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Join our Forensic Accounting MSc at Northumbria University and delve into the niche field of finance and forensics. 

Whether you have an accounting undergraduate background or not, this course looks at areas such as the nature, regulation and policing of financial crimes in the UK. In particular, it focuses on the prevention and detection of fraud in organisations and examines corporate governance, internal controls and accounting techniques.

This literature-based masters involves both qualitative and quantitative study. It will introduce you to the skills needed in the role of forensic accounting, including people skills and emotional intelligence.

‘Forensic’ means suitable for use in court, and you’ll consider this and other roles undertaken by forensic accountants. You will study the law and regulation of financial crimes such as money laundering, bribery and corruption. You will also examine occupational fraud, financial statement fraud and methods of prevention, detection and investigation. Each year we invite practitioners to speak and provide practical insight into the world of financial crime and forensic accountants.  

Why choose Northumbria to study Forensic Accounting MSc?

Newcastle Business School is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). According to AACSB, “Approximately 6% of the world's schools offering business degree education have achieved AACSB accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality, rigorous standards, innovation, and continuous process improvement”. Read more about our 'double' AACSB Accreditation.

AACSB ACCREDITATION aacsb accounting logo

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
1 year Full Time

Department
Newcastle Business School

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in business, or a discipline with a quantitative element.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2024/25 Entry

Full UK Fee: £10,460

Full International Fee: £19,750



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options for UK and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Whilst books are available via the University Library, there are various advised/recommended books you may wish to purchase throughout the duration of this course, costs are approximately £500.00

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

How to Apply

Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.

Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.

The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.

You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University



Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AF7000 -

Forensic Accounting (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, you will explore various aspects of financial crime through the lens of forensic accounting
The module aims to:

Develop a specific body of knowledge of the modalities used to prove financial crimes

Assess and apply accounting techniques to evaluate data in financial crime investigations

Manage forensic investigations into financial crime

More information

AF7001 -

Fraud Examination (Core,20 Credits)

The module will cover all of the major methods employees use to commit occupational fraud. At the end of this module you will- Critically evaluate the nature and extent of occupational fraud
- Develop knowledge of various fraud schemes
- Develop the knowledge and skills to assess how to combat such fraudulent conduct

More information

AF7002 -

Fraudulent Statement Analysis (Core,20 Credits)

1. Fraudulent financial statement: you will be able to analyse a financial statements to verify if it is in line with international accounting standards).
2. You will also learn about current and historical examples of financial statement frauds.
Finally, you will learn how to detect and prevent financial statement fraud.

More information

AF7003 -

Financial Crime: Law and Regulation (Core,20 Credits)

Financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist finance, corruption and bribery are the focus of national and international collaborative efforts to counter threat to the integrity of national and international financial markets and system. Emphasis is placed upon international and national legal and regulatory frameworks to combat financial crime. Thus, in addition to examining the national regulatory environment (with emphasis on the UK) it is important to be aware of the role and influence of major international bodies and institutions such as the FATF, Egmont and Basle. The module will enable you to develop your knowledge and critical understanding of the frameworks in place for the prevention, detection and investigation of these three interrelated areas.

Specifically the module aims to:

1. Develop a critical understanding of financial crimes, their typologies and the legal and regulatory framework underpinning their prevention.
2. Develop a critical understanding of the ethical and practical implications for individuals, institutions and society arising from investigation, prevention and detection of financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist finance, bribery and corruption.

In this module, you will learn:
The definition, characteristics and effects of financial crimes such money laundering, corruption and bribery
National and international legal and regulatory requirements related to the combating of financial crime
Role and responsibilities regulators and regulated entities
Schemes used to commit financial crimes
Issues arising from the prosecuting of financial crime

More information

AF7027 -

Contemporary issues in Sustainability (Core,20 Credits)

Corporate governance offers the foundation for establishing transparency and accountability within organisations as well as support their strategic success. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the relationship between the organisation and its shareholders, other stakeholders, and the society at large. This module will explore various internal and external mechanisms of corporate governance that supports the organisation as a responsible member of the society and how this relates to the concepts of social responsibility, sustainability and business ethics. The module will also establish the links between responsible business practices and wider sustainable development initiatives such as the UN sustainable development Goals (SDGs).
The module will then consider the dynamic and complex landscape of sustainable finance which includes a myriad of players including security issuers, regulators, standard setters, rating agencies to investment companies. The module will introduce various sustainable and green investment vehicles. The module will consider green washing/impact washing, individual and collective actions among other contemporary issues in this area. Finally, the module will consider some of the technological innovations in the area of sustainable finance including innovations in banking and payment systems, applications of blockchain technology including digital assets and big data analytics including the use of AI. A key feature of the module are the workshops that will enable you to acquire data analysis skills using specialist software.

