MSc Accounting & Sustainability

Programme structure

The MSc Accounting & Sustainability course combines core and optional modules across the three terms of your one-year course.

In your three terms at WBS you will study eight core modules and two optional modules of your choice. Assessment is a mix of exams, project work, and tests, and you'll complete your studies with either a Dissertation or self-sourced Internship.

Analysing Value Creation

This course examines challenges related to measuring and monetising impacts or organisations, build theoretical skills and approaches before applying them to a real-life situation.

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Sustainability Reporting

This module will familiarise you with cutting-edge sustainability reporting and the most relevant reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and International Sustainability Standards (IFRS-S).

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Management Information and Responsible Decision Making

This module will further your ability to apply, analyse, discuss and critically evaluate management accounting, management control and performance management techniques, all in the context of making more responsible decisions for the good of Profit, People and Planet.

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Governance and Stakeholder Engagement

This module will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the role of corporate governance in aligning the interests of managers, shareholders, and other stakeholders.

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Professional Ethics and Assurance

This module offers an in-depth understanding of professionalism and assurance, focusing
on the assurance of both financial and non-financial information, including Environmental,
Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) aspects.

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Grand Challenges, Accountability, and Professional Expertise

In this module we'll analyse how the grand challenges of sustainable development have been changing the demands on professional expertise, accountability, management and accounting.

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Data Analytics

This module will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, critique, and conduct quantitative financial accounting research.

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These are indicative optional modules which may vary year-on-year.
Business Analytics for Managers

This module introduces you to the theory and practice of conducting business analytics projects.

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Entrepreneurship and Business Venturing

This module aims to develop an understanding of entrepreneurs and the firms they create and manage.

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Project Management

Look at project management methods in a modern context, spanning a range of sectors and applications.

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Financial Accounting: Theory and Context

Build on the financial reporting knowledge gained in your undergraduate programme. You will develop awareness of the contingent and powerful nature of technical accounting.

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Forecasting for Decision Makers

This module will train you in the key methods that aid decision making when managers face an uncertain future.

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Global Challenges in Management and Sustainability

This module will provide you with the theoretical foundations, appropriately supported by real-life examples, to help understand how global business works today

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Alternative Investments

Alternative investments by their very nature are applications of various disciplines. You'll build on your knowledge from relevant modules, and make the practical link between other subjects and topics, and how this could inform your future career or research decisions.

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Dissertation route

The dissertation route offers the opportunity to synthesise, apply and extend your knowledge gained during the course, with a 6,000 word final dissertation.

Internship route

This course offers the opportunity to self-source a summer internship, where you’ll be able to increase your employability by applying your theoretical learnings to a real-world industry setting. The WBS CareersPlus team will support you through each step of the recruitment process, including making effective applications, interview practice, organising events for you to meet employers, and more.

Business in Practice route

If you would like to develop further applied skills and specialist knowledge to suit your career aspirations, you can complete your studies with our applied Business in Practice module. You will develop deep functional and industry expertise with practical insights from our faculty and industry experts.

Your learning experience

Teaching and assessment will vary to fit the subject being studied. Our faculty have designed your learning experience to fit the subject being studied, with a variety of teaching and assessment styles. 

Your teaching will take the form of lectures and webinars, supported, where relevant, by guest speakers from industry to balance theory and practice. Lectures introduce key theories, concepts, and economic models. In classes you will solve financial problems and numerical exercises, analyse case studies, and make presentations of research published in academic journals.

Your learning will be assessed by a mix of exams, group work, project work, and tests. Group and project work will enable you to collaborate and gain new perspectives from your international cohort, preparing you for working in teams within a global work environment.

Our online platform

Our unique online learning platform my.wbs will act as the hub for your learning experience, hosting all of your teaching materials, key information from your CareersPlus and Programme Teams, and our online classroom: wbsLive.

Choice between Dissertation, Internship or Business in Practice

Dissertation route

The dissertation route offers the opportunity to synthesise, apply and extend your knowledge gained during the course, with a 6,000 word final dissertation.

Internship route

This course offers the opportunity to self-source a summer internship, where you’ll be able to increase your employability by applying your theoretical learnings to a real-world industry setting. The WBS CareersPlus team will support you through each step of the recruitment process, including making effective applications, interview practice, organising events for you to meet employers, and more.

Business in Practice route

If you would like to develop further applied skills and specialist knowledge to suit your career aspirations, you can complete your studies with our applied Business in Practice module. You will develop deep functional and industry expertise with practical insights from our faculty and industry experts.

Learning facilities

You will have access to our outstanding learning facilities, including a Postgraduate-only Learning Space and IT suite, as well as all other University facilities. Studying on a Finance-based MSc also means that you gain access to our Bloomberg terminals, Eikon terminals, and financial data via the Wharton Research Data Services.  

Foreign Language Study

One of the great benefits of this course is that it offers optional free foreign language study in the evenings across all three terms. This is an opportunity to develop the basics of a new language. There is a choice of six different languages, all at beginner-level (please note we are not able to offer classes at intermediate/advanced level).