Strathclyde University has become the latest university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Recognition Programme. Strathclyde Business School's Department of Accounting and Finance has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within its MSc programmes. These programmes position students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, which has become the most respected and recognised investment credential in the world.
Entry into the CFA Institute University Recognition Programme signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that the curriculum taught by the Department of Accounting and Finance is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations. Through participation in this programme, Strathclyde Business School is eligible to receive a limited number of student scholarships for the CFA Programme each year.
“Students in these programmes study the Candidate Body of Knowledge, which includes the core knowledge, skills, and abilities identified by practitioners worldwide as essential for successful practice,” said Neil Govier, CFA, Head of University Relations at CFA Institute. “By mastering the fundamentals of the CFA Programme as well as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, these future investment professionals gain a strong foundation that helps prepare them well to join the growing CFA Institute community dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.”
The recognised programmes - MSc Finance, MSc Investment and Finance, MSc International Banking and Finance, and MSc International Accounting and Finance - are taught by the Department of Accounting and Finance. The department is ranked 1st in the UK for Accounting and Finance in the Complete University Guide Subject League Table for 2016. The Guardian ranked the Department of Accounting and Finance for the first time in 2015 and placed it 3rd in the UK. The Departments position in these guides is consistently in the top five year on year. The department was ranked 2nd in the UK for Accounting and Finance by both the Times University Guide 2015 and the Sunday Times Guide 2015.
Professor David Hillier, Executive Dean, Strathclyde Business School, commented, “This recognition illustrates our focus on excellence in both teaching and research. It shows that our MSc Finance graduates are entering into competitive financial markets with the skill set to compete and knowledge to deliver optimal outcomes. ”