The module will also develop your curiosity and interest of ethical decision making in business, and to help you understand what ethics means from both an individual and organisational perspective. The module will enable you to develop an awareness of ethical dilemmas in business and challenge you to discuss and debate ethical decision-making as a future employer or employee
Topics

1 Responsible business and Sustainable development
2 Corporate governance and accountability
3 The use of ethical frameworks to aid the decision-making process
4 Sustainable finance landscape and issues
5 Fintech innovations in sustainability
6 Ethics and professionalism

More information

BM9718 -

Research Methods and Analytics for Business Practice (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about a comprehensive range of research methods and business analytics techniques. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for you to conduct research at Masters’ level and prepare you to complete a Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By the end of the module you will know how to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection and business analysis techniques. In quantitative techniques you will learn about sampling, questionnaire design, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing while qualitative techniques covered will include methods such as interviewing and focus groups. Analysis methods such as content analysis and thematic analysis will also be covered. In addition, you will gain some understanding of research philosophy (positivism and interpretivism) and research ethics and you will be able to write a research proposal to bring these ideas together.
Furthermore, this module will provide clear, critical, and analysis of data, you will also be able to consider the use of analytics implementation skills, where you will be introduced to analytics software such as SPSS. SPSS statistics analysis is one of the powerful solutions that is designed to help businesses and researchers to solve problems by various methods (geospatial analysis, predictive analytics and hypothesis testing).

More information

GA7000 -

Academic Language Skills for Postgraduate Business Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This

module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments

and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively

for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your

use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.

• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.

• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’

• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).

• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.

• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.

• Presenting your ideas

• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.

• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

NX0480 -

The Newcastle Business School Masters Dissertation (Optional,60 Credits)

In this module you will gain an understanding of the academic skills that are required to produce a Masters Dissertation. By the end of the module you will have written a 15000 word Masters dissertation. The areas included are:

• Justification for the choice of topic
• Appropriate understanding, awareness and critical analysis of existing and up to date literature evidenced by a comprehensive and well-referenced literature review with an extensive reference list
• Selection, justification and application of an appropriately rigorous methodology - including limitations of the approach selected
• Clear statement of the findings of the research
• Critical analysis of the findings
• Explicit links between the analysis and the conclusions supported by critical argument
• Evidence of original work or thought for example in the form or context of the data collected, analytical process or application of findings

More information

NX9734 -

Masters' Management Enquiry (Optional,60 Credits)

The Masters’ Management Enquiry module is a student-led individual project that enables you to undertake a significant piece of assessed

work commensurate with a capstone module and is offered as an alternative to the Masters’ Dissertation and Masters’ Consultancy Project.

The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate an authentic engagement with managers and/or professionals in your

discipline (this enquiry has to be discipline specific), and to integrate the knowledge you have developed during your programme to explore

the theory in practice. The learning on this module is experiential and problem based, where the focus is upon you discovering, probing and

questioning key practice-based issues. Through the module you will be offered the opportunity to develop and enhance key transferable

employability skills including; time management, project management, communication (written, aural and verbal), negotiation, persuasion and

influence, discovery, initiative, problem-solving and analysis.


The module has five thematic areas; explore, review, engage, reflect and connect. These form the key elements of the assessed submission

which is a single 15,000 word report.


Part A (35%, 5,000-5,500 words)

Explore: Interviewing a manager and/or professional in your discipline. In this interview you will either explore a key issue which you feel the

discipline is facing or, alternatively, explore with the manager or professional the key issues that they feel they are facing in practice. It is

expected that you will apply non-verbatim documented conversation and provide evidence of the key ideas emerging within the submitted

enquiry report (e.g. within the appendices).

Review: Critically examining the academic and practitioner literature to support the exploration, displaying an ability to critically assess and

appraise the knowledge of your discipline related to a specific key issue arising from your exploration.


