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Business at UEA
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Find out moreMSc Accounting with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2028
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
Develop your expertise in accounting with a Master’s that prepares you for success across a wide range of professional and academic careers.
On this MSc Accounting with a Placement Year course, you’ll build a strong foundation in management and financial accounting while exploring how the field is evolving beyond the purely technical to tackle strategic, societal, and technological challenges. You’ll investigate accounting’s role in corporate reporting, risk, accountability, and sustainability, and discover how emerging technologies – including data analytics and AI – are reshaping the profession.
Whether you’re aiming to accelerate your accounting career, transition into the profession from another discipline, or prepare for further research, this MSc gives you the intellectual depth and practical skills you need to succeed. Whatever your background, you’ll be fully supported as you step into advanced accounting study, gaining the confidence to excel while learning alongside a diverse, international community of future accounting professionals.
You’ll be taught by leading academics with a range of professional and research expertise. This course also offers a flexible structure, multiple entry points (September and January), and the exciting opportunity to tailor your final project or dissertation to your own interests and career aspirations.
In year two, you'll take part in a real-world placement, gaining invaluable industry skills and experience.
You’ll graduate as a highly sought-after professional, equipped with the expertise to excel in today’s fast-changing accounting environment and the adaptability to seize tomorrow’s global career opportunities.
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Placement Year
The placement is a compulsory part of the programme and takes place during your second year, giving you the opportunity to apply your learning in a professional environment and develop valuable industry experience.
During the first semester of your second year, you'll continue your structured employability programme, with dedicated support to help you prepare for and secure a suitable placement. Most students complete an eight to ten-month paid placement with a UK organisation, gaining hands-on experience, building professional networks and enhancing their career prospects.
To support your placement search, UEA works with an award-winning specialist provider that offers tailored guidance, practical support and employer connections to help you maximise your opportunities.
While we'll support you throughout the process, securing a suitable placement aligned with your interests and career goals is your responsibility. Engaging fully with your academic programme, careers support and placement partner will help you make the most of the opportunities available.
If a suitable industry placement isn't available, or you don't meet the academic requirements, you'll still gain valuable professional experience through three structured industry projects with different UK organisations. These projects allow you to work on real-world challenges, develop practical skills and gain experience across multiple organisations.
Whichever route you take, you'll graduate with career-relevant experience that strengthens your CV, builds your confidence and prepares you for your future career.
Find out more about the Placement Year.
Careers
Career Pathways
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Financial Accountant
- Management Accountant
- Auditor
- Data or Business Analyst
- Consultant
- Academic researcher / PhD researcher
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
After the Course
You’ll graduate with a strong foundation in accounting, together with the ability to apply your knowledge to a wide variety of contexts. The course prepares you for professional roles in accounting, consulting, finance, and management, as well as for doctoral study and academic research. With your combination of technical skills, critical insight, and adaptability, you’ll be ready to make a positive impact wherever your career takes you.
Study and Modules
Structure
This Master's offers a flexible carousel structure, with entry points available in September and January. Each module is designed as a standalone unit, giving you the flexibility to study without following a fixed module sequence or meeting prerequisite requirements.
This approach allows you to focus deeply on individual areas of accounting while building a broad understanding of the subject. You’ll explore key themes including management accounting, taxation, corporate reporting, financial statement analysis and contemporary issues affecting the profession. You’ll also consider the growing importance of sustainability, accountability and risk in organisational decision-making.
Alongside your specialist modules, you’ll develop research skills through a business research methods module, preparing you for independent study. You’ll then apply your learning through a dissertation or applied project, where you can investigate a topic that aligns with your interests, career goals or plans for further academic research.
The carousel structure creates a diverse learning environment, bringing together students who join at different points throughout the year. This provides opportunities to learn from a wide range of perspectives while offering flexibility to fit your studies around your circumstances.
You’ll also complete a year-long Employability Skills module to prepare you for your placement in the second year. Through workshops and personalised support, you’ll develop the skills needed to search for, secure and succeed in a placement, including CV writing, interview techniques and effective use of LinkedIn. Sessions are delivered through a combination of online and in-person activities. This module is assessed on a pass/fail basis, and you’ll need to meet the attendance requirements to progress to the placement 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
In your second year, you’ll undertake a placement aligned with your discipline, giving you the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge in a professional setting and gain valuable industry experience.
During the first semester, you’ll take part in an intensive placement search supported by dedicated guidance and six in-person workshops at UEA. These sessions will help you develop your approach, reflect on your progress and prepare for the transition into the workplace.
If you don’t secure an industry placement, you’ll complete three structured industry projects instead. Working with different UK organisations, these projects will allow you to gain practical experience, develop professional skills and engage with real-world challenges.
Your assessment will include a portfolio of evidence from your placement search and a reflective report on your placement or industry projects. This will allow you to demonstrate the skills you’ve developed, your growing understanding of the sector and your future career ambitions. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
By the end of the placement module, you’ll have strengthened your CV, expanded your professional network, increased your career confidence and developed the practical experience needed to progress in your chosen career, whether in the UK or internationally.
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 mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and hands-on case studies. Our teaching is informed by the latest academic research and real-world business practice, giving you a rounded and current perspective on accounting.
You’ll be taught by experienced lecturers, researchers, and practitioners from Norwich Business School, and you’ll benefit from guest lectures from industry experts and visiting academics. Learning from your fellow students is also a vital part of the experience – our international and multidisciplinary student body means you’ll work with peers who bring a wide range of perspectives.
Independent study is central to the course, but you won’t be studying alone. You’ll have structured support through seminars and tutorials, access to resources via our virtual learning environment, and the chance to engage with your lecturers outside class. If you’re new to accounting, you’ll have the option to take a non-credit-bearing online module that introduces the fundamentals, helping you build confidence from the outset.
We also place a strong emphasis on employability. You’ll take part in our annual Employability Week, where you’ll meet employers, attend workshops, and hear from alumni about their careers. These experiences help you translate your academic learning into professional development and career planning.
Assessment
Assessment is designed to test a wide range of skills, from technical knowledge to critical thinking and communication. You’ll be assessed through a combination of coursework, case studies, group projects, and presentations, as well as written assignments and exams.
Coursework often involves applying theory to real-world scenarios, helping you to see how accounting principles operate in practice. Presentations and group work will strengthen your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and to collaborate effectively with others – both essential skills for your career.
Your dissertation or final project will be the capstone of your studies, giving you the chance to demonstrate your ability to design and carry out independent research, analyse findings, and present your conclusions in a structured way.
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 January 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, there may be some overlap. Therefore 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 January 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, there may be some overlap. Therefore 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
- 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 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £15,250
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International Students: £27,000
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).
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
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.