Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £10,620 for the course
International/EU: £17,725 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Course summary
- Gain masters-level insights into forensic accounting.
- Focus your studies on investigations and dispute advisory services.
- Increase your knowledge of the legal framework as it relates to the law of evidence.
- Explore the practical approach to fraud investigation.
On our Forensic Accounting course you’ll study a range of modules covering forensic and fraud examination, expert witnesses in criminal litigation, forensic accounting and digital applications. You’ll have access to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners' member resources, on a course taught by interdisciplinary lecturers from both the Sheffield Business School and Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice.
Sheffield Business School accreditation
Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and has been awarded the Business School Impact System label by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
How you learn
At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.
On this course many of our teaching staff are research active and have industry experience. Through a combination of teaching methods you’ll develop in-depth knowledge and a range of skills. You’ll implement theories and techniques, problem-solving activities, research and teamwork – taking an active approach to your learning and self-development.
You learn through:
- lectures
- tutorials
- IT sessions
- regular formative feedback
- teamwork and group-based learning
- practice-based applied learning
- authentic learning experiences
- engagement with guest lectures
- discussions
- self-managed study
Key themes
The course starts by helping you develop a strong understanding in forensic accounting and associated practical skills relating to forensic accounting and counter fraud. You’ll develop your understanding of how and when to apply your subject knowledge – using appropriate techniques, technologies, project management practices and methodologies for problem-solving and research.
We’ll further develop your understanding by introducing you to real-life case studies, business problem scenarios and projects. You’ll work independently and in small teams to identify solutions and produce reports, presentations and recommendations. These experiences will help prepare you for a career in banking and finance, all within a supportive learning environment.
At the final stage of the master’s degree, you’ll undertake a dissertation or an applied business project – applying all your knowledge and skills to successfully fulfil your research objectives.
Course support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment. This includes:
- Access to our student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Access to our Skills Centre for support with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
Course leaders and tutors
Caroline Linares
Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Course Leader for MSc Accounting & Finance, MSc Financial Management and MSc Forensic AccountingCourse Leader for MSc Accounting & Finance, MSc Financial Management and MSc Forensic Accounting, and Senior Lecturer in Accounting
Applied learning
You’ll develop your employability skills throughout the course, using real-life scenarios and business problems.
‘Knowledge applied’ is the underlying design principle for all our courses and modules. All modules in your course adopt forefront research, updated regulations and standards. Teaching and assessment activities use real-life case studies and business problem scenarios – underlined by complex regulatory, political, economic, social and environmental factors – all helping to prepare you for a career in forensic accounting and dispute advisory services.
Live projects
Your research project could be a dissertation – where you carry out an in-depth research enquiry to address existing gaps in knowledge. Or you could undertake an applied business project – an extensive research project to produce insights, solutions and recommendations for a specific client.
You’ll have the freedom to tailor your research project according to your academic and career aspirations.
As part of this capstone project, you’ll apply all the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout the course, while also developing new ones. From the initial stage of generating research ideas to the final stage of writing up your dissertation or applied business project report, you’ll be guided by the module team and a dedicated project supervisor.
Networking opportunities
You’ll have numerous opportunities for career planning and development – from career fairs and workshops to employer presentations, field visits and professional careers advice. All these opportunities can enhance your confidence and skills development – and your employability as a result.
The team delivering the course has strong links with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT). We’re also a member of the Anti-Fraud Education Partnership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- auditing
- forensic accounting
- fraud examination
- general accounting practices
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- KPMG
- EY
- BHP
- Deloitte
- PWC
- Government anti-fraud agencies
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
The new Sheffield Business School building will be net-zero ready, with state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities and social spaces.
On this course, you’ll work with and have access to:
- our virtual learning environment – Blackboard sites
- updated office software
- accounting software
- Bloomberg terminals
- our financial trading floor
- a physical and online library
- digital books, journals, newspapers and magazines
Entry requirements
All students
Normally students must have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field. If you don-t have a degree you may be considered if you have at least five years- professional accounting experience. You also need two appropriate references. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
If English is not your first language you typically need an IELTS 6.0 score with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
We may ask you for an interview before admissions are finalised. International students may be interviewed by telephone or e-mail.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Forensic Accounting And Digital Applications
Forensic And Fraud Examination
International Corporate Reporting And Governance
The Expert Witness In Criminal Litigation
Elective modules
Consultancy
Dissertation
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 142KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
