Corporate Governance & Accountability MSc

This Masters programme will give you an international perspective on some of the most fundamentally important issues facing global business and society today and a theoretical and practical understanding of the fast-changing fields of governance and accountability. It will enhance your opportunity for a career in governance, accountability, corporate social responsibility, risk and control.

  • Your studies will balance critical engagement with theory and research, knowledge and understanding of techniques, and the development of the analytic skills needed for the effective management of governance and accountability in complex environments.
  • Accounting and finance at Glasgow has earned an international reputation within both academic and professional accounting circles for the quality of its research and teaching since its inception in 1925.
  • We are ranked first in Scotland and fifth in the UK for accounting and finance research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. 80% of our research was judged to be of international quality with 10% rated as world-leading.
  • Our staff have close connections to the accounting and finance profession, with, for example, staff serving on the Accounting Standards Board, as Advisor to the House of Lords, as well as on various committees of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Our staff also act as advisors to the Economic & Social Sciences Research Council, the Hong Kong Research Grants Council and the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council.

Programme overview

  • MSc: 12 months full-time;

Teaching is through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials. The programme combines finance with governance in the first semester, while in the second semester you will have an opportunity to specialise in law, management, ethics, or to engage in further studies in accountancy or finance. You will also complete a dissertation of around 12,000 words.

Core courses

  • International corporate finance
  • Management accounting and control
  • International corporate governance and accountability
  • Research methods.

Optional courses

  • Accounting and business ethics  
  • Competition economics and law
  • Governing risk and resilience
  • Human rights and business
  • Audit risk and control
  • Social accounting, reporting and finance.

Career prospects

The programme will prepare you for a career in governance or compliance. On completing the programme, you will have a competitive edge in the job market when looking for roles in financial services businesses, or (for existing business executives) governance positions at higher levels of the business.


Further information: Georgios Kominis
email: Georgios.Kominis@glasgow.ac.uk

Academic entry requirements

Entry requirements are a 2.1 Honours degree or non-UK equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above); the subject matter is not important, but accounting/finance students will be at an advantage. Some skill at mathematics is desirable.

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation courses.

Further information regarding academic entry requirements: student.recruitment@glasgow.ac.uk

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

  • overall score 6.5
  • no sub-test less than 6.0
  • or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
     

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

  • ibTOEFL: 92; no sub-test less than 20
  • CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): B minimum
  • CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): C minimum
  • PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

We ask that you apply online for a postgraduate taught degree. Our system allows you to fill out the standard application form online and submit this to the University within 42 days of starting your application.

You need to read the guide to applying online before starting your application. It will ensure you are ready to proceed, as well as answer many common questions about the process.

Guide to applying online

Do I have to apply online for a postgraduate taught degree?

Yes. To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We are unable to accept your application by any other means than online.

Do I need to complete and submit the application in a single session?

No. You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process. You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload additional documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

What essential documentation should I have available before I start my application?

As well as completing your online application fully, it is essential that you submit the following documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • Two supporting reference letters on headed paper
  • Evidence of your English Language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

Do my supporting documents need to be submitted online?

Yes, where possible, please upload the supporting documents with your application.

What if I am unable to submit all of my supporting documents online?

If you cannot upload an electronic copy of a document and need to send it in by post, please attach a cover sheet to it that includes your name, the programme you are applying for, and your application reference number.

You may send them to:

Recruitment & International Office
71 Southpark Avenue
Glasgow
G12 8QQ
Fax: +44 141 330 4045

Can I email my supporting documents?

No. We cannot accept email submissions of your supporting documents.

What should I do if am having problems using the online application system?

If you are having issues, please email doashelp@mis.gla.ac.uk

What entry requirements should I have met before applying? Where can I find them?

You should check that you have met (or are likely to have met prior to the start of the programme) the individual entry requirements for the degree programme you are applying for. This information can be found on the ‘entry requirements’ tab on each individual programme page, such as the one you are viewing now.

What English Language requirements should I have met before applying? Where can I find them?

If you are an international student, you should also check that you have met the English Language requirements specific to the programme you are applying for. These can also be found on the ‘entry requirements’ tab for each specific programme.

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately, they are also available within the help section of the online application form. You can also download a PDF with detailed guidance information for the online application system:
Applicants' Guide to Online Application

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
  • References: Please provide the names and contact details of two academic references. Where applicable one of these references may be from your current employer. References should be completed on letter headed paper and uploaded on to your application.

Standard application deadlines

  • International applications (non-EU) 23 July 2013
  • UK and EU applications 27 August 2013

Classes start on 16 September 2013 (provisional date) for most courses and you may be expected to attend induction sessions the week before

Apply now

Business School deposits

A £2,000 deposit is requested for this programme from International (beyond the EU) applicants who are eligible for an offer to this programme (deposits are specifically requested from international applicants who require a Certificate of Acceptance to Study (CAS) Letter from the University in order that they can apply for visas. The deposit indicates the applicants commitment to study at Glasgow and is a prerequisite to issuing the CAS letters).

The deposit is redeemable against your overall tuition fee, and helps the University ascertain which students are committed to attend the University in September 2013.

Deposits are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and you should note that the courses may close before the deposit deadline if all available places are taken.

Terms and Conditions

The £2,000 deposit may be refunded in certain circumstances, minus a £200 handling fee. Each individual request for repayment will be considered, but the following guidelines will apply:

Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. Where the applicant has personal circumstances such as illness, bereavement or other family situations that has prevented them coming to the UK. Medical or other proof may be requested.
  2. Applicant can prove that they have applied for a Visa to attend the University of Glasgow, but this has been refused. The applicant must have shown ‘real intent’ to study at the University of Glasgow but has been unable to get their visa;
  3. Applicant does not meet the academic or language test conditions of his / her offer – please note that evidence must be provided that indicates a reasonable attempt was made to meet language conditions.

Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. Applicant decides to go to another institution;
  2. Applicant cannot be released from work to study at the University of Glasgow;
  3. Applicant does not send completed documentation as requested in the condition of the offer – this may be required in order to prove that the conditions of offer have not been met for academic or language test reasons – failure to respond to requests for this information will result in non-repayment of deposit;
  4. Applicant has not secured funding to attend the University of Glasgow  – this may be as a result of not being successful in applications for scholarships, OR simply not having sufficient funds in bank at time of visa application. This condition will apply unless it can be proven that there are clear mitigating circumstances which have significantly changed the individual’s position since the time of application

Should a situation arise whereby an applicant cannot be accepted, either due to an error on the part of the University, or if the course has reached its maximum capacity by the time the deposit is received, then the deposit will be refunded in full (without deduction of a handling fee).