Accounting and Information Systems MSc

Facts about Accounting and Information Systems

Qualification	MSc
Duration	Full time: 1 year
Attendance	2–3 days per week in semester 1. Up to 4 days attendance in semester 2 depending on option modules chosen
Assessment	Examinations; individual and group work; case studies and practical laboratory sessions; consultancy project; dissertation
Start date	September only (week commencing 17 September 2012)
Course structure

Choose Kingston's Accounting and Information Systems MSc

If you would like to develop an understanding of how modern information technology is best used to support the accounting activities within an organisation, this Accounting and Information Systems MSc course is ideal. It is designed to improve your knowledge and understanding of accounting, financial decision making, and the information systems that support and inform these activities.

What will you study?

After an induction programme introducing you to the Business School and the expectations and ethos of the course, you will go on to learn about the principal communications technologies available to an organisation and how to develop a framework for handling major issues in e-commerce. You will develop a clear understanding of current accounting practice, as well as technical management accounting skills. You will also examine strategic financial management issues.

In addition, you will gain a solid foundation in web programming and develop strategies for the exploitation, management and implementation of internet and e-commerce applications. The consultancy project gives you hands-on experience of working on a live internet start-up project.

Links with business and industry

Kingston Business School works closely with the business world's principal professional bodies in order to harmonise its education provision with the needs of today's business practitioners. You will learn how to turn theory into practice and gain a qualification that has real value in the real world. Find out more...

Research areas

Research is an essential part of the day-to-day life of Kingston Business School and is embedded in its intellectual activities and development. In the most recent RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) undertaken in 2008, the research output of Kingston Business School was the highest rated of any new university. Ninety per cent of our research submitted was assessed as 'recognised internationally' or higher. Of this, 10% was classified as 'world leading' and 35% as 'internationally excellent'.

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Course structure

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Core modules

Financial Accounting
Financial Accounting

This module introduces you to financial accounting in a business context. It provides you with a mix of practical 'know how' and deeper theoretical underpinning. The module covers:
- the principles for constructing the key financial statements;
- how to produce financial statements from transaction records using double entry principles;
- how to conduct an appraisal of the financial statements of entities; and
- company financial statements and their regulation.
The module uses an active-learning approach in the lectures with informal feedback through discussion and practice questions.
Management Accounting
Management Accounting

This module will enable you to understand and prepare management information to support the decision making in an organisation. It covers:
- how to calculate the costs associated with the production of products and provision of services, and determine their price;
- budgeting approaches and how budgets are produced; and
- effective performance management systems, including performance measures, to assist management decision making.
Information Resources Management
Information Resources Management

This module will develop a comprehensive understanding of how information resources are managed, including an examination of the needs of different organisational structures from a technological and managerial perspective.
Strategic Management of Information Systems
Strategic Management of Information Systems

This module aims to provide an understanding of the strategic issues involved in the management of IS and IT. You will:
- develop strategies for the exploitation, management and implementation of internet and e-commerce applications; and
- gain an overview of the major models found in corporate strategy literature.
Financial Statement Analysis
Financial Statement Analysis

This module will analyse and interpret financial statements as well as accompanying notes and information in order to assess a company's financial situation and conduct a sound fundamental valuation. The focus of this module is analysis and valuation froma financial accounting perspective. Financial statement analysis builds on the knowledge learned in ‘Financial Accounting' and takes students a step further towards applying this knowledge in practise from the perspective of the users of financial statements. This module will be most useful for prospective financial analysts and other professionals who might use accounting information to judge a company's future prospects.
Audit and Control
Audit and Control

This module integrates theory and conceptual considerations with the practicalities of auditing. You will gain an understanding of processes and techniques, as well as the constraints and pressures in the environment in which audit is carried out.
Business Internet Systems
Business Internet Systems

This module aims to provide a theoretical understanding, as well as practical competence, in the techniques of structured systems analysis and design in new and emerging fields of business internet systems.

Methodologies covered will range from SSADM to Rapid Application Development and Prototyping. You will study software development strategies, specification and design, programming tools and techniques, query languages, systems development management, as well as security and fraud.
Research Methods and Dissertation
Research Methods and Dissertation

Initially this module will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete a research project.

You will then investigate a specific business problem via a substantial piece of independent work, which demonstrates your proficiency in:
- the design of a research project;
- the application of appropriate methods;
- the collection and analysis of data; and
- the presentation of results.

Option modules (choose one)

Information Security and Governance
Information Security and Governance

This module addresses the basic concepts and principles of enterprise information security, with an overview of the leading technologies and standards. Security risk analysis is also examined.
Project Management
Project Management

This module introduces the basic concepts of project management with the emphasis on business related tasks. The students are not expected to have any prior project management experience. The main focus is on planning, monitoring and control of project resources, using standard and popular project management techniques.