Curriculum Information

(1) To develop an advanced, Master’s level knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories, models, principles, practices, technical rules, tools and contemporary issues relating to various accounting disciplines, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective.

(2) To develop higher level application, analysis, synthesis, creativity, evaluation and critical thinking skills, to enable the student to: analyse and interpret financial information; analyse, synthesise and solve complex problems; and critically evaluate contemporary issues.

(3) To develop research methods/methodology skills, to enable: a critical evaluation of research literature and the undertaking of a Business Research Project to solve a finance-related business problem.

(4) To develop other practical, transferable skills such as self-appraisal and personal development skills, the ability to plan and manage projects and learning, communication skills (oral and written), interactive and group skills (such as motivation, team-working and group presentation skills), and independent and life-long learning skills.

(5) To prepare students for the Strategic Professional Level examinations of the ACCA Professional Qualification.

Active/simulation based  

Active learning and real-life case studies will be used in the teaching of a number of modules. For example: 

• Students might be expected to research an international corporate financing case in the area of Advanced Financial Management and report back on their findings via a presentation. The presentations will then precipitate whole-class discussions.  

• Strategic Business Reporting might utilise guest speakers in round table sessions. Students would conduct research on the guest beforehand and ask questions during the session. An example speaker could be the accountant in charge of IFRS 16 lease reporting at the BBC. 

• Students might be expected to research the Integrated Reporting of multinationals to ascertain corporate governance, risk and sustainability practices and their linkages to strategic direction.  

Lectures 

All modules will use lecture sessions to deliver technical and theoretical content with simulations, case studies and past examination scenarios used in tutorial periods to discuss the implications (and study the practical application) of such content. Lectures will be recorded to give students the opportunity to review the subject. (International students favour the recording of lectures because it takes the emphasis off capturing every spoken word and allows the student to focus on the subject without worrying about taking notes.) 

Tutorials/ 

Seminars/Workshops 

Tutorial/seminar/workshop sessions will build both examination technique via the working of past questions (as noted above) and encourage student-led debate, in particular to build academic Masters skills and competencies. In these situations the lecturer will pose questions and facilitate responses. Students will be expected to engage in a range of learning activities, including group work, presentations, debates, discussions, independent research, case studies and simulations.  

Group work 

Group work will be incorporated into the taught elements of each module, with students gaining experience in working with a variety of peers from different backgrounds. For example: 

• students will be placed in groups to analyse an academic journal article, allowing for peer learning; 

• in Advanced Audit & Assurance students will be asked to determine the audit risks associated with certain cases in groups. The groups will be deliberately mixed to ensure perspectives from different countries are represented, as this could influence the risks identified. 

Work-based 

Some assignments will allow students in accounting & finance employment (or those who have obtained project work on a voluntary basis) to critically evaluate real-life workplace issues in particular technical areas, if appropriate. This will allow a significant number of credits to be work-based for such students, thus mapping the programme to higher level apprenticeship frameworks. 

Project Supervision 

1-2-1 supervision of final Business Research Project. 

Demonstration 

N/A 

Practical Classes 

Opportunities for students to volunteer to work as student consultants in the Faculty Business Clinic (Exchange) initiative will be highlighted. Here, students will help clients in a workshop environment, analysing organisational issues and preparing reports to make recommendations that will have a real impact. This work will develop communication, problem solving, analytical and research skills.  

These opportunities may be linked to assessed modules (for example, they may provide material for work-based learning critical evaluations or an area for the business research project). However, they will not be compulsory and will be subject to availability. 

Fieldwork  

Students will be provided with opportunities to visit finance functions of partner organisations, if feasible (such as the organisations who comprise the Wales Financial Services consortium). These opportunities will not be linked to specific modules but may lead to business research project data gathering opportunities.  

External Visits 

(including fieldtrips) 

See above. 

Directed Study (including Online Learning) 

The ACCA syllabi are large and technically complex and require significant directed study including the reading of chapters from ACCA-approved study texts and the practicing of past examination scenario-based questions.  

Each module will also require students to undertake wider reading around each subject and critical examination of the professional and academic bodies of literature. Students will be given a variety of tasks to perform outside of the taught sessions to build academic masters skills. These could take numerous formats, including using online discussion boards to discuss research papers, simulations or the research of case studies.  

Independent Study 

Independent study is essential given the postgraduate nature of this course. Students will be taught the necessary skills to become independent learners, which is essential to successfully complete the final business research project. During all modules students will be given tasks to complete independently either in groups or individually, with dissemination of the results to the whole cohort. 

Placement 

N/A 

Study Abroad 

N/A 

Formative assessment-scheduled 

Formal progress tests will be included in each taught module. 

A range of other formative assessments will also be used throughout the modules. For example, students will carry out presentations on a range of current issues, both individually and in groups. There will be both tutor feedback on these presentations and an opportunity for peer review and self-reflection.