Our MSc in Accounting is designed to provide an essential introduction to accountancy as a career choice for graduates with no prior learning in the discipline. The programme covers key areas of accounting, and it will stimulate your interest in the broader aspects of finance and business across the globe.
You will develop an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of accounting and it will also sharpen your critical thinking skills, such as decision-making and problem-solving.
You will be taught at Durham University Business School, one of the longest established business schools in the UK, offering state-of-the-art facilities and, as an accounting student, you will be part of an academic department with an international reputation for research and teaching excellence.
Professional Exemptions - ACCA and CIMA
The programme also carries professional exemptions from both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants CIMA.
ACCA Exemptions
F1 Accountant in Business
F2 Management Accounting
F3 Financial Accounting
F4 Corporate and Business Law
CIMA Exemptions
BA1 Fundamentals of Business Economics
BA2 Fundamentals of Management Accounting
BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
BA4 Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law
P1 Management Accounting
F1 Financial Reporting and Taxation
E1 Managing Finance in a Digital World
OCS Operational Case Study
E2 Managing Performance
P2 Advanced Management Accounting
F2 Advanced Financial Reporting
International Opportunities
We’re proud of our strong international connections. Helping you get an inside perspective is a key part of the programme. That’s why we offer a range of opportunities to help immerse you in a country’s business and academic environment, make new contacts and stand out in a competitive job market. International opportunities include:
Dissertation Abroad MSc students at Durham University Business School have the opportunity to apply to complete their Dissertation (research project) at one of our prestigious European partner institutions, from June to September. This partially self-funded programme is highly popular among our students and will allow you to experience living abroad, expand your network, and gain insights into campus life in a different country. Participating in this programme not only enhances personal skills but also boosts employability by showcasing adaptability, resilience, communication skills, and a global mindset. The international team at the Business School will support you throughout the process, from application to departure, ensuring a smooth and enriching experience.
Summer School During the summer you will have the chance to attend a Summer School at one of our esteemed European partner institutions and build your professional network. These partially self-funded, competitive programmes typically take place for up to three weeks in June, July, or August, following the exam period. They cover a broad spectrum of topics designed to enhance the knowledge you’ve gained at Durham.
Please note, in order to be considered for a place on one of our Summer Schools, all students must apply as places are limited.
Practitioner Insights - Guest Speaker Programme
An integral part of the programme is the engagement with the world of practice. Our Guest Speaker Programme provides the opportunity to enjoy presentations by leading international academics and practitioners within your chosen area of interest. Past speakers have included representatives of major global multinationals and leading scholars, combining critical and progressive thinking with practical insights.
Summary of study programme
Topics covered in the programme include, financial statements and their preparation and analysis, the practical limitations of financial reporting, contemporary and evolving practice in financial and non-financial accounting and reporting, management information for decision-making, and the practice and concepts of auditing.
Course structure
Year 1 modules
Core modules:
Auditing and Accountability
examines the practice of auditing and underlying concepts including the development of the role of the audit function in modern business society, the governance roles and responsibilities of external audit functions, the concepts of audit quality and assurance and the contribution of audit research in understanding practice and informing policy and regulatory debates.
Modern Accounting Research
introduces a range of topics in contemporary and evolving practice in accounting and associated subjects such as reporting and taxation. The module also explores ethical issues in accounting and associated subjects and considers contemporary research agendas in accounting and associated subjects.
Financial Accounting and Reporting
enables you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of financial accounting and reporting concepts and ethical issues as well as the application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to specific cases involving single entities or groups. You will also prepare single entity and consolidated financial statements that meet IFRS requirements and show an understanding of accounting-based techniques of financial statement analysis.
Financial Planning and Control
develops your knowledge of the financial planning and control processes of organisations and understanding of key aspects of management accounting related to financial planning, control and decision-making in organisations. It builds skills that are relevant to management accounting practice such as preparing, interpreting, and presenting essential financial information for management control and decision-making. The module will also enhance your knowledge of current development relating to financial planning and control of organisations.
Research Methods in Accounting
explores the main research assumptions used in accounting to build your understanding of the range of methods and techniques employed to achieve different research aims and objectives. You will also use technology used in accounting research (e.g. STATA, Nvivo).
Dissertation
is an in-depth investigation of a specific subject you've already studied as part of your programme, theoretically underpinned and normally supported by undertaking empirical research, but may also be a critical essay that draws upon academic literature. Supervised by a faculty member, this is an opportunity for you to develop your business insight and present your analysis and ideas in a scholarly and professional manner. There is also the opportunity to undertake your dissertation abroad at a partner university.
Optional modules:
You will choose one module from the list below:
Accounting: An Information Content Perspective
Accounting Theory
Corporate Governance
Financial Statement Analysis
You will then choose a further two modules from the list below:
Introduction to Data Analytics and Visualisation
Introduction to Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Islamic Banking and Finance
Islamic Law and Financial Transactions
Sustainability and Ethics
Sustainability and Integrated Reporting
Language module offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Studies
Note: the list of optional modules is indicative and may change in the academic year 2026/2027.
Delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, involving the study of core and elective modules, and a 12,000-word dissertation.
