MSc in Applied Accounting and Financial Management
Advance your expertise in accounting, financial management, international standards, governance and applied research.
- Award
- Master of Science
- Duration
- 2 years
- Study structure
- 4 semesters
- Credits
- 42 credit hours
- Study mode
- Postgraduate study
- Academic year introduced
- 2025–2026
- Location
- University of Hargeisa
Programme profile
The MSc in Applied Accounting and Financial Management provides advanced study in accounting, finance and related fields with strong links to professional practice. It develops the technical and analytical skills required to manage financial reporting, audit, taxation, public finance, performance and risk in modern organisations.
The programme emphasises International Financial Reporting Standards, International Public Sector Accounting Standards, International Standards on Auditing, Islamic finance, ethical conduct and good governance. An applied research project enables students to investigate financial and policy challenges relevant to business, government and development programmes in Somaliland and the wider region.
Admission requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- Alternatively, a CATT qualification from ICPAS together with a bachelor’s degree in any field.
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.
- Relevant professional qualifications, including ACCA, CPA or CIMA, may be considered subject to review and approval by the School of Graduate Studies.
- Fulfilment of the University’s general postgraduate admission and documentation requirements.
What you will learn
- Apply advanced accounting and financial-management concepts to organisational problems.
- Prepare and evaluate reports using IFRS, IPSAS and other relevant frameworks.
- Assess audit evidence, internal controls, governance, risk and professional ethics.
- Analyse taxation, public finance, Islamic finance, FinTech and emerging fraud risks.
- Conduct applied research and communicate financial findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Programme content
The programme combines specialist coursework with applied learning and supervised research. The semester-by-semester course structure is shown below.
| Semester | Code | Course title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Semester 1 | AFM701 | Accounting and Financial Reporting | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 1 | AFM702 | Performance Management | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 1 | AFM703 | Islamic Finance | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 1 | SGS701 | Quantitative Methods and Research | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM704 | Financial Management | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM705 | Audit, Governance and Ethics | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM706 | Taxation and Public Finance | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM707 | International Financial Reporting | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | AFM708 | International Public Sector Accounting | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | AFM709 | Internal Audit and Risk Management | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | AFM710 | FinTech, Fraud and Emerging Trends | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | SGS702 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| Year 2 Semesters 1–2 | SGS703 | Applied Research Project | 6 |
Teaching and assessment
Learning combines lectures, seminars, worked examples, case studies, group discussions, practical financial-analysis activities, presentations and supervised research. Assessment may include participation, assignments, case analyses, tests, presentations, examinations and an applied research project.
Career opportunities
- Accountant or financial manager
- Auditor or internal-audit specialist
- Taxation or public-finance specialist
- Risk, governance or compliance professional
- Financial-reporting or public-sector accounting specialist
- Researcher, lecturer or financial consultant
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the University of Hargeisa postgraduate admission system. Applicants must complete the application form and upload the required academic and supporting documents before the published deadline. Application dates, tuition fees and document requirements should be confirmed in the current SGS admission announcement.
Application guidance ↗Talk to the School
For current information and guidance, contact the School of Graduate Studies.
MSc in Applied Accounting and Financial Management
Advance your expertise in accounting, financial management, international standards, governance and applied research.
- Award
- Master of Science
- Duration
- 2 years
- Study structure
- 4 semesters
- Credits
- 42 credit hours
- Study mode
- Postgraduate study
- Academic year introduced
- 2025–2026
- Location
- University of Hargeisa
Programme profile
The MSc in Applied Accounting and Financial Management provides advanced study in accounting, finance and related fields with strong links to professional practice. It develops the technical and analytical skills required to manage financial reporting, audit, taxation, public finance, performance and risk in modern organisations.
The programme emphasises International Financial Reporting Standards, International Public Sector Accounting Standards, International Standards on Auditing, Islamic finance, ethical conduct and good governance. An applied research project enables students to investigate financial and policy challenges relevant to business, government and development programmes in Somaliland and the wider region.
Admission requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- Alternatively, a CATT qualification from ICPAS together with a bachelor’s degree in any field.
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.
- Relevant professional qualifications, including ACCA, CPA or CIMA, may be considered subject to review and approval by the School of Graduate Studies.
- Fulfilment of the University’s general postgraduate admission and documentation requirements.
What you will learn
- Apply advanced accounting and financial-management concepts to organisational problems.
- Prepare and evaluate reports using IFRS, IPSAS and other relevant frameworks.
- Assess audit evidence, internal controls, governance, risk and professional ethics.
- Analyse taxation, public finance, Islamic finance, FinTech and emerging fraud risks.
- Conduct applied research and communicate financial findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Programme content
The programme combines specialist coursework with applied learning and supervised research. The semester-by-semester course structure is shown below.
| Semester | Code | Course title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Semester 1 | AFM701 | Accounting and Financial Reporting | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 1 | AFM702 | Performance Management | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 1 | AFM703 | Islamic Finance | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 1 | SGS701 | Quantitative Methods and Research | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM704 | Financial Management | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM705 | Audit, Governance and Ethics | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM706 | Taxation and Public Finance | 3 |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | AFM707 | International Financial Reporting | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | AFM708 | International Public Sector Accounting | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | AFM709 | Internal Audit and Risk Management | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | AFM710 | FinTech, Fraud and Emerging Trends | 3 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 | SGS702 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| Year 2 Semesters 1–2 | SGS703 | Applied Research Project | 6 |
Teaching and assessment
Learning combines lectures, seminars, worked examples, case studies, group discussions, practical financial-analysis activities, presentations and supervised research. Assessment may include participation, assignments, case analyses, tests, presentations, examinations and an applied research project.
Career opportunities
- Accountant or financial manager
- Auditor or internal-audit specialist
- Taxation or public-finance specialist
- Risk, governance or compliance professional
- Financial-reporting or public-sector accounting specialist
- Researcher, lecturer or financial consultant
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the University of Hargeisa postgraduate admission system. Applicants must complete the application form and upload the required academic and supporting documents before the published deadline. Application dates, tuition fees and document requirements should be confirmed in the current SGS admission announcement.
Application guidance ↗Talk to the School
For current information and guidance, contact the School of Graduate Studies.