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.
Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study your degree in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.
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.
If you’re an international student, we have a number of Regional Offers that can help you save money on your tuition fees.
When you help a friend or family member to study with Arden through our Refer a Friend programme, both you and the person you refer will receive a £500 Amazon e-voucher or £500 tuition fee credit.
Hassaan studied accounting and finance at the University of Kent, followed by an MSc and PhD in Finance from Durham University. Prior to joining Arden, Hassaan was associate dean at Global Banking School, looking after the finance and business management degree courses. He was director of programmes at BPP University where he was responsible for degree programmes in finance and applied management as well as professional courses and degree apprenticeships in accountancy.
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.
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 is a member of the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is a global association of leaders in education and business dedicated to supporting and advancing quality business education worldwide.
This membership reflects the fact that Arden University has successfully matched the high standards required by the AACSB, and enables the sharing of ideas and the exchange best practises between global business schools. Membership also gives our faculty members access to in-depth data and research to support the development of our courses and teaching methods, ensuring that we are able to provide you with the best possible university experience.
The BGA is a membership and quality assurance body. As a member, Arden University have signed up to the BGA Charter, committing their institution to responsible management practices and lifelong learning, positively impacting their students, communities, and the economy. This shows our students that we are demonstrating responsible management ourselves, as well as it being a central theme that runs through our own courses.
As Arden University is a member of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), students will receive complementary BGA student and graduate membership. Through this membership, current students will have access to the BGA Career Development Centre, packed with interactive tools, e-learning content, partner discounts and the latest job opportunities. This is a lifetime access, which means students will continue to have access to these services even after they graduate.
All Arden students will have free access to LinkedIn Learning through the Library Portal. LinkedIn Learning is a video-based online learning platform offering over 16,500 expert-led courses across a wide range of subjects including business, technology, and creative skills.
With LinkedIn Learning, you can: