Professional Accountancy

MSc and PGCert

Gain a University of London master's degree and your ACCA professional qualification at the same time. This is the only master's degree with ACCA recognition. Available anywhere in the world, it prepares you for senior roles and helps you to stand out from the crowd.

If you're a current ACCA student, you can gain a master's degree alongside your professional qualification. If you've already completed your professional exams, boost your qualification cost-effectively with our prestigious master's degree.

This programme covers strategic financial issues that are important for financial officers, managers, managers and analysts involved with finance-related activities. Gain an understanding of key issues and applied methodologies relating to strategic management accounting and evaluating risk.

There are two pathways to achieve the master’s degree, depending on which entrance requirements you meet.

PGCert: ACCA students without the two Strategic Professional Essentials (SBL and SBR) have to complete two modules.

MSc Pathway 1: ACCA students with the two Strategic Professional Essentials (SBL and SBR) have to complete three modules.

MSc Pathway 2: ACCA Members and Affiliates have to complete two modules.

You can study this online programme from anywhere in the world. Each module is studied over 22 weeks. You receive comprehensive learning materials and a choice of tuition options.

Study materials

We provide you with all of the resources and study materials you need to complete the course successfully, including the essential reading for each module. You can access these through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) on a range of devices.

Our online learning resources typically include multimedia content, activities and exercises (e.g. multiple choice quizzes, reflective exercises and self-assessment questions), as well as facilities for you to interact with your tutor and fellow students. You'll also receive access to two short introductory modules that help you get the most from your studies.

Online support

When you register, we will give you access to your Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and other key resources:

The Online Library provides access to over 100 million academic electronic items comprising E-books, E-journals, conference proceedings, etc. In addition, students can request items which are not held in the library via the library's Inter-Library loans service with the British Library.

Tutor support

All students receive tutor support and feedback while studying this programme. Tutors introduce the modules, respond to queries, monitor discussions and provide guidance on assessments.

Web-supported learning:

If you register for a module as a web-supported learner, you join an online tutor group.

Institution-supported learning:

If you enrol for a module with a local teaching centre, you receive face-to-face tuition. This option is currently available in six countries.

Time commitment

Study at your own pace, either part-time or full-time. You can complete the MSc in as little as six months or take up to five years. Each module is studied over a 22-week session, requiring an average of 10-15 hours per week. Modules run twice per year starting in January and July.

Assessment

Each module includes a mix of formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments help to measure your progress but do not count towards your grade. Summative assessments do count towards the final grade. They include coursework and a project or written exam. Exams are usually held in June and December.

All elements of assessment for a module must be completed in the same study session.

When will your marks be recognised?

If you sit an exam in December, you can expect to see this reflected on your ACCA transcript in April. If you sit an exam in June, it should be updated by October.


What qualifications do you need?

PGCert:

You must be a current ACCA student with passes in all nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers.*

Pathway 1:

You must be a current ACCA student with passes in all nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers and the two Strategic Professional Essentials (SBL and SBR).*

Pathway 2:

You must be a current ACCA Member or Affiliate, with passes in all nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers, the two Strategic Professional Essentials (SBL and SBR) and two Strategic Professional options from AFM, APM, ATX and AAA.*

[*] or earlier forms (e.g. 'F' and 'P' papers).

Without exams?

If you’re an ACCA Member without any Professional Level exams, you should contact ACCA to ask about your eligibility.

Over five years?

If your last ACCA pass was over five years ago, you’ll need to demonstrate that your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record meets ACCA policy, including an up-to-date CPD declaration.

You’ll also need to complete a certified online preparation course. It takes about 3-5 hours a week over four weeks (although you can complete it faster). There is a fee of US$49 to take the test and receive the certificate.

Sign up for 'Issues for the Finance Professional'

English Language requirements

  • You meet the language requirement if you meet one of the following:
  • You have passed the English version of the nine ACCA Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers (or gained exemption by completing an English-language undergraduate degree approved by ACCA).
  • You have passed the English version of either of the Strategic Professional Essentials (SBL or SBR), or equivalent.
  • You are a current ACCA Member or Affiliate.
  • Alternatively, you’ll need one of the following from the past three years:
  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in the written test.
  • TOEFL iBT: 92 overall, with 22+ in reading and writing and 20+ in speaking and listening.
  • Pearson Test (Academic): 59 overall, with 59+ in reading and writing and 54+ in speaking and listening.
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
  • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (grade C or above).

  • Computer requirements

    We set minimum basic computer requirements because your study resources are accessed via the Student Portal and it is vital that you can access this regularly.

    Our MSc Professional Accountancy enables you to combine your professional qualifications with a world-class academic degree that will prepare you for the next step in your career.

    Providing global access to a prestigious master’s qualification as part of ACCA’s professional qualification will offer our students and members the opportunity to enhance their employability even further.

    Alan Hatfield, Executive Director – Strategy and Development, ACCA

    Continuing Professional Development

    One hour of learning equates to one CPD unit. Your studies could easily provide your full 40 units for one year. You can even carry forward 21 units to the next year.


    Assessments and academic direction are provided by the School of Management at University College London (UCL). UCL is ranked seventh in the world by QS World University Rankings 2018.

    We provide the learning content for the modules you study, drawing upon our knowledge, expertise and experience. It looks at practical challenges, identifying and applying ideas and models as responses and solutions.

    Alan Parkinson, Deputy Director (Education), UCL School of Management.


    Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

    ACCA is the world’s leading body for professional accountants, with over 170,000 members and 436,000 students in 180 countries. It holds joint membership of other international accountancy bodies and its qualifications are recognised by key regulatory and education authorities around the world.


    Programme Director

    Lynsie Chew is Senior Teaching Fellow in Accounting in the UCL School of Management. She specialises in Accounting, Financial Management and International Financial Systems, and is co-editor/co-author of three Pearson Custom textbooks. She engages in international scholarly activity in numerous fields within accounting and education.