About the MSc programme
The programme is based in the Department of Accounting and has an established reputation for excellence extending over five decades. This programme is appropriate for those interested in careers across a wide range of sectors and organisations in accounting, finance, management and management consultancy, academia, or the public sector.
Students admitted to this MSc cannot retrospectively transfer to the MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions programme because of the differing admission requirements.
Programme details
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: 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.
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 faculty and academic advisers provide further support to students on the programme.
You should ordinarily possess at least an 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 GMAT test scores with their application. The overall GMAT score should normally be in excess of 650 points. Applicants with UK undergraduate degrees, particularly those whose quantitative skills are not demonstrated by their undergraduate studies, may be asked to submit GMAT scores. Students currently studying on the Diploma in Accounting and Finance programme at LSE are not required to submit GMAT scores.
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 (eg, the test not being offered in the applicant's home country, or where test centres only have limited spaces available for testing). When this is the case, applicants should complete and submit the online GMAT waiver form. Candidates are advised that approvals of such requests for a waiver are stringent and seldom granted.
Compulsory courses
(* half unit)
-
Either Corporate Finance and Asset Markets which examines the fundamental concepts and tools underlying modern finance, both in the asset markets and the corporate finance side, or both Asset Markets A* which equips students with the fundamental concepts and tools underlying the assets markets side of modern finance and Corporate Finance A* (or another course with permission) which covers a range of topics in corporate finance including capital budgeting techniques, capital structure decisions, dividend policy, decision to go public and mergers and acquisitions.
-
Either Financial Reporting in Capital Markets which seeks to relate economic events to financial statements and disclosures, or Financial Reporting, Capital Markets and Business Combinations* which examines accounting in relation to value creation with special emphasis on cash flows and revenues, business combinations, corporate disclosure, capital markets efficiency and corporate governance and Management Accounting for Decision Making* which focuses on cost and other accounting and non-accounting information systems that aid managerial decision-making, or Financial Reporting, Capital Markets and Business Combinations* and Accounting, Strategy and Control* which provides an advanced overview of current theoretical and practical developments in the area of organisational control, or Management Accounting for Decision Making* and Accounting, Strategy and Control*.
Students will be expected to choose a total of two further units from a range of options.
You can find the most up-to-date list of optional courses for MSc Accounting and Finance in the Programme Regulations section of the current School Calendar.
You must note however that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, some circumstances may cause the School to subsequently change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. 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 circumstances outside of its control. You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee places on its courses. 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.
Graduate destinations
Our graduates pursue careers across a wide range of sectors worldwide. Graduates have been employed by the major financial services, accountancy and advisory firms, as well as corporations, think tanks and government and public sector organisations around the world. Each year, some graduates from the programme also become entrepreneurs or join start-ups, while others pursue doctoral studies in accounting at LSE or other leading universities.