations and institutions drawing on a variety of social science perspectives.

The core course will introduce you to fundamental issues at stake in the interrelationships between accounting, risk management, organisational performance, and institutional frameworks for accountability. The programme also addresses key design issues for accounting, risk and management control systems, and their operation and regulation in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.

This programme is distinctive in its approach and different from a traditional accounting and finance master’s programme. Indeed, it does not require a background in accounting, and students with a good initial training in the humanities or the social or natural sciences, and with good essay writing skills, are strongly encouraged to apply. Yet, the programme is also suitable for those students with an accounting background who wish to develop a deeper knowledge of the organisational and institutional context of accounting.

Because of its breadth, this master’s programme is very flexible and prepares students for a wide range of potential careers in accounting, auditing and assurance, financial management, risk management, management consultancy, and regulation, in a variety of for-profit and non-profit organisations globally. The degree also provides solid intellectual preparation for those aspiring to embark on academic research in the field of accounting.

The programme is housed within the Department of Accounting, which is widely recognised throughout Europe for its excellence in accounting and financial management research and education, as well as for its leading role in public policy issues. The interface between accounting and managers, organisations, institutions, public policy and regulatory bodies is a particular teaching and research strength of the Department.

Programme details

Key facts

MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions
Start date 30 September 2024
Application deadline None – rolling admissions. However, please note the funding deadlines
Duration 10 months full-time only (see Bologna process)
Applications 2022 496
Intake 2022 57
Tuition fee Home: £35,472
Overseas: £36,168
Financial support Graduate support scheme (see 'Fees and funding')
Minimum entry requirement 2:1 degree or equivalent in any discipline
GRE/GMAT requirement None
English language requirements Standard (see 'Assessing your application')
Location  Houghton Street, London

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet the minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

Given the high competition for places on this programme, you should indicate your interest in this programme specifically as your first choice in order to maximise the prospect of admission to the programme. You should therefore note the differentiated nature of the graduate programmes in the Department, and are advised to identify your first choice accordingly. Admissions selectors place considerable weight on the written personal statement as evidence of motivation and capability and applicants should consider carefully why they are applying specifically for MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions. Please also note that transfers between programmes are not normally permitted.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our Information for International Students to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students and want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of their background.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
- statement of academic purpose
- two academic references
- CV

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although you do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE. See our English language requirements.

When to apply

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis, meaning the programme will close once it becomes full. There is no fixed deadline by which you need to apply, however, to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details. 

Fees and funding

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions

Home students: £35,472
Overseas students £36,168

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

Fee status

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Fee reduction

Students who completed undergraduate study at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a fee reduction of around 10 per cent of the fee.

Scholarships and other funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support SchemeMaster's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an offer for a place and submitting a Graduate Financial Support application, before the funding deadline. Funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE: 25 April 2024.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas. Find out more about financial support.

Government tuition fee loans and external funding

A postgraduate loan is available from the UK government for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme, to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.

Find out more about tuition fee loans

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

You will need to successfully complete the equivalent of four full-unit courses to meet the requirements of the MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions programme. At the start of the programme a short, focused, introductory course on accounting practices and techniques will be held. This is followed by teaching on examined courses up to a total of four full units. Importance is placed on developing the highest level of analytical skills with a focus on practice.

Please note ten-month full-time only master's programmes are not compliant with the Bologna process, which may affect the extent to which they are 'recognised'. For more information on Bologna, please see Bologna process)

(* denotes a half unit course)

Accounting, Organisations and Institutions 
This is the programme core course and provides students with an advanced understanding of the changing role and position of accounting and risk management practices in organisations, both public and private, and within societies more generally.

Accounting, Strategy and Control*
Provides an introduction to issues of accounting information and cost management, managerial decision-making and performance management.
And
Accountability, Organisations and Risk Management*
Provides an introduction to core issues in corporate governance and risk management.

Students with little or no accounting background must take the following courses:
Management Accounting, Decisions and Control*
 
Provides an introduction to issues of accounting information and cost management, managerial decision making and performance management.
And
Financial Accounting, Reporting and Disclosure*
Delivers an introduction to financial accounting and highlights aspects of reporting that are important to users of financial information.

Or

Students with a proven and demonstrable competence in accounting must take more advanced courses in accounting to the value of one unit from a range of options 

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page.

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours and independent study

The average taught course contact hours per half unit is 20-30 hours and a full unit is 40-60 hours. Hours vary according to courses and you can view indicative details in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide.

A short, focused, introductory course on accounting practices and techniques 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 your academic adviser are available in addition to this. Your academic adviser will be available for guidance and advice on academic or personal concerns.

You are also expected to complete independent study outside of class time. This varies depending on the programme, but requires you to manage the majority of your study time yourself, by engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking and research.

