Finance and Accounting
Become a leader in the financial sector.
Learn from our globally respected Department of Finance faculty, leaders in their field
ACCA and CIMA accredited, a head start to your career
97% of our class of 2022 were employed within three months of graduating
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSc
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
August 2025
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£47,500
Extended placement: £49,000 Home£47,500
Extended placement: £49,000 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
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First or 2:1 in a quantitative subject such as Finance, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business
Course overview
Prepare yourself for a career in financial or professional services with MSc Finance and Accounting, a one-year, full-time programme accredited by both ACCA and CIMA.
You will gain a strong theoretical grounding and learn from some of the world's best research in corporate finance. Highly applied, the programme will bolster you to find solutions to real-world business and valuation challenges in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and real estate. Many lectures are delivered by highly regarded practitioners, and you will have the option to attend programming workshops, complete an Applied Project, or take part in a work placement.
Tailor your learning with our wide range of cutting-edge electives, enabling you to align your studies with your career aspirations.
You'll get the opportunity to meet and network with leading global organisations, thanks to our London location and ongoing relationships with major employers in the finance sector.
You also have the option to complete a four-six month work placement (internship) as part of your programme, extending the programme to 16 months and graduating with 120 ECTS. Please note that additional tuition fees apply.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
Before the programme begins you will complete pre-study modules delivered through The Hub, Imperial College Business School’s online learning environment.
These modules will be available to students who have accepted an offer of admission from July onwards, and are designed to give you a basic knowledge of areas which will be covered by the programme throughout the academic year.
You will study one foundation module in September that introduces the tools of modern finance and enhances your career development skills.
- Foundations in Finance & Accounting
Core modules build rapidly on previous experience while introducing new and challenging disciplines.
- Advanced Corporate Finance
- Applied Econometrics
- Corporate Finance
- Ethics and Professional Standards in Finance (Online Module)
- Financial Accounting
- Fundamentals of Derivatives
- Investments and Portfolio Management
- Management Accounting
Electives allow you to personalise your programme to match your own interests. You will take either three (if you do the Research Project) or four (if you do the Applied Project) from the elective modules.
All students will be required to take at least one key elective.
- Banks, Regulation and Monetary Policy
- Contemporary Financial Accounting
- Corporate Dealmaking
- Corporate Law and Corporate Tax Strategy
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Real Estate Investment, Finance and Private Equity
- Advanced Company Valuation
- Applied Quantitative Macro Strategies
- Blockchain and Applications
- Climate Finance
- Corporate Finance for Practitioners (International Elective)
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
- Innovation and Strategy in Fintech
- Insurance
- International Finance
- Private Equity and Venture Capital
- Structured Credit and Equity Products
- Sustainable Investment
- Shareholder Activism and Corporate Responsibility
- Wealth Management and Alternative Investments
In the spring and summer terms, you will choose between undertaking two types of projects, in order to develop specialist skills and subject knowledge to benefit your future career.
You can either pursue an Applied Project together with an additional elective, or a traditional Research Project. If you have secured a work placement, with approval you will be able to link your Applied Project to the area of finance of the employer organisation.
- Applied Project
- Work Placement
- Research Project
- Extended work placement
If you wish to take a longer (four-six month) internship as part of your programme, you can take an extended work placement with the approval of the Academic Director. This is particularly relevant for (but not exclusive to) internships in France, Germany, and other European countries that require students to have student status for the duration of their internships. Please note that additional tuition fees apply.
Professional accreditation
We are among a handful of business schools worldwide to achieve triple accreditation:
- Association of MBAs (AMBA)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)
We have also been recognised for our work in tackling gender inequality in higher education with a Bronze Athena SWAN award.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
- Case studies
- Equipment/technique demonstrations
- Presentations and seminars
- Group work
- Lectures
- Virtual learning environment
- Lecture recordings
- Practical classes
- Work placement opportunity
- Workshops
Assessment methods
- Case studies
- Continuous assessments
- Essays
- Formal presentations
- Multiple choice tests
- Participation
- Reports
- Written exams
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
If you are applying to the Business School, you may be considered for one course per admissions cycle. If you are applying for a Finance Master's, we will take your areas of interest and eligibility into account when considering you for alternative programmes.
Application deadlines – Round 2 closes on Thursday 9 January 2025
We operate a staged admissions process with several deadlines throughout the year. This programme is highly competitive, so early application is advised.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
- Closing date: 26 September 2024
- Decision by: 28 November 2024
Round 2
- Closing date: 9 January 2025
- Decision by: 6 March 2025
Round 3
- Closing date: 13 March 2025
- Decision by: 8 May 2025
Round 4
- Closing date: 1 May 2025
- Decision by: 19 June 2025
Scholarship deadlines
- Round 1: 26 September 2024
- Round 2: 9 January 2025
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £100 for all MSc applications to Imperial College Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial College Business School
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
Tuition fee
2025 entry
£47,500 12 months
Extended work placement option
2025 entry
£49,000 16 months
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Students taking the optional extended work placement must pay a fee of £1500, in addition to the standard course fees.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
With the programme accredited by both ACCA and CIMA, you'll be prepared for a career in financial or professional services.
Our expert Career Consultants will help you develop your CV by offering tailored advice on job applications and career paths that are ideal for you.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
Investment banking, asset and investment management, and general finance are just some of your options.
Other potential career paths include consulting, M&A, asset management, sales/trading, or private equity.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7589 5111
- Email: business.school@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Imperial College Business School website
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications