Our MSc Accounting and Finance (Top-Up) degree is a fast-track master’s course which helps fully qualified CCAB accountants further the professional and academic success they’ve achieved to date.
If you’ve attained qualified accountant status through prior study with the ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, or an equivalent professional body, you’ll be granted six module exemptions (totalling 120 credits) from our standard MSc Accounting and Finance course. This means you’ll need to complete just one module from the course, the final Financial Management Project module (60 credits), to graduate with a full Master of Science award. This provides you with a unique opportunity to gain a full postgraduate qualification at greatly reduced tuition fees and within a much shorter timeframe than studying a full 180-credit MSc course.
The Financial Management Project module will give you the opportunity to undertake an in-depth analysis of the latest technologies in accounting and finance, such as blockchain, fintech, cloud computing, and distributed ledgers. This will help you gain up-to-the-minute skills and knowledge that you can apply immediately to modern business environments – supporting your career development in a wide selection of accounting and finance roles.
You will study just one module, the Financial Management Project, which gives you the opportunity to perform in-depth analysis of innovative technologies in accounting and finance, such as blockchain, fintech, cloud computing, and distributed ledgers. Focusing on these latest technologies will help you gain skills and knowledge that are essential for furthering your career success in the accounting and finance sector.
"I was already in the working world and running two businesses. Not to mention I also have a young family, so the freedom online learning offered, and the cost effectiveness of the course, was a big draw for me."
Arden’s Accounting and Finance (Top-up) degree requires the completion of the independent study assessment module from our MSc Accounting and Finance course (the Financial Management Project). The project will give you the opportunity to bring together the skills, experience, and attributes you’ve acquired to date in your journey to fully qualified accountant status. Your assessment comprises two parts; a Performance and Development Plan (80%) and a Project Pitch (20%).
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
To be eligible for the MSc Accounting and Finance (Top-Up), we need to see that you have:
We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide the above evidence of English proficiency. More information can be found here.
Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.
Our courses in finance and accounting have been designed with the highest industry standards and forward-thinking practices in mind. We create our modules to reflect professional body standards as well as the critical techniques and skills used today in finance and accounting positions around the globe. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.
Our MSc Accounting and Finance (Top-Up) will help you apply a strategic focus to an area of innovation in accounting and finance that interests you most. Throughout your time spent studying with us, you’ll be encouraged to think creatively and consider contemporary debates around current trends in accounting and finance.
The MSc Accounting and Finance (Top-Up) course will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your existing skills and knowledge of the sector at postgraduate level, while encouraging you to develop new professional attributes through:
Your MSc Accounting and Finance (Top-Up) qualification will support you career development in a number of careers within finance and accounting. Here are just a few of the roles graduates may want to explore further:
Ultimately, your MSc qualification will help you to advance your career in the financial sector with evidence of continual professional development and in-depth knowledge of emerging technologies. It also serves as a springboard to further study, such as a PhD, or as a route into academia.
If you're looking to gain some additional skills as you study, you can take an industry-certified online course while you’re studying your Arden degree, at no extra cost.
You can choose to become certified on Salesforce Trailhead, gain certification through Cisco’s Networking Academy, or take courses on Amazon’s cloud-based learning platform, AWS Educate. All of these courses complement our degree modules and are highly valued by employers worldwide.
Once you’ve enrolled with Arden, our careers centre is easily accessible directly from inside our online platform, ilearn. The careers centre is here to help you discover the areas of your academic and professional life that you find most meaningful and rewarding, and then apply this to your career pathway.
Just a few of the career tools you’ll find in the careers centre include:
Arden University’s Faculty of Business is an esteemed member institution of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), an international quality assurance body of world-leading education providers who share a commitment for responsible management practices and lifelong learning. Membership with the BGA means that Arden University will support its students’ professional growth, allowing them to contribute to an international network in which ‘Leaders Never Stop Learning’.