Accounting & Finance Options Briefing for Academic Year 2026/2027

As you will be aware, you will shortly have the opportunity to make optional modules choices for your final year. The options system will open on Monday 9th February and close on Friday 13th February.

Once the options system opens we encourage you to make your choices as soon as possible. Modules are allocated on a first come first served basis and the smaller modules are usually filled within the first couple of hours of the option selection window opening.

Picking options will require you to think about:

  • What you have enjoyed studying so far
  • What your strengths and weaknesses are
  • What career direction you might want to take after graduation.

The information below will help you to understand the content of the modules, how you will be assessed and any other considerations you may need to make when choosing your optional modules. Please take your time to read through the information and watch the videos. If you do have any further questions, you can find Module Leader contact information below each video.

Please note that options cannot be changed once selected.

Final-Year Core and Optional Modules Explained

You will study one core module in your final year:

  • Continuing Professional Development 2 in semester 1 (15 credits)

Options for semester 1 Pick 45 credits from the list:

  • Corporate Reporting and Governance (30 credits)
  • Personal Tax (15 credits)
  • Multi-national Business Acquisitions (15 credits)
  • Financial Planning (15 credits)
  • Financial Technology (15 credits)

For Maximum Exemptions you should pick the following modules for semester 1:

  • Corporate Reporting and Governance
  • Personal Tax

Options for semester 2 Pick 60 Credits from the list:

  • Management Accounting & Strategy (30 credits)
  • Business Tax (15 credits) *You cannot pick Business Tax unless you also picked Personal Tax in semester 1
  • Financial Strategy (15 credits)
  • Research Project (30 credits)
  • Entrepreneurial Practice (15 credits)
  • Islamic Finance (15 credits)

For Maximum Exemptions you should pick the following modules for semester 2:

  • Management Accounting & Strategy (30 credits)
  • Business Tax (15 credits) *You cannot pick Business Tax unless you also picked Personal Tax in semester 1
  • Financial Strategy (15 credits)

Please take your time to look over the module briefings and watch the video recordings which provide an overview of the module including what is covered and how it is assessed. If you still have queries, contact the module leaders or speak with your personal tutor to discuss your choices further.

Planning for Exemptions and Examinations:

The videos below will discuss professional bodies and exemptions as well as reflecting on your future career in the finance industry.

Semester 1 Options:

Corporate Reporting and Governance:

You can contact the Module Leaders Anna Hardy-Watmough or Tim Watt by email – A.Hardy-Watmough@mmu.ac.uk | T.K.Watt@mmu.ac.uk

Personal Tax (SEM1) and Business Tax (SEM2):

Important reminder: Personal Tax is taught in semester 1 and you can only pick Business Tax in semester 2 if you have already studied Personal tax.

You can contact Module Leader Tracy Agnew by email t.agnew@mmu.ac.uk

Multinational Business Acquisitions:

The Multinational Business Acquisition module is fairly unique as you get to work in groups and communicate with students from abroad in regards to your assignment, there are a range of topics covered and this provides students with a really important skills set that will help with their future careers.

You can contact Module Leader Yasar Zahid by email Yasar.Zahid@mmu.ac.uk

Principles of Financial Planning:

This module introduces students to the key considerations in financial planning from the following perspectives: personal tax planning; budgeting; debt repayment; time value of money and savings and investments.

You can contact Module Leader Melanie Mchale by email on M.Mchale@mmu.ac.uk

Financial Technology:

You can contact the Module Leaders, Ademola Oluwaranti (A.Oluwaranti@mmu.ac.uk) and Michael Mubaiwa (m.mubaiwa@mmu.ac.uk).

Semester 2 Options:

Business Tax – see video above

Please refer to the video above titled ‘ Personal Tax (SEM1) and Business Tax (SEM2). Remember – You cannot pick Business Tax unless you also picked Personal Tax in semester 1.

You can contact Module Leader Tracy Agnew by email t.agnew@mmu.ac.uk

Management Accounting and Strategy:

You can contact your Module Leaders Kate West or Steve Wynne by email k.j.west@mmu.ac.uk | s.wynne@mmu.ac.uk

Financial Strategy:

This module builds upon your second year module (Fundamentals of Corporate Finance). You will explore the more strategic elements of corporate finance such as the various ways companies manage their exposure to risk (e.g. foreign currency risk and interest rate risk), businesses and debt valuation models, working capital management and dividend policy. Select this module if you are wanting to maximise your exemptions from the professional accounting bodies.

You can contact Tim Watt by email t.k.watt@mmu.ac.uk

Research Project:

You can contact Iwi Ugiagbe-Green and Shakila Halim by email i.ugiagbe-green@mmu.ac.uk and s.halim@mmu.ac.uk

Entrepreneurial Practice:

You can contact Module Leader David Taylor by email d.w.taylor@mmu.ac.uk

Islamic Finance:

The Islamic finance module will focus on both the technical and regulatory knowledge so that students can be prepared for success in a rapidly developing field. Islamic finance encourages social responsible investing and will address basic contracts and their treatment and will also look at more complex matters such as Islamic insurance and the sukuk market.

The options briefing for this module is below and provides useful information on the content of the module and how it is assessed.

You can contact Module Leaders Yasar Zahid and BM Hasanul Banna by email Yasar.Zahid@mmu.ac.uk and b.banna@mmu.ac.uk

FAQs:

  • You need to make your Final Year choices regardless of whether you are planning a placement next year or not.
  • The process for formally selecting your elective modules will be communicated to you in the next few weeks.
  • Once the options system opens we encourage you to make your choices as soon possible. Modules are allocated on a first come first served basis and the smaller modules are usually filled within the first couple of hours of the option selection window opening.
  • Options cannot be changed once selected.

I am due to go on placement next year, do I still need to make my option choices now?

Yes, you will need to make your option choices now in case you do not secure a placement. If you do secure a placement, you make the option choices again next year.

I am currently on placement and chose my options last year, do I need to do it again?

Yes, you will need to choose your options again.

Will I have to do a dissertation?

No, however, there is research project optional module which you can find more information about in the briefing above.

I still have questions, who should I ask?

Ask Module Leaders your questions by emailing them and/or discuss your option choices with your Personal Tutor.