The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is a modern and vibrant institution located in Scotland. It was formed in 2007 through the merger of the University of Paisley and Bell College. With a history dating back to 1897, UWS has a rich heritage of providing education and training to students from across Scotland and around the world. Today, UWS is one of Scotland's largest universities, with four main campuses located in Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, and Dumfries. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas such as business, engineering, health, education, and the arts, and is known for its innovative and student-centered approach to learning.

The MSc Finance and Accounting with CIMA course provides an opportunity to gain relevant contextual and subject specialist knowledge through a structured programme of academic studies. It adds value to your first business or accounting related degree by giving you an integrated and critically aware understanding of your specialism.

For the taught phase of the course, with a possible exit with the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip), you will study the following core modules:

Strategic Financial Accounting (core, 20 credits)
Strategic Management Accounting (core, 20 credits)
Strategic Financial Management (core, 20 credits)
Advanced Management Accounting (core, 20 credits)
Enterprise Management (core, 20 credits)
Business Research & Analysis (core, 20 credits)
Students will progress to the master's dissertation phase after the taught phase. Completion of all taught modules and dissertation are required for the MSc award:

MSc Dissertation (core, 60 credits)
Teaching & Assessment
A range of teaching methods is used across the module suite.

Guidance on the nature and content of lectures will be provided in the associated module handbook. All lecture slides will be available in advance via CampusMoodle.

Tutorials and seminars will be interactive in nature allowing students to actively participate making the most of the learning opportunities available to them.

The Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy of this course is designed to ensure the development of confident individuals with high quality skills and graduate attributes that are recognised and valued not only by the students themselves, but also by employers and the wider community. This is achieved through:

Utilising formative and summative assessments
Developing employability skills
Placing learning and subject content within an international context
Making use of relevant learning technology where appropriate
The master's course has three parts containing a mixture of theory and practice core modules. There are three 20-credit modules in both Part 1 and 2 with Part 3 consisting of a 60-credit dissertation module.

The course uses a blend of academic and professional work to produce graduates with well-rounded academic skills and the techniques to perform in professional accounting and finance environments.

Teaching and learning across the taught modules employ a mix of:

Lectures
Tutorials
Group work
Seminars
Workshops
VLE supported activities
Students learn to integrate their knowledge through exploration of management case study problems.

LEARNING AND TEACHING (Typical for taught modules)

Scheduled learning: 20%
Independent study: 80%
ASSESSMENT (Typical for taught modules)

Exam: 70%
Coursework: 30%
Assessment methods will include:

Written examinations
Oral presentations
Written reports
Essays
Case studies
Literature reviews
Research proposals
Dissertation research and write-up
Course Structure
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.

Finance & Accounting with CIMA Course Structure

• The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is a vibrant and dynamic institution located in Scotland. Founded in 2007, UWS was formed through the merger of the University of Paisley and Bell College. With a history dating back to 1897, the university has a rich heritage of providing education and training to students from across Scotland and around the world.
• UWS is one of Scotland's largest universities, with four main campuses located in Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, and Dumfries. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas such as business, engineering, health, education, and the arts. UWS is also known for its innovative and student-centered approach to learning, which includes a focus on practical, real-world experiences and hands-on learning opportunities.
• UWS is officially ranked by Times Higher Education in the top 150 of universities worldwide under 50 years old (2022 Young University Rankings). In the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 90 percent of research at University of the West of Scotland was classed as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally. UWS was also crowned Higher Educational Institution of the Year 2022 (The Herald Higher Education Awards).
• One of the standout features of UWS is its commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's rapidly changing job market. The university offers a wide range of programs that are designed to meet the needs of students from all backgrounds, and its experienced faculty is dedicated to helping students reach their full potential.
• In addition to its strong academic programs, UWS also offers a wealth of extracurricular activities and student services. The university has a vibrant student life, with numerous clubs and organizations, as well as sports teams, volunteer opportunities, and cultural events. There is also a well-established student support network that provides guidance and assistance to students on a wide range of topics, from academic support to personal and financial advice.
• Another key aspect of UWS is its strong commitment to research. The university has a growing reputation as a center of research excellence, and its faculty and students are working on a wide range of cutting-edge projects in areas such as engineering, health, education, and the arts. This research is not only helping to advance knowledge in these fields, but it is also helping to create new opportunities for students and improve the lives of people around the world.
• In conclusion, the University of the West of Scotland is a dynamic and forward-thinking institution that is dedicated to providing its students with the education, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in today's rapidly changing world. With its strong academic programs, vibrant student life, and commitment to research, UWS is the perfect place for students who want to get the most out of their college experience.

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it