Part B (65%, 9,500-10,000 words)

Engage: Displaying an authentic engagement with the discipline problem/issue identified in Part A, by collecting/generating and analysing

further live data (beyond the initial interview) regarding the discipline problem/issue. This live data may be primary data (e.g. further interviews

with, or questionnaire to, managers and/or professionals in practice) or secondary data (e.g. industry data). Application of appropriate,

ethically-considered, research methods and appropriate qualitative or quantitative data analysis.

Reflect and Connect: Demonstrating an ability to critically evaluate and reflect on the issues arising from the Management Enquiry.

Demonstrating how you have connected and fed-back to the participants of the Enquiry (usually the manager and/or participants) your key

findings to provide clear prioritised, well-justified, practical and actionable recommendations for change/enhancement/improvement to existing

practice to show how the recommendations would potentially affect workplace professional decision making.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AF7000 -

Forensic Accounting (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, you will explore various aspects of financial crime through the lens of forensic accounting
The module aims to:

Develop a specific body of knowledge of the modalities used to prove financial crimes

Assess and apply accounting techniques to evaluate data in financial crime investigations

Manage forensic investigations into financial crime

More information

AF7001 -

Fraud Examination (Core,20 Credits)

The module will cover all of the major methods employees use to commit occupational fraud. At the end of this module you will- Critically evaluate the nature and extent of occupational fraud
- Develop knowledge of various fraud schemes
- Develop the knowledge and skills to assess how to combat such fraudulent conduct

More information

AF7002 -

Fraudulent Statement Analysis (Core,20 Credits)

1. Fraudulent financial statement: you will be able to analyse a financial statements to verify if it is in line with international accounting standards).
2. You will also learn about current and historical examples of financial statement frauds.
Finally, you will learn how to detect and prevent financial statement fraud.

More information

AF7003 -

Financial Crime: Law and Regulation (Core,20 Credits)

Financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist finance, corruption and bribery are the focus of national and international collaborative efforts to counter threat to the integrity of national and international financial markets and system. Emphasis is placed upon international and national legal and regulatory frameworks to combat financial crime. Thus, in addition to examining the national regulatory environment (with emphasis on the UK) it is important to be aware of the role and influence of major international bodies and institutions such as the FATF, Egmont and Basle. The module will enable you to develop your knowledge and critical understanding of the frameworks in place for the prevention, detection and investigation of these three interrelated areas.

Specifically the module aims to:

1. Develop a critical understanding of financial crimes, their typologies and the legal and regulatory framework underpinning their prevention.
2. Develop a critical understanding of the ethical and practical implications for individuals, institutions and society arising from investigation, prevention and detection of financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist finance, bribery and corruption.

In this module, you will learn:
The definition, characteristics and effects of financial crimes such money laundering, corruption and bribery
National and international legal and regulatory requirements related to the combating of financial crime
Role and responsibilities regulators and regulated entities
Schemes used to commit financial crimes
Issues arising from the prosecuting of financial crime

More information

AF7027 -

Contemporary issues in Sustainability (Core,20 Credits)

Corporate governance offers the foundation for establishing transparency and accountability within organisations as well as support their strategic success. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the relationship between the organisation and its shareholders, other stakeholders, and the society at large. This module will explore various internal and external mechanisms of corporate governance that supports the organisation as a responsible member of the society and how this relates to the concepts of social responsibility, sustainability and business ethics. The module will also establish the links between responsible business practices and wider sustainable development initiatives such as the UN sustainable development Goals (SDGs).
The module will then consider the dynamic and complex landscape of sustainable finance which includes a myriad of players including security issuers, regulators, standard setters, rating agencies to investment companies. The module will introduce various sustainable and green investment vehicles. The module will consider green washing/impact washing, individual and collective actions among other contemporary issues in this area. Finally, the module will consider some of the technological innovations in the area of sustainable finance including innovations in banking and payment systems, applications of blockchain technology including digital assets and big data analytics including the use of AI. A key feature of the module are the workshops that will enable you to acquire data analysis skills using specialist software.

