Accounting & Financial Management

Programme Overview

This degree at a ranked and accredited business school prepares its graduates for roles in the finance function of Irish PLCs and multinational companies, leading accounting services firms, and for accounting roles in the finance industry. Our Dublin location and ongoing relationships with leading global companies and accounting services firms will help you present yourself with confidence to the world's top companies.

This programme provides a balance between theoretical learning and applied skills development. Top-class faculty and highly regarded expert practitioners ensure the academic rigour and real-life relevance of the course content.

Graduates from the programme start their CIMA examinations at the Strategic Case Study level. This is the top level of CIMA exams. Students who are successful in the Strategic Case Study just need to demonstrate they have met CIMAs Practical Experience Requirements before joining as a CGMA.

Graduates from the programme who have completed the relevant modules are entitled to seven exemptions from ACCA including Financial Management (FM), Financial Reporting (FR) and Performance Management (PM). Details can be found on the ACCA website.

What will I learn?
A blended teaching approach characterised by varied in-class methods (lectures, seminars, case studies and guest speakers from industry) provides a balance between theoretical learning and applied skills development.

The programme provides:
1. The programme develops the necessary skills and knowledge to analyse business strategy and how business works, provide the relevant information required for business and strategic decisions, integrate the "people side" of numbers, and manage successful strategy implementation.

2. The programme develops your knowledge of IFRS accounting standards and how they are applied in practice. It integrates this material with sophisticated financial statement analysis skills.

3. The programme is made up of a number of modules including advanced financial reporting and consolidation, risk management systems, performance measurement and management, strategic corporate finance and management control systems.

4. By the end of the programme students will have advanced accounting and financial management skills.

How will I benefit?
1.Students will be taught at the beautiful UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School located in a bespoke campus in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Students will join a dynamic international environment with more than 60 nationalities represented at the School.

2.Successful completion of the course corresponds to an extensive knowledge base in the areas of accounting and finance management, backed by a vital set of technical, analytical and personal skills.

3.Graduates will demonstrate a firm grasp of the tools and techniques for measuring and managing business performance, financial reporting and analysis, and financial management.

Intercultural Development Programme (ICD)
Being the first and only programme of this kind in Ireland, ICD is an innovative research-driven and theory-based intercultural professional development training programme which aims to help you to stand out among the crowd by developing your Key 21st-Century Skills. These skills are valued by companies, NGOs and governments around the world who operate internationally, together with national companies and organisations who employ and serve an increasingly diverse population. The ICD programme will strengthen your CV and give you an edge over graduates from other Business programmes in the global job market.

Global Leadership Programme (GLP)
Our Global Leadership Programme (GLP) offers you a unique opportunity to engage in a diverse range of cocurricular activities i.e. development activities outside the modules you take on the Master's programme.

It's all about helping you become an impactful leader with a global mindset. This optional programme is designed to build your capacity for effective personal and organisational leadership. When it comes to seeking employment and attending job interviews, the GLP will help give you an edge over other similarly qualified candidates and will considerably strengthen your CV.

Autumn Trimester
• Performance Measurement and Management
• Strategic Corporate Finance
• Strategic Management
• Organisational Behaviour

Spring Trimester
• Management Control Systems
• Risk Management Systems
• Corporate Governance and Ethics
• Financial Reporting

Summer Trimester
Current Issues in Performance
+ 3 option modules

Advanced Financial Reporting
Project Management
FinTech and the Financial Manger
Business Combinations
Accounting Technology

Please be advised that modules listed are indicative and subject to change.

Note that on-campus teaching is delivered under prevailing public health guidelines. In the event of a required change to planned delivery, further information about alternative delivery methods (including online delivery) will be confirmed with prospective and incoming students.

Please review the entry requirements below. The UCD Smurfit Admissions Office staff have expertise in reviewing international qualifications from around the world and will be able to assess your application's comparability to the Irish entry requirement.

An honours bachelor business degree with a minimum 2.1 award at NFQ Level 8 (or international equivalent) AND

Applicants are required to have demonstrated strong academic ability (a 1.1 or 2.1) in at least one accounting module and one finance module.

Note: Candidates may be asked to sit the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) subject to individual application.

English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language, an English language qualification is required for admission to all of our programmes. The exception to this rule is if you have completed your primary degree or an entire third level qualification through English, in an English speaking country.

Visa Requirements
Some students might have to get a student visa in order to come and study in Ireland. Please check the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services website to see if you require a visa.

Step 1: Collating Documentation
The first step is to collate the required documentation needed to assess your application. Please ensure that you have clearly scanned, titled and collated your documents in numerical order.

These can include but are not limited to:

TRANSCRIPTS AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
CV
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST
REFERENCES
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

Step 2: The Application Process
Once you have collated the required documentation and reviewed the entry requirements for your programme of interest, you can now apply online.

You must apply online using our dedicated student information portal. You will be required to enter contact details, upload your documents and answer two essay questions (each approximately 300 words). We would ask that you seriously consider both essays and answer these in the context of the programme you are applying to. Try to not replicate your CV and demonstrate what makes you different from other applicants. There are no right or wrong ways to complete these essays.

Application Deadlines:
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis and courses will close once they are filled. We advise you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please note certain scholarships may require you to apply before a certain date – please refer to our scholarship page here. If you have any questions in relation to deadlines or availability please email smurfit.admissions@ucd.ie.

You will then be asked to submit your application and pay the €50 application fee. No application can be assessed until the fee has been paid. You can apply for multiple programmes with the one application fee, but please be sure to mark your preferred course.

*Please ensure that you have clearly scanned, titled and collated your documents in numerical order

Once submitted, it usually takes 2-3 weeks before a decision is made on fully completed applications. This time period can sometimes be longer and can vary at different times in the year and in different regions. We may offer you a conditional place based on the completion of a number of criteria, such as degree, English test, or another qualification. This reserves you a place on the course and once you have fulfilled this criteria we will issue you a full offer.

*Please ensure that you have clearly scanned, titled and collated your documents in numerical order

Acceptance is completed by paying a non-refundable deposit (varies from either €500 or €1000 depending on the programme. Most of our programmes require a €500 deposit). Your offer email will detail the exact deposit amount required. Once you have accepted you will then be supported by the Programme Office who will contact you with further course and start details.

12 months full-time.

Full-Time EU:
€14,460 (academic year 2020/2021)

Full-Time Non-EU:
€19,900 (academic year 2020/2021)

Important Note: Tuition fees and other charges are subject to change each year.

Start date: September 2020

Career Opportunities
This programme aims to equip students for employment in three key areas:
(1) Finance Teams
Large Irish and multinational companies have many opportunities in their finance teams. Students who have completed a Smurfit degree are considered by many employers to have developed their accounting and financial management knowledge and skills to a level that means they can make an immediate contribution.

(2) Accounting Practice
Many roles are open in accounting practice to graduates of this programme. Leading accounting services firms will recognise the knowledge and skills developed in this programme.

(3) Funds Accounting/Administration
There are many opportunities in the Dublin International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) for graduates of this programme in fund administration and accounting roles

Note: This programme is designed to prepare students for a career in professional accountancy. Applicants should note that it is not a suitable preparatory programme for PhD studies.

Smurfit Career Development Centre
The UCD Smurfit Career Development Centre team will work with you to define your career path and support you in developing the career-related skills, know-how, and confidence to pursue your post-MSc career goals.

Our holistic programme is designed to support you at key points in your career development. Our programme is structured into three key stages, designed to support you in building and driving your own career.

A variety of workshops, events, one-to-one career appointments and access to a range of online tools and resources prepare you for future opportunities.