CIMA offers members a range of master’s level qualifications with fast track routes or exemptions. By Camilla Berens, freelance journalist.
14 CIMA members recently became the first chartered management accountants to graduate in a new fast track Master’s degree in auditing, management accounting and information systems. A ceremony was held at CIMA’s London headquarters to congratulate the graduates and present them with their certificates.
The new MSc is a joint initiative between CIMA and the Skema Business School in France. CIMA members are exempt from the study modules and need only complete a high calibre professional thesis to complete the qualification. Study can be done remotely but students are required to attend a module on research methodology and to present their thesis to a committee.
Low cost and accessible
MSc graduate, Dermot O’Leary ACMA, says the accessibility and comparatively low cost of the course was ideal for his career as a lecturer in management accounting. ‘With lecturing, you are expected to continue with your qualifications. The MSc was attractive because of the exemptions and the fact that I could write the thesis in my own time,’ he says. ‘Master’s degrees usually cost in the region of £12-15,000 but the exemptions bring this to down to around £2,500, so there’s a big saving.’
Another graduate, budgeting and planning manager, Mahmood Ahmed ACMA, says he benefitted from the flexibility of the course. ‘Some people really enjoy going to France for the introduction but I work in the Middle East so I really depended on study support by email and phone. The managers were very helpful and my tutor provided just the kind of guidance I needed.’
Skema Business School is one of France’s leading private schools of management. Dr Robert Jelly, executive director of CIMA education, says: ‘Skema has a strong tradition of research in management accounting and internal control as well as having courses in the English language and distance learning capabilities. In recent years, the school has consistently appeared high in the league table of European Business Schools and we are delighted to be working with them.’
Broader business perspectives
CIMA students who have completed the CIMA Certificate and the Advanced Diploma are also eligible for the programme – but they will have to attend some of the course modules and have three years’ relevant work experience based on the CIMA criteria. All CIMA students are obliged to attend a module on research methodology and present their thesis to a committee for scrutiny. Normally the thesis takes between 12-18 months to complete.
Raluca Sandu, the programme’s manager at Skema, says students are encouraged to pick a subject related to their professional activities. ‘The thesis gives students stronger critical skills and is useful for their work afterwards,’ she says. Overall, the master’s is designed to help develop broader business perspectives, especially in terms of strategic implementation. ‘It gives students a fuller range of skills,’ Sandu adds.
CIMA offers members a range of other master’s level qualifications with fast track routes or exemptions.
Cranfield University - a joint MSc in managing organisational performance.
Deakin Unversity - access to a fast track global programme.
ESCP Europe - an accelerated Executive MBA with an emphasis on business administration in an international context.
Lancaster University Management School - entry to the Lancaster Executive master’s in Business Administration with a discount of 10% off the total fee.
Strathclyde Business School - qualification for the CIMA-Strathclyde scholarship which offers a reduction on tuition fees.
University of York - an accelerated master’s degree programmes for CIMA members, especially in the public and health sectors.
CIMA Master’s Gateway
CIMA recently launched the CIMA Master’s Gateway programme, an initiative allowing holders of MBAs to secure a fast track route to the CIMA qualification. MBA holders can study for a single exam to gain the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting qualification and then progress to CIMA’s strategic level.
‘MBAs have come in for a rough ride recently – primarily because of claims they do not have a strong ethical backbone,’ Dr Jelly explains. ‘CIMA obliges its members to not only study the fundamentals of business ethics but to apply them throughout their careers.’
MSc in Strategic Management Accounting
In Ireland, CIMA recently joined forces with the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School at University College Dublin to introduce a new MSc in Strategic Management Accounting. “The MSc is particularly suitable for high calibre executives already pursuing a business career and current students at managerial or strategic level,” says Dr Jelly. “It will also appeal to CIMA qualified management accountants who want to add a specialist masters qualification.” The qualification will also provide MSc graduates with a fast track to completing the CIMA qualification as they will be exempt from all exams except TOPCIMA.