1. Introduction:
The Master of Science in Finance and Accounting program is designed for graduates who desire to extend their expertise in Finance or Accounting. Intensive courses studying the core finance and accounting disciplines occupy the program’s first half, while its second half provides students with the opportunity to focus on advanced and applied areas of the disciplines.
2. Who Should Apply:
The M.Sc. in Finance and Accounting program seeks to recruit students currently possessing undergraduate and graduate degrees from a multitude of disciplines including, but not limited to, Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics. Second, the program strives to attract experienced working professionals (with backgrounds in Finance, Accounting and International Business) who are enthused by the prospect of further enhancing their professional development, and cultivating their professional expertise or specialization.
The UNYT M.Sc. in Finance and Accounting program will also be equipped to accommodate those students with undergraduate and graduate degrees who anticipate pursuing international professional careers. As a consequence, the UNYT M.Sc. in Finance and Accounting program has two primary target audiences: (1) an academic-oriented student body that anticipates pursuing doctoral studies (beyond the terminal master’s degree level) in Finance or Accounting, and (2) a career-minded student body that intends to further enhance its professional development. Hence, the UNYT M.Sc. in Finance and Accounting program draws heavily upon international academic and professional expertise.
3. Rationale and Aim of the Programme:
As with all Masters level Programs in the Business School, this Program enables students to become competent and thoughtful practitioners in this case in the wider field of Finance and Accounting. It aims:
- To develop students’ reflective, critical and evaluative thinking and judgement and to expose them to contemporary issues in the field through a model of teaching strongly supported by research and professional practice.
- To provide an intellectually demanding academic Program of study which emphasises the student’s ability to analyse, synthesise and evaluate key theoretical concepts and practical applications in the Accounting & Finance subject area.
- To provide a flexible Program which delivers a strong theoretical underpinning in Accounting & Finance through compulsory courses and which enables students to pursue coherently related areas of specialisation through chosen areas of academic study through option choices and dissertation title.
4. Delivery of the Programme:
Outcomes are delivered through a combination of formal lectures and seminars. All courses direct students towards a wide body of literature to support their development of knowledge and understanding in the area. Staff are engaged in research and professional practice and, where appropriate, in links with professional bodies and course content is updated frequently to reflect contemporary coverage. The deep level of knowledge and understanding required for completion of dissertation is provided initially by staff presentations of research interests and subsequently by individual supervision. All students must complete a number of formal examinations as part of their assessment and also coursework for every course which will test the level of understanding acquired.
5. Programme Structure:
The Program is structured in five core, four optional courses and a graduate seminar at 4 American credits each. You will also need to pass a dissertation (20 American credits) in order to be awarded the degree. The Program altogether carries 60 American credits (120 ECTS).
CORE COURSES
- Applied Mathematics for Finance & Accounting
- Research Methods in Finance & Accounting
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Accounting (pre-: Fin. Accnt.)
- Financial Management (pre- or co-.: Fin. Accnt.)
- Graduate Seminar
OPTIONAL COURSES (Students can also mix & match)
FINANCE TRACK | ACCOUNTING TRACK |
1. Int’l Corporate Finance (pre- or co-: Fin. Mgnt.) | 1. Int’l Corporate Finance (pre- or co-: Fin. Mgnt.) |
2.Financial Analysis (pre- co-: Fin. Mgnt.) | 2. Financial Analysis (pre- co-: Fin. Mgnt.) |
3.Risk Management (pre-: Fin. Accnt.) | 3. Risk Management (pre-: Fin. Accnt.) |
4. Bank Management (pre-: Fin. Accnt.) | 4. Bank Management (pre-: Fin. Accnt.) |
5. Financial Modeling (pre-: Fin. Mgnt.) | 5. Int’l Financial Reporting (pre- or co-: Int’l Corp. Fin.) |
6. Portfolio Management (pre- or co-: Fin. Model.) | 6. Accounting and Business Ethics (pre-: Mgr. Accnt.) |
7. Behavioral Finance (pre- or co-: Fin. Mgnt.) | 7. Public Finance & Accounting (pre- or co-: Fin. Mgnt.) |
5.1. Core Courses:
- Financial Management
- Management Accounting
- Financial Accounting
- Research Methods in Finance and Accounting
- Applied Mathematics for Finance and Accounting
- Graduate Seminar
- Dissertation
5.2. Optional Courses:
- Risk Management
- Behavioral Finance
- Portfolio Management
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Modelling
- Bank Management
- Accounting and Business Ethics
- International Corporate Finance
- International Financial Reporting
- Public Finance and Accounting
6. Course Descriptions
6.1. Core Courses:
Financial Accounting
This course is designed to cover a selected group of advanced financial accounting topics. It entails a deeper understanding of financial statements based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the meaning of financial statements in making decisions to invest in business.
