MSc Strategic Professional Accounting and Finance with placement year

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Oxford Brookes University

Program Overview

If you’re aiming to accelerate your career in accounting and finance, this MSc at Oxford Brookes is designed to help you do just that — you’ll gain a master’s qualification while also preparing to sit four ACCA Strategic Professional exams, giving you a strong edge in the profession. This course suits ambitious accounting graduates or ACCA students ready to deepen their strategic and financial expertise while building leadership and analytical skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building Core Strategic Accounting Expertise

In your first year, you’ll dive into the heart of the discipline with modules such as Advanced Audit and Assurance, where you’ll analyse assurance engagements and best practices, and Advanced Performance Management, focusing on strategic management accounting in business contexts. You’ll also develop professional skills employers value in Professional and Personal Skills, and tackle complex organisational challenges in Strategic Business Leader and Strategic Business Reporting. Alongside these, you’ll begin shaping your independent research through the Accounting and Finance Project, allowing you to explore specialist topics in depth.

Year 2 – Optional Placement & Advanced Application

During your second year, you have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on professional experience in accounting and finance through a work placement, applying your academic knowledge to real business challenges, developing communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, and potentially securing long-term career opportunities. Alternatively, you can focus on advanced electives like Investment and Asset Management, International Finance, or The Practice of Data Analysis, each sharpening your analytical insight and market-relevant skills. Throughout this stage, you’ll consolidate your learning and prepare for professional ACCA exams and future leadership roles.

Focus Areas

Strategic financial reporting, audit and assurance, performance management, professional skills development, leadership in business, financial analysis, and optional specialist electives in investment, sustainable finance, and data analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will master strategic accounting and finance frameworks, be ready to take ACCA Strategic Professional papers, demonstrate strong analytical and leadership capabilities, and apply research-driven insights to real-world financial decision-making contexts.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This programme is aligned with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), preparing you for four of the ACCA Strategic Professional examinations and giving you a direct pathway toward chartered accountant status.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Oxford Brookes University is widely recognised for its teaching quality and graduate success, ranked 6th in the UK for teaching in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, and is listed among the top 40 UK institutions in national league tables. It also enjoys global recognition in accounting and finance, helping your qualification stand out with employers worldwide.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Oxford Brookes, your learning goes well beyond lectures and textbooks — you’ll develop practical, hands-on skills that employers value most in accounting and finance. Throughout the MSc Strategic Professional Accounting and Finance, you’ll take part in interactive workshops, role-plays, real case studies, and group projects that mirror the challenges professionals face every day, helping you build confidence in decision-making and teamwork long before graduation. You’ll also have access to state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated support designed to bring your academic learning into real-world contexts, alongside the opportunity to spend a full placement year working in industry to apply classroom knowledge in a professional setting:

Experiential learning highlights:

Work placement year — a full-time, supervised industry placement in your second year gives you real professional experience in accounting, finance, or a related field, helping you build networks, confidence, and practical insight into your future career. You’ll get support from the Work and Voluntary Experience Services (WAVES) team to prepare applications, improve interview skills, and connect with employers.
Bloomberg Trading Suite — access the same industry-standard financial terminals used by professionals to analyse real-time market data and make simulated trades, sharpening your analytical and investment skills.
Interactive workshops & case studies — much of your learning takes place in workshops and seminars that use authentic scenarios, role-plays, and group work so you can practise strategic thinking, leadership, and communication in collaborative environments.
Group projects & presentations — assessments include group projects and presentations that mirror professional consulting and advisory work, preparing you for teamwork and client engagement situations you’ll see in industry.
International Business in Practice study trip — optional short-course travels allow you to visit global business centres and meet executives, broadening your understanding of international finance in practice.
John Henry Brookes Library & study resources — 24/7 access to extensive library resources, databases, and quiet study spaces supports your research for projects, placements, and exams.
WAVES careers support — dedicated placement support from the university’s careers services including CV help, interview practice, and mentor guidance to help you secure and succeed on placement.

Facilities and support that bring your learning to life:
These experiential elements are all supported by world-class facilities on the Headington campus, including Bloomberg terminals, dedicated study spaces in the John Henry Brookes Library, and student-focused careers and placement support teams.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Strategic Professional Accounting and Finance leave Oxford Brookes well prepared for professional accounting and finance careers, equipped with the skills and confidence employers are looking for. You could step into roles such as Management Accountant, Financial Analyst, Auditor, or Tax Consultant, and with the programme’s ACCA alignment, you’re also set up to continue towards chartered status after graduation:

Career & progression opportunities include:

Dedicated university career support — the Work and Voluntary Experience Service (WAVES) and Brookes Careers team help you polish your CV, prepare for interviews, build professional networks, and connect with employers throughout your studies and placement year. They provide tailored advice, application support, and access to placement and job listings with a variety of organisations.
Strong employment prospects — graduates in accounting and finance from Oxford Brookes are highly sought after, with the majority finding employment or further study shortly after graduating, reflecting the real-world relevance of the skills you develop during the course.
Industry links — guest speakers from leading firms and placement opportunities give you direct exposure to employers in accounting and finance, helping you build connections and experience that can open doors to your future career.
Long-term accreditation value — this programme prepares you for four ACCA Strategic Professional examinations, giving you a direct pathway toward becoming a chartered accountant and enhancing your credibility and career mobility worldwide.
Graduate destinations — alumni have gone on to roles with respected organisations across various sectors, demonstrating the programme’s versatility and strong professional recognition.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this MSc, many students continue their studies by pursuing full ACCA membership or specialised postgraduate study in areas such as finance, taxation, or business analytics. This can deepen your expertise, support leadership ambitions, and open doors to senior roles in consulting, corporate finance, or international accounting management. The strong foundation you build also allows for progression into research-oriented programmes or executive education later in your career.