The MSc Professional Accounting programme aims to provide you with strong professionally oriented training in accounting. You will study the professional syllabus of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and will obtain exemptions from all six professional-level papers of the exams needed to gain chartered accountant status (subject to validation of the programme by ICAEW), as well as receiving preparation to sit the final advanced-level papers.

Graduates of this programme, as with all XJTLU masters degrees, earn a University of Liverpool degree that is recognised by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Founded in 2013 as the exclusive business school of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, International Business School Suzhou offers a unique blend of Western and Chinese academic practices. It is the youngest business school ever to earn Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation and has accreditation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Located in Suzhou, Jiangsu, near Shanghai, one of China’s the fastest-growing commercial centres, IBSS seeks to become an international leader in business education and research. It is perfectly placed to support your talent development and research needs.

Creative interaction and collaboration with international and domestic businesses, coupled with solid academic grounding, underpins the IBSS learning and teaching environment. This prepares Chinese students for international business and international students for doing business in or with China.

The MSc Professional Accounting programme is designed to prepare you to qualify as a chartered accountant with ICAEW. It is also useful preparation towards other professional accountancy exams, such as those offered by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

The programme aims to equip you with:

• intellectual skills and theoretical understandings appropriate to the study of accounting at postgraduate level
• an awareness of key current issues, theory and practice in the field of accounting
• skills in professional accounting and financial decision-making, evaluation and analysis of financial data and the techniques to evaluate and act upon complex financial and tax-related issues encountered in practice
• the knowledge necessary towards qualifying and operating as a chartered accountant

Minimum Entry Requirements

UK

Upper second class (2:1) honours

China

• 1st tier universities: 75 percent or above
• 2nd tier universities: 80 percent or above

Note: Chinese applicants are not required to take the MoE postgraduate entrance exam.

North America

• 3.0 Cumulative GPA (out of 4) or
• 3.2 Cumulative GPA in the final two years of the undergraduate programme

Other Regions

Equivalent academic qualifications

Academic Background

A degree in Accounting. It is essential to have passed at least four ICAEW Certificate Level (CFAB) papers on entry. Equivalent degrees or papers are also acceptable if qualified as Credit for Prior Learning by ICAEW or ACCA. Students who have not completed CFAB will need to do so prior to seeking full membership of the ICAEW.

Applicants who do not have an equivalent UK degree in Accounting will also be considered if they have completed the six ICAEW Certificate Level (CFAB) papers or equivalent.

Applicants with a professional background rather than a degree need to demonstrate relevant training record and working experience in an accounting and finance environment. Such applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to approval by XJTLU Academic Affairs.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your native language or if you have not studied in English at degree level, you will need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You should normally possess one of the following qualifications:

• IELTS: 6.5 (minimum of 5.5 in all sections)
• TOEFL iBT: 90 (minimum of 21 in any skill)

In exceptional circumstances, individual cases will be considered on their own merits. You may be required to attend interviews or tests to further demonstrate your English proficiency.

If you miss the English language requirements by 0.5-1.0 of an IELTS band, or a similar number for other English language exams, you can be admitted to the programme after successful completion of our four- or six-week intensive English presessional course.

You can also apply to take the XJTLU English language test in lieu of an IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent. Based on the score, students may be admitted or may be required to take and successfully complete the four- or six-week intensive English presessional course.

Additionally, students may be required to complete English language courses on a pass/fail basis as part of the additional learning activity requirement during their studies at XJTLU.

Core Modules

• Financial strategy
• Financial accounting and reporting
• Audit and assurance
• Business strategy and management
• Business planning – taxation
• Tax compliance
• Corporate reporting and auditing I and II
• Strategic business management
• Integrated case study

Additional learning activities

The programme shall include an additional 600 hours of additional learning activity, normally spread equally over all the semesters of the programme.