Managerial Accounting
This course focuses on the role played by management accounting information in organisational control and decision making. It critically examines a range of contemporary issues in management accounting such as activity based costing, non-financial performance measures and management accounting in corporate strategy. Various specific techniques and skills will also be developed.
Financial Management
This course focuses on corporate finance and capital markets with an emphasis on the financial aspects of managerial decisions. In so doing it outlines all areas of finance, including the valuation of real and financial assets, risk management and financial derivatives, the trade-off between risk and expected return, and corporate financing and dividend policy. The course draws heavily on empirical research to help guide managerial decisions.
Research Methods
This course focuses on the foundations of the equilibrium models of asset pricing rather than the arbitrage pricing theory, which is the other main pricing approach in finance. The course begins with foundations of individual economic agents choice problem under uncertainty, followed by mean-variance analysis and the CAPM. Then, general equilibrium analysis for asset pricing will be examined, in particular the Arrow-Debreu framework of finite agents, finite commodities and finite horizon economy. Foundations of risk neutral pricing will also be provided in the general equilibrium context. Basic econometric tools, such as basic theoretical properties of ordinary least-squares (OLS) estimation and the workhorse of empirical finance will also be examined along with specialist topics such as (G) ARCH, unit roots and Cointegration.
International Corporate Finance
In recent decades, world financial markets have become more and more integrated. Hence, financial controlling of banks and corporations must be exercised with a global scope. Internationally integrated markets challenge older theories for modeling financial markets: Pricing models like the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) or the Capital Asset pricing Model (CAPM) are set up with a single (local) capital market in mind. Are these models to be applied for international investments, as well? Therefore, the goal of this seminar is to introduce models and ideas which specifically address this question. After introducing the main drivers on international financial markets we extend the local Arbitrage Pricing Theory to an international context. In the next step we introduce the International Capital Asset Pricing model which enables us to price assets on international financial markets. The last part of the lecture is devoted to pricing and hedging of international derivatives.
Accounting And Financial Business Ethics
This course develops some general conceptions of business ethics and accountability, applicable to corporations, professional associations and other forms of entities. The issues raised in this way are then further explored through a series of case studies focusing upon contemporary business conduct. The course also considers public policy implications.
Financial Modelling
The purpose of this course is to consider the use of modern econometric techniques in the analysis of financial time series.
Bank Management
The aim of this module is to provide a good grasp of both the basics (the structure and environment of banking) and selected aspects of the applied economics of the modern banking firm.
Risk Management
The aim of this course is to illustrate how corporations make use of the insights and tools of risk management. There are many types of risk management going on in different parts of a company at the same time. The most familiar loci of risk management are trading operations and the treasury office. But many other parts of the firm are involved in risk management. The marketing department designs types of contracts for customers that share risk. Business unit managers evaluate projects with different risk characteristics, and decide on ways to alter projects so as to minimize risk without sacrificing return. The tax, legal and accounting departments are concerned with risk, with hedging and with the corporate governance issues. At the highest level of the company, key questions about the firm’s strategy and its ability to fund its operations must be answered with an eye on the risks of each alternative and strategic decisions that can secure the greatest value for shareholders.
7. Learning Objectives:
“Learning is achieved through the right combination of directed reading, lectures, workshops, tutorials and peer learning! Overall, the approach to teaching, learning and assessment of the modules offered and leading to the Master awards is tuned to the needs of course participants to acquire appropriate knowledge and skills that will develop them further both as professionals and academic students. Because most students are by tradition exposed to their own educational and cultural background, emphasis is placed on the acquisition of relevant learning skills that will enable them to adjust to a multicultural academic environment, so that they can complete their studies successfully and obtain the awards.
The development of an independent learning culture will be achieved through: ”
9. Assessment:
9.1. Course Assessment
9.2. Coursework Assignments
9.3. Examinations
9.4. The M.Sc. Project
9.5. Attendance Policies
9.6. Grading Scale and Grade Point Average
9.8. Incomplete Grades
9.9. Failure
9.10. Examinations and Make-Up Exams
9.11. Grade Reports and Grade Changes
10. Application Procedure: To apply, students should submit the following items:
- An application form.
- A certified copy of their Bachelor’s degree and/or other related qualifications.
- CV.
- A brief rationale essay.
- Two (2) letters of reference.
- Certification of English Language Aptitude (otherwise students should sit the institutional diagnostic test).
For more information on applications and admissions, please contact admissions@unyt.edu.al.
11. Contact:
Program Director:
Dr. Juna Miluka
Email: junamiluka@unyt.edu.al
Tel: 00355 445 12345
12. License [VKM Nr. 939, date 03.09.2009, Fletorja Zyrtare e Republikës së Shqipërisë, Nr. 142, p. 6456]