Lectures provide key content of a particular topic, occasionally delivered by guest speakers who are internationally recognised academic experts or practitioners in their field.
Seminars provide the opportunity for smaller groups of students to discuss and debate issues based on the knowledge gained through lectures and independent study.
Practicals are medium-sized group sessions, where you will work on topics from lectures and seminars, with some sessions including the opportunity to use industry standard computer software.
Assessment
Assessment is conducted by means of assignments, exams and a major 12,000-word dissertation, which requires you to carry out independent research and develop your skills in writing and analysis with support from a supervisor.
Outside of timetabled contact hours, you will be expected to carry out a significant amount of independent study in preparation for assignments and other forms of assessment including exams.
Entry requirements
Please note: The application process will open 1st October for entry the following academic year.
There is a high demand for places on these programmes. To maximise your chances of being offered one of these places, we recommend that you submit your application to the University as early as possible.
We aim to have a diverse student body and recognise that we can only offer places to a finite number of applicants. To help achieve our aim, we look to ensure we offer places to applicants from all nationalities and close applications when we receive the allocated numbers.
The University is under no obligation to make any offer of a place on the programme to any applicant, nor is the University obligated to fill all spaces available on the programme.
Our MSc Accounting programme is intended for graduates in any subject or discipline; no previous study in accounting is necessary. Accounting undergraduate students or students who have completed a professional accounting qualification may find some content of this programme overlaps with their prior learning.
If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
NB Chinese Applicants: Applications will be accepted from students who have graduated from a prestigious university in China. Entry requirements may vary depending upon the reputation of the university you have graduated from and the academic programme you have applied for. As a guide, applicants are expected to have achieved an overall average of 85%.
If you are an international student who does not meet the English langauge requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-sessional programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
How do I apply?
You will need to complete an online application form.
To support your online application form, you will need to provide the following documents.
Official transcript of marks
Copy of degree certificate (if available)
Copy of English test results (if available).
You can either upload your supporting documents with your online application or email them to the Postgraduate Admissions Office.
Note:
Only files of type .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpg, .pdf, .png, .rtf are permitted to be uploaded. The maximum file size is 5MB.
College membership
All students at Durham University will become a member of one of our Colleges. Here is more information about what college membership means to our students. Once you have accepted your postgraduate offer, the Accommodation and Allocations Office will contact you with further information regarding how to express college preferences. You can also apply for college accommodation if you wish to.
Admissions process
Here are the steps in the admissions process:
We will let you know when we’ve received your application.
If applicable, you will be asked to pay our application fee.
Once we’ve received all your supporting documents, we will email you to let you know our decision.
If the decision is to make you an offer of a place on the programme we will let you know by email. Please note we do not issue hard copy offer letters as these are not required to obtain a student visa.
You should confirm the acceptance of your offer as soon as possible. In order to secure your place, you are required to pay a deposit within six weeks of the date of your original offer (check your offer documents for details of payment methods).
International students requiring a student visa will receive a CAS (Certificate of Acceptance of Studies) via email once all offer conditions are met, acceptance and deposit have been received and you are within five months of the start date of your programme.
Note: The University is under no obligation to make any offer of a place on the programme to any applicant, nor is the University obligated to fill all spaces available on the programme.
Consideration of any application received by the University after the expiry of the deadlines specified herein, shall be made at the sole discretion of the University.
International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.
Home students who do not meet our direct entry requirements, may be eligible for our Foundation Programme which offers multidisciplinary programmes to prepare you for a range of specified degree programmes.
The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only.
As a Business School Masters student, you'll have access to a dedicated postgraduate careers service offering a wide range of opportunities to help you develop the skills necessary for a global career.
We work in partnership with the University's careers team to connect you with events, organisations, or individuals to help kick-start your career. You will have access to one-to-one support on every aspect of the application process, from CV writing to interview techniques.
Our graduates are highly sought after by global employers. Some of our recent graduates now work in sectors including: financial services, healthcare, government and consultancy amongst many others.
Department information
Accounting
Choose an Accounting Masters from Durham, taught by world-class academics from a department with a long history of internationally-recognised research and collaboration with leading businesses and institutions.
The Department of Accounting at Durham University Business School is renowned for its cutting-edge research and world-class faculty. With strong industry connections and collaboration with leading firms, we are closing the gap that has emerged between academic accounting research and the real world of accountancy practice. The department’s three key themes include: accountability, sustainability, and digitisation, shaping and guiding our research and teaching, ensuring our graduates are prepared to address the ethical, environmental, and technological challenges that define and confront modern business practice.
We are proud of be a part of Durham University Business School, one of the UK’s longest established business schools and one of an elite group of institutions to be accredited by all three major accrediting bodies: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
Our Masters in Accounting programmes are taught across the Durham University campus by world leading faculty. The Business School is based across two locations - Mill Hill Lane and the new Waterside building, each offering a modern learning environment and study spaces to support you in your learning journey.
Surrounded by Durham’s historic architecture and vibrant city life, students enjoy a unique blend of tradition and innovation, with easy access to cafés, libraries, and excellent transport links, all within a supportive academic community, at the heart of a world-class university.
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