Overview
The changing business environment is driven by:
- technological changes
- globalisation
- customer preference
This requires organisations to respond effectively and efficiently.
Our Accounting, Finance and Strategic Investment MSc will allow you to develop:
- an advanced understanding of accounting, finance and strategic investment
- quantitative and qualitative skills to evaluate and inform strategic decisions and investment opportunities
- investment and decision-making skills
- a range of personal attributes valued by international organisations
You’ll also learn transferable skills including:
- report writing
- personal and interpersonal skills
- presentation skills
- group working skills
- an appreciation of working in a multicultural environment
This course brings together:
- innovative thinking
- fundamental theory
- real-life case studies
and will enable you to develop a wide range of analytical and critical-thinking skills.
The course contains a significant part of both finance and management accounting. This provides the necessary tools for quantitative and qualitative assessment of corporate performance.
This is a key component and highlights that the degree is designed for those working:
- within organisations
- providing consultancy advice to organisations
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Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
MSc – Master of Science
An MSc is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of a science-related subject. It typically includes:
- subject-specific taught modules
- a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words
You’ll usually study an MSc full-time over 12 months.
A Master of Science is typically awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation or research project.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
What you’ll learn
You will cultivate skills that will allow you to influence financial and strategic decisions from within a company. Management accounting and financial analysis each play a leading role in the development of these skills.
You will gain a strong foundation of financial knowledge and analytical skills. You’ll develop an appreciation of managerial decision-making and investment.
You will understand how accounting, finance and strategic investment can increase the effectiveness and competitiveness of organisations.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Accounting, Finance and Strategic Investment MSc modules
Your development
On completion of the course, you’ll be able to show practical skills and the ability to:
- implement appropriate business strategies
- optimise the financial interests of key stakeholders
- systematically collect, analyse and interpret data
- provide advice about how to apply financial models, tools and techniques
- improve organisational performance
- understand and apply product costing, budgeting, and capital budgeting
Your future
Graduate destinations
Graduates from this course have undertaken various roles, including:
- futures trader
- investment analyst
- investor relations officer
- procurement manager
- financial planner
- corporate finance consultant
- auditor
- risk analyst
- financial trader
- business development consultant
Careers
This course prepares you for a wide range of careers with employers, such as:
- P&G
- PwC
- EY
- KPMG
- Vodafone Group Plc
- Agricultural Bank of China
- BDO AG
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
- Tunlan Investment
- Excelian
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 200 for Accounting and Finance – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Â
Professional accreditation and recognition
Newcastle University Business School accreditation
Newcastle University Business School is accredited by the:
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)
- Association of MBAs (AMBA)
Only 1% of business schools worldwide hold this triple crown. Our accreditations reflect the investments we make for our students through providing a high quality teaching environment, innovative programming and active engagement with industry.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
This course is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and provides you exemptions from professional examinations.
You will be eligible for the following exemptions:
- Business and Technology
- Management Accounting
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Management on the basis of International Finance and Capital Markets NBS8001 PLUS Financial Planning and Investment NBS8235
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and provides you exemptions from professional examinations.
You have two options to choose from to join CIMA:
A gateway route which is an accelerated route which allows you to take the CIMA’s Master’s gateway assessment. Once successfully passed, you will be granted 11 exemptions from CIMA’s certificate, operational and management level exams.
A non-gateway route which provides you with the following exemptions:
- BA1 Fundamentals of Business Economics
- BA2 Fundamentals of Management Accounting
- BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
- E1 Organisational Management
- P1 Management Accounting
- P2 Advanced Management Accounting
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
Facilities
Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:
- regional, national and international leaders
- over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
- leading professionals and practitioners from industry
The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix – an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.
Our facilities include:
- flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
- Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
- four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
- dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
- contemporary café
- employability hub to support your career aspirations
- Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
- Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology
The Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix also offers further study and learning spaces. This includes a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in any subject. You also need to have a good basic level of numeracy equivalent to UK GCSE or above.