The module will also develop your curiosity and interest of ethical decision making in business, and to help you understand what ethics means from both an individual and organisational perspective. The module will enable you to develop an awareness of ethical dilemmas in business and challenge you to discuss and debate ethical decision-making as a future employer or employee
Topics

1 Responsible business and Sustainable development
2 Corporate governance and accountability
3 The use of ethical frameworks to aid the decision-making process
4 Sustainable finance landscape and issues
5 Fintech innovations in sustainability
6 Ethics and professionalism

More information

BM9718 -

Research Methods and Analytics for Business Practice (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about a comprehensive range of research methods and business analytics techniques. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for you to conduct research at Masters’ level and prepare you to complete a Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By the end of the module you will know how to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection and business analysis techniques. In quantitative techniques you will learn about sampling, questionnaire design, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing while qualitative techniques covered will include methods such as interviewing and focus groups. Analysis methods such as content analysis and thematic analysis will also be covered. In addition, you will gain some understanding of research philosophy (positivism and interpretivism) and research ethics and you will be able to write a research proposal to bring these ideas together.
Furthermore, this module will provide clear, critical, and analysis of data, you will also be able to consider the use of analytics implementation skills, where you will be introduced to analytics software such as SPSS. SPSS statistics analysis is one of the powerful solutions that is designed to help businesses and researchers to solve problems by various methods (geospatial analysis, predictive analytics and hypothesis testing).

More information

GA7000 -

Academic Language Skills for Postgraduate Business Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This

module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments

and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively

for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your

use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.

• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.

• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’

• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).

• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.

• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.

• Presenting your ideas

• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.

• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

NX0480 -

The Newcastle Business School Masters Dissertation (Optional,60 Credits)

In this module you will gain an understanding of the academic skills that are required to produce a Masters Dissertation. By the end of the module you will have written a 15000 word Masters dissertation. The areas included are:

• Justification for the choice of topic
• Appropriate understanding, awareness and critical analysis of existing and up to date literature evidenced by a comprehensive and well-referenced literature review with an extensive reference list
• Selection, justification and application of an appropriately rigorous methodology - including limitations of the approach selected
• Clear statement of the findings of the research
• Critical analysis of the findings
• Explicit links between the analysis and the conclusions supported by critical argument
• Evidence of original work or thought for example in the form or context of the data collected, analytical process or application of findings

More information

NX9734 -

Masters' Management Enquiry (Optional,60 Credits)

The Masters’ Management Enquiry module is a student-led individual project that enables you to undertake a significant piece of assessed

work commensurate with a capstone module and is offered as an alternative to the Masters’ Dissertation and Masters’ Consultancy Project.

The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate an authentic engagement with managers and/or professionals in your

discipline (this enquiry has to be discipline specific), and to integrate the knowledge you have developed during your programme to explore

the theory in practice. The learning on this module is experiential and problem based, where the focus is upon you discovering, probing and

questioning key practice-based issues. Through the module you will be offered the opportunity to develop and enhance key transferable

employability skills including; time management, project management, communication (written, aural and verbal), negotiation, persuasion and

influence, discovery, initiative, problem-solving and analysis.


The module has five thematic areas; explore, review, engage, reflect and connect. These form the key elements of the assessed submission

which is a single 15,000 word report.


Part A (35%, 5,000-5,500 words)

Explore: Interviewing a manager and/or professional in your discipline. In this interview you will either explore a key issue which you feel the

discipline is facing or, alternatively, explore with the manager or professional the key issues that they feel they are facing in practice. It is

expected that you will apply non-verbatim documented conversation and provide evidence of the key ideas emerging within the submitted

enquiry report (e.g. within the appendices).

Review: Critically examining the academic and practitioner literature to support the exploration, displaying an ability to critically assess and

appraise the knowledge of your discipline related to a specific key issue arising from your exploration.


Part B (65%, 9,500-10,000 words)

Engage: Displaying an authentic engagement with the discipline problem/issue identified in Part A, by collecting/generating and analysing

further live data (beyond the initial interview) regarding the discipline problem/issue. This live data may be primary data (e.g. further interviews

with, or questionnaire to, managers and/or professionals in practice) or secondary data (e.g. industry data). Application of appropriate,

ethically-considered, research methods and appropriate qualitative or quantitative data analysis.

Reflect and Connect: Demonstrating an ability to critically evaluate and reflect on the issues arising from the Management Enquiry.

Demonstrating how you have connected and fed-back to the participants of the Enquiry (usually the manager and/or participants) your key

findings to provide clear prioritised, well-justified, practical and actionable recommendations for change/enhancement/improvement to existing

practice to show how the recommendations would potentially affect workplace professional decision making.

More information

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

Student Inclusion support

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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