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Business at UEA
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Find out moreMSc Accounting and Analytics with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
Top 20
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Combine advanced accounting knowledge with cutting-edge analytical skills on this forward-looking Master’s.
Building on the foundations of accounting, this course equips you to apply data analytics and AI in a business context. You’ll study management and financial accounting, taxation, and corporate reporting, while also exploring how digital tools and analytical techniques are reshaping the profession and enabling innovation.
Designed for students from diverse backgrounds, this MSc Accounting and Analytics with a Placement Year course combines intellectual depth with practical relevance. If you already hold an accounting or business degree, it’s a natural next step; if you come from another discipline, full support is provided to help you transition smoothly into advanced accounting study.
You’ll be taught by world-class academics and practitioners with expertise in both accounting and analytics, ensuring you gain the skills employers are seeking. In year two, you'll take part in a placement, gaining invaluable industry experience.
You’ll graduate with a distinctive blend of accounting expertise and analytical ability, preparing you for a wide range of rewarding roles across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors – or for further research if you choose to pursue an academic path.
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Placement Year
The placement forms a compulsory part of the programme and takes place in the second year. During the first semester of year two, you'll continue the employability development programme, which includes an intensive period dedicated to securing a placement.
The industry work placement is typically undertaken with a UK company for eight to ten months. The University works in partnership with a specialist, award-winning provider to deliver a tailored package of support, giving you the strongest possible opportunity to secure a paid role.
While comprehensive support is available throughout your studies, securing an appropriate industry work placement is ultimately your responsibility. You'll need to engage fully with your academic programme and with our specialist partner to maximise your chances of success.
If an industry work placement is not available, or you don’t meet the academic requirements, you’re guaranteed the opportunity to complete three structured industry projects with different UK organisations. These give you the opportunity to build real-world experience across multiple companies. These placements are available in different formats depending on your preference.
As a result, you’ll complete the course with practical, career-relevant experience that strengthens your future employment prospects.
Careers
Career Pathways
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
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Financial or Management Accountant
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Business/Data Analyst
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Auditor
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Consultant
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Policy Analyst
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Academic Researcher / PhD
Discover more on our Careers webpages(opens in a new window).
After the Course
You’ll graduate with expertise that combines accounting knowledge with in-demand analytical skills. This makes you highly employable across a wide range of sectors and career paths, from professional accounting roles to consultancy, data analytics, and policy. You’ll also be well prepared for further academic research should you choose to continue your studies at doctoral level.
Study and Modules
Structure
This MSc Accounting and Analytics with a Placement Year uses a carousel model, offering both September and January entry points. Each module is self-contained, so there are no prerequisites and you don’t need to follow a rigid sequence.
This gives you the flexibility to focus on one area of accounting or analytics at a time, building a deep understanding of each topic while steadily broadening your overall expertise. You’ll study areas such as management accounting, taxation, corporate reporting, and financial statement analysis, alongside modules focused on emerging technologies, data analytics, and the use of AI in accounting. You’ll also explore sustainability, risk, and accountability, preparing you to navigate the broader societal role of accounting in today’s organisations.
Your programme culminates in a dissertation or applied project, where you’ll bring together accounting knowledge and analytical skills to investigate a topic of your choice. This might involve applying data analysis tools to a business challenge, exploring the use of AI in professional practice, or pursuing an academic research question.
The carousel model means you’ll join a dynamic learning community, studying alongside students who enter at different times of the year. This structure enhances flexibility, supports diverse cohorts, and allows you to get the most from every module without worrying about prerequisites.
To prepare for your placement, you’ll undertake a year-long Employability Skills module. You’ll benefit from workshops on CV writing, interview practice, and use of LinkedIn. You’ll also have one-to-one meetings to plan your application strategy and practisemock interviews. Sessions will be a mixture of online and in-person. This is a pass/fail module, and you’ll need to ensure you attend 75% or more of the sessions in order to pass and progress to the second year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 60)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
You’ll undertake a placement aligned to your discipline during the second year of your Master's course. In the first semester, you'll undertake a placement search. You’ll have dedicated support for this search, along with six broader workshops held in-person at UEA to give you an opportunity for critical reflection. At the end of your placement search, if you haven’t managed to secure an industry work placement, you’ll undertake a series of three industry projects.
You'll be required to submit an assessment. This will consist of the portfolio of materials relating to your job search (in the first semester) and a reflective report on your placement. You’ll highlight skills learnt, increased sector awareness, and development needs for the future. This will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. By the end of the placement, you'll have enhanced your career confidence and strengthened your CV and professional network. You’ll be ready for the next stage of your career, whether in the UK or elsewhere.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You’ll learn through a blend of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, and independent study. Teaching draws on both cutting-edge academic research and real-world business practice, ensuring you gain relevant knowledge and skills.
Hands-on learning is a particular strength of this course. You’ll work with real and simulated datasets, apply analytical tools, and explore the potential of AI in accounting contexts. This practical focus complements your study of accounting theory and practice, helping you develop as both a thinker and a problem-solver.
Your lecturers bring expertise in accounting, analytics, and emerging technologies, and you’ll benefit from guest speakers from industry as well as from our research community. You’ll also learn from peers in an international student cohort with varied disciplinary backgrounds, broadening your perspective.
Support is available throughout your studies, with structured teaching, supervision, and optional preparatory resources for students new to accounting. You’ll also have the chance to participate in Employability Week, building connections with employers and hearing directly from alumni about career pathways in accounting, analytics, and beyond.
Assessment
Assessment is varied and designed to develop a broad range of skills. You’ll complete coursework, case studies, presentations, and group projects, as well as exams and individual written assignments.
Practical assignments will give you the opportunity to apply accounting and analytical tools to real or simulated problems, while presentations and group work will help you build communication and collaboration skills. Your dissertation or applied project will test your ability to design, conduct, and present independent research, consolidating your learning across the programme.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner UEA International Study Centre. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences (opens in a new window)
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £14,500
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International Students: £25,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.