Teaching methods

Courses are taught in lecture and class or seminar format. Lectures introduce the core theoretical and technical concepts, whilst their associated classes allow you to discuss and apply these concepts through exercises and in-depth study. Seminars allow for the focused study of key concepts in a more informal style and may involve presentations by students on selected course materials. Many teachers adopt a variety of teaching methods to deliver their courses, such as class exercises, team presentations, individual or group work, or case study discussions.

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only. You can view indicative details for the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide.

Assessment

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Academic support

You will also be assigned an academic mentor who will be available for guidance and advice on academic or personal concerns.

There are many opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom and complement your academic studies at LSE. LSE LIFE is the School’s centre for academic, personal and professional development. Some of the services on offer include: guidance and hands-on practice of the key skills you will need to do well at LSE: effective reading, academic writing and critical thinking; workshops related to how to adapt to new or difficult situations, including development of skills for leadership, study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work; and advice and practice on working in study groups and on cross-cultural communication and teamwork.

LSE is committed to enabling all students to achieve their full potential and the School’s Disability and Wellbeing Service provides a free, confidential service to all LSE students and is a first point of contact for all disabled students.

Student support and resouces

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as student counselling, a peer support scheme and arranging exam adjustments. They run groups and workshops. 

IT help – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.  

LSE Faith Centre – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.  

Language Centre – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers ­– with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library  founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU) – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding. 

PhD Academy – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice – this offers discounted private dental services to LSE students. 

St Philips Medical Centre – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers – we have a Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy) and an Adviser to Women Students who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in extracurricular activities. From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one campus in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think London is a fantastic student city, find out about key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners. Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about London on a budget

Student stories

Darya Kalibabchuk

MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions

Darya-Kalibabchuk-170x230

The AOI programme provides the opportunity to gain a deep knowledge of technical accounting and at the same time challenges the student to look beyond the pure technicalities of the subject. In addition, the programme offers the chance to combine the core accounting subjects with a wide range of other courses from non-accounting areas (e.g. finance, law, politics). Right after my master's I started a graduate scheme in financial management with General Electric (GE) Capital. The graduate scheme involves moving every 6 months to a different location, business and financial management related function. Hence, I am benefitting from the skills acquired and concepts learnt during my year at LSE.

My personal LSE experience also goes far beyond the pure academic knowledge. The most unique aspect of the LSE, were the people I shared my experience with. Never before had I met so many people from that many different countries with such exceptional backgrounds. It has been and will certainly remain one of the most memorable years of my life. 

Jiaren Liang

MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions

Jiaren-Liang-170x230

This programme provided a unique opportunity to enhance my competitive edge in the current global job market. The School has a distinguished reputation in social sciences and a cosmopolitan character. The AOI programme encourages students from diverse academic backgrounds to bring brand new perspectives to challenge the teaching and research of the School.

I really enjoyed the academic freedom at LSE. Students do not always need to agree with everything they are taught. In fact, the faculty expects students to take risks to challenge them. The AOI programme moves very fast. Some readings can be intimidating. The core paper is cross-disciplinary and taught from a social science perspective, students are invited to think outside the box in order to see a bigger picture.

Preliminary reading

C S Chapman, D J Cooper and P Miller (eds.) Accounting, Organizations and Institutions (Oxford University Press, 2012)

Careers

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Accounting

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £35,000          

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

  • Financial and Professional Services              
  • Accounting and Auditing              
  • FMCG, Manufacturing and Retail              
  • Insurance           
  • Law and Legal Services

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Students who successfully complete the MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions programme pursue careers across a wide range of sectors, in financial institutions, accounting firms, management consulting, industry, government and academia.

Companies who have employed recent graduates from this programme include Bain & Company, Bank of New York Mellon, Barclays Capital, BlackRock, Crédit Agricole, Crowe Horwath, General Electric, JP Morgan, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PwC, KPMG, Proctor & Gamble, Merrill Lynch, Mondelez, EMI Music, Nordea Bank, Royal Dutch Shell, Schroders and Strategic Asset Partners LLP.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Erkan Ozguc

MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions

Erkan-Ozguc-170x230

LSE is a brand that covers quality, challenge, and change. The thing that I liked most and felt most challenging about the LSE and the AOI programme was the constant practices to motivate and encourage students to adopt the culture of discussion as an inseparable part of their lives. The MSc Accounting Organisations and Institutions (AOI) programme at LSE, with its compulsory and wide range of elective courses, forces you to think wider, harder, deeper, and to be more productive. 

I am continuing my career as an expert at the Capital Markets Board of Turkey, which is the regulatory authority in charge of Turkish capital markets. The AOI programme equipped me with a wider perspective on the regulation side in the sense that I am now able to better analyse and comment on the possible returns and side effects of a possible regulatory change with the help of my highly improved skills especially at accounting and law.

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the support available to students through LSE Careers